Aid to Artisans (ATA), an international nonprofit organization, is a recognized leader in economic development for the craft sector. By linking artisans to new markets and buyers to culturally meaningful and innovative products, ATA provides needed economic opportunities to artisans to build profitable craft businesses.

Since the founding in 1976, they have worked in over 110 countries uniting a global community of artisans, organizations, development experts, retailers, design industry leaders, business trainers, and supporters. Over 30,000 artisans a year participate in the programs.

Aid to Artisans does not work alone. In addition to partnering with businesses and organizations to implement the services and ensure sustainability for artisans, they rely on the generous support of a range of public and private sector partners and many individuals for funding.

Aid to Artisans creates economic opportunities for artisan groups around the world where livelihoods, communities, and craft traditions are marginal or at risk.

Aid to Artisans blends a passion for the deep-rooted cultures and handmade traditions of the developing world with a commitment to building profitable businesses. Environmentally sound practices are at the foundation of the methodology. Aid to Artisans recognize that they can only bring lasting economic growth if they provide an integrated approach to product development, business skills training, market access and eco-effective processes.

Aid to Artisans accomplishes this by working together with partners in the countries where they work and in the markets they connect artisans with, leaving behind an infrastructure that continues to support the artisan community long after they complete the mentoring.

Market Access
The real impact of ATA's work shows in generating new sales and linking to new markets. They believe it is critical to create new products with market appeal and to ensure that the production methods are eco-effective and can sustain these new products. The marketing objective is simple: Link artisans to new markets and ensure those links can continue growing well beyond ATA's involvement.

Business Training
Whether they are working in a classroom setting, in the field with artisans, or in a customized training, they always focus on building the capacity of artisans to compete in the global marketplace. The training is world renowned for providing trend forward market information to assure that the participants can sustain their competitive edge.

Product Development
Innovative and competitive products emerge from the collaboration between market-savvy designers and creative and inspirational artisans.