Alliance for Artisan Enterprise Features Global Entrepreneurs at TEDWomen in San Francisco

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise will feature twelve artisan entrepreneurs at the TEDWomen 2016 conference in San Francisco. The Alliance will host the Global Showcase, an immersive experience demonstrating the impact of the artisan economy, the second largest employer in the developing world. The twelve organizations participating in the Showcase will share their stories and products with the TEDWomen audience, and three artisan entrepreneurs will take the stage at the conference's opening celebration.

The Alliance for Artisan Enterprise, part of the Aspen Institute's Global Health and Development program, is a network of over 120 artisan businesses, support organizations, and other partners, including the US Department of State's Office of Global Women's Issues, The Coca-Cola Company, and Kiva. The Alliance community works together to promote the full power and potential of artisan enterprise around the world. Since 2013, the Alliance has provided over $180,000 in small loans and grants to artisan businesses, engaged more than 50 million individuals on social media, and created a platform for artisan enterprises to share best practices and elevate the importance of the artisan sector on a high level.

"Participating in TEDWomen allows us to shine a bright light on talented artisan entrepreneurs all over the world," said Peggy Clark, Vice President of Policy Programs at the Aspen Institute and Director of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise. "Women make up over 80% of this industry, worth over $32 billion every year, but most people still do not recognize the full economic value of the artisan sector." 

TEDWomen, with its audience of influential and thoughtful world leaders, is a natural place to showcase the impact of the global handcrafted marketplace. "The theme of this year's conference is 'It's About Time,'" said Pat Mitchell, TEDWomen co-curator and host and member of the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise's Advisory Board. "I believe it's time for the world to really understand how beautiful and unique this work is, and how many people can be supported by investing in artisan enterprise." 

Join the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise's efforts to recognize the value of artisan work. Use #ChooseArtisan hashtag on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to join the conversation, and learn more about the Alliance for Artisan Enterprise on the program's website (www.allianceforartisanenterprise.org). Please contact Gina Rogari for more information. 

The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

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SOURCE The Aspen Institute

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