artisan exchange program
Thread Caravan provides fully-funded artists residencies to our community of indigenous artisan collaborators, as part of our artisan exchange program. To date, we’ve been proud to host Gujarati turban weaver Shamji Vishram Vankar in Oaxaca, Zapotec Oaxacan sisters and weavers Silvia and Dahlia Gutiérrez on our weaving retreat Guatemala, and Zapotec potter Macrina Mateo Martinez from Tlapazola, Oaxaca on our pottery retreat in the Rif mountains of Morocco. In October 2024, we plan to host Guna embroidery artist and community leader, Kandra Ehrman, from Guna Yala, Panama, on our weaving retreat in Oaxaca.
Should our community be interested in contributing to these efforts, there is the option to pay it forward when making a trip reservation. These financial contributions will be used exclusivity towards our artisan exchange program.
scholarships
Thread Caravan is invested in making our workshops accessible to BIPOC communities who have historically been marginalized from international travel experiences. Our efforts focus on supporting equity in the craft space to ensure this traditional knowledge is within reach for people around the world, independent of their socioeconomic status.
Our workshop grants start at $500 USD per person, but applicants may be awarded more depending on the workshop and the individual’s circumstances. As of December 12th, 2023, we have awarded $71,345 USD worth of grants to 41 recipients over 8 years.
If you are interested in applying for one of our workshop grants, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Be sure to include essential information like which workshop(s) you are applying for, a cover letter, and personal statement explaining why you would be an appropriate candidate for the workshop. If you’re interested in seeking additional funding support for our programs, please contact us and we will send a PDF with other possible funding opportunities.
“I came across Thread Caravan while planning a trip to Mexico and am so thankful that I did. The Oaxaca ceramic workshop was a perfect opportunity for me to expand my knowledge of clay after university. Receiving the Thread Caravan Inclusivity Grant made it possible to not only learn these new methods but allowed for me to connect with my Mexican ancestry. The landscape and culture of Oaxaca is like a dream, and the experience is one I will never forget."
-Spencer Bautista, South Carolina, USA