Buy local, support artists at upcoming craft fairs

People often think about making charitable contributions to families who can’t afford presents or meals this time of year. There are other ways to support the community. With many national grants, like the National Endowment for the Arts, being cut, and the remaining grants becoming increasingly competitive, it is difficult for nonprofit organizations and the artists they support to make ends meet.

Instead of buying a gift from Amazon or Walmart, consider going to a holiday fair or gift shop to keep money in the local economy. Most people in the area are familiar with the Eugene Holiday Market at the Lane County Fairgrounds and the Farmer’s Market at the new pavilion building in Eugene for local, handcrafted goods. But there are also many others this time of year.

Take the Thurston High School Holiday Craft Faire, for example, which has been organized for the last 36 years by now-retired choir teacher, Mark Huisenga.

“The THS Holiday Craft Faire has helped send choirs to festivals, to contests, and even out of state to sing with other choirs at Carnegie Hall, or to perform in California theme parks,” Huisenga said. “It helps purchase sheet music, tune pianos, etc. And yet, we’re also proud of the community service we’re doing – by providing a warm, safe environment for area handcrafters, where they can display and sell their own creations.”

Now that THS has a new choir teacher, James Hallwyler will be taking over next year.

I don’t know how many times I heard someone walk by a table at a craft fair, telling a friend loud enough to be heard, “I could make that myself.” I am sure someone could if they had the time, inclination, and skill. Buyers often attend craft fairs with the wrong mentality: they are looking for a bargain, as they would when purchasing on Amazon or Walmart – and that mentality makes it difficult for local artisans to make a living. Local artists have spent hours of labor creating handcrafted goods. You are paying for time and quality, and supporting local artists.