United States named guest of honor for 40th Festival of Crafts in Budapest

The 40th Festival of Crafts will take place in Budapest from August 20 to 23, held within the streets and squares of the Buda Castle district. Organized by the Association of Folk Art Societies, the event features 60 folk art communities and approximately 100 demonstration workshops.

This year, the United States serves as the guest of honor in connection with the upcoming 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. Eighteen American artists and artisans will participate, showcasing diverse skills including embroidery, ceramics, woodcarving, and printing. Specific programs include the ‘America’s Tapestry’ collaborative embroidery project, pottery demonstrations by Mark and Joyce Nafziger, and woodcarving by Douglas Molina.

The festival also highlights indigenous American cultures through performances by TwoShields Productions, representing the Northern Ute, Laguna Pueblo, and Navajo communities. Musical entertainment will include a bluegrass performance by the San Francisco-based group Hot Buttered Rum. While the United States is the featured guest, the festival remains a broad celebration of global and local traditions, including Hungarian blacksmithing, weaving, leatherworking, and basket weaving.