This September, the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise team visited over 15 exceptional artisan entrepreneurs located in Tibetan areas throughout western China. We are so inspired by the vibrant entrepreneurial economy in these nomadic communities and are looking forward to supporting the growth of these businesses with some key partners! Find additional information about this visit (including details on the Artisan Value Chain Toolkit and Alliance-Kiva Artisan Loan Program) on our website very soon! 

This August, 13 artisan businesses, support organizations, and others joined the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise community! Find a full list of current Alliance members (116 organizations!) on our website, and connect today using the contact and social media directories in the Alliancemember portal (password: alliance2012)! Thank you for your ongoing commitment to elevating the importance of the artisan sector around the world. 

On July 14, 2016, the Alliance gathered 25 members online for our first-ever Digital Learning Series, "Handmade Trends in the Global Market"! ByHand Consulting hosted the session, covering the top trends affecting the unprecedented desire for artisan goods, and how entrepreneurs can capitalize from it. Miss the session? Learn and listen on the Alliance member portal today!

The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise is a diverse community of artisan businesses, social enterprises, individuals, and more working at different points in the artisan supply chain. Our community ranges from Chinchero weavers and Sudanese beaders to technical service providers and market organizers. We strongly believe that each member is integral to the artisan sector as a whole, and has important insights to share. To share learnings, provide short trainings, and reach our members around the world, the Alliance is launching a Digital Learning Series. 

The Alliance will hold a training session for artists at the Market covering credit basics and introducing the Alliance-Kiva Artisan Loan program. Not attending the Folk Art Market this year? You can still get involved! Learn more about the Artisan Loan Program on our website, and do not hesitate to reach out if you are interested in learning more about the program or receiving a training. Find more information and a full application in our member portal (password: alliance2012).

This month, the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise community celebrates reaching over 100 members and partners. We are so grateful for your support and commitment to the advancement of the artisan sector around the world. Together, we are able to shine a bright light on the social, economic, and cultural value of artisan enterprise. Learn more about our 100th member on our blog!

In our 2016 Member Survey, you ranked support and grow artisan businesses as our most important objective. At the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, we are dedicated meeting this need, and are expanding and improving our programs to support the growth of your businesses. 

The Alliance community is growing every day; this April, 13 new members joined our network. 
 
Take advantage of these exceptional organizations! Each of our members is working hard to promote the full potential of artisan enterprise across the globe. Get connected, share learnings, and explore collaboration. Find more information about all current members here, and consult our member portal for contact and social media directories (password: alliance2012)!

Thank you for your valuable feedback and insight into the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise community by completing the Alliance member survey. We are so happy to hear that our members value the Alliance's mission, objectives, and current initiatives. 

The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise is so grateful for your ongoing commitment to the artisan sector and our work to elevate artisan businesses around the world. Since last year's launch of the #ChooseArtisan Global Campaign for Artisan Enterprise, the Alliance has grown from 57 to 91 full members. We have implemented a reduced fee structure, and are working every day to better serve our members. Let us know what you wish to see, hear, and learn from the Alliance, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates! 

We are so grateful for your valuable feedback and insight into the Alliance's mission, objectives, and current initiatives. Congratulations Sami El Fakir ofMartizana, the winner of our raffle for completing the survey! The Alliance will be working hard to integrate your feedback and better serve our network. We will be sending a letter soon sharing our next steps in response to your feedback!

Did you miss last month's newsletter? The Alliance has recently updated our member fee structure to allow artisan enterprises of all sizes, types, and budgets to join our network. Please review our new membership brochure here for details about benefits and responsibilities. Remember, all current members will receive 3 years of Alliance membership cost-free (beginning the date of your last renewal). 

The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise has many exciting initiatives planned for 2016! Thank you for your dedication to artisan enterprise around the world and your participation in the Alliance network. We understand that many burdens face our members every day. To allow artisan enterprises of all sizes, types, and budgets to join our community, the Alliance has updated our member fee structure. Please review our (new!) membership brochure here for details about benefits, responsibilities, and revised fees. 

2015 was a fantastic year for the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. Thank you for your continued support of our members and the global artisan sector! This year, our community grew to 74 member organizations, we reached over 2.5 million people in the #ChooseArtisan social media Thunderclap, and Secretary of State John Kerry recognized the economic value of the sector during the launch of the Global Campaign for Artisan Enterprise in September.

2015 has been an extraordinary year for the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise.Thank you, members, for making it possible! In 2016, let's keep the momentum going. Join the Alliance in our efforts to grow, form new and effective partnerships, and better serve our members. Early this year, the Alliance will release a comprehensive Membership Survey. We hope each of you will take the time to complete this review of our community, so that we can better serve our network and tackle the barriers facing artisan enterprise around the world. 

Happy holidays! On Friday, November 6, 2015, 585 voices merged to tell over 2.5 million people that the artisan sector matters. These voices came from all over the world - messages were shared by artisans, artisan supporters, organizations, policymakers, and more! The movement is just beginning. Continue using the #ChooseArtisan hashtag to show the extraordinary diversity and breadth of artisan enterprise. Posts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook will be added to the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise Social Wall.