Fundarte warns of crisis facing Dominican artisanal sector

The Dominican Foundation for the Development of Craftsmanship (Fundarte) has issued an urgent warning regarding the crisis facing the Dominican artisanal sector. During commemorations for Dominican Artisan Day, the organization highlighted several critical obstacles threatening the survival of local craft families.

Key issues include the difficulty of accessing indigenous raw materials such as larimar and amber. Fundarte noted that the uncontrolled commercialization and export of these stones in their raw state reduce local availability and drive up production costs for national workshops. Additionally, the foundation denounced the sale of foreign imitations and souvenirs in tourist areas being marketed as authentic Dominican crafts, which undermines local producers.

To address these challenges, Fundarte is calling for a comprehensive legal protection framework, tax incentives, and stricter inspections in tourist zones to combat fraud. The organization has urged the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, and the private sector to form a strategic alliance to promote the Craftsmanship Promotion Law and ensure fair commercial opportunities for local artisans.