Yucatan Honors Artisans at State Embroidery and Folk Art Awards

Mérida, Yucatán — Artisans from across Yucatan were honored at the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya for their role in keeping alive traditional crafts that form part of the state’s cultural heritage.

The awards were presented as part of two state government contests: the 13th State Embroidery Contest “Addy Rosa Cuaik” and the 4th State Folk Art Contest. Both were organized under the Maya Renaissance program, which seeks to support the artisan sector and preserve Yucatan’s distinct cultural expressions.

The competitions drew 441 pieces showcasing the talent, creativity and craftsmanship of artisans who continue to practice traditional techniques.

Wendy Méndez Naal, honorary president of the DIF Yucatan, led the closing ceremony and presented the awards. “To speak of Yucatan’s artisans is to speak of the roots, history and identity that distinguish the state,” she said. “Every embroidery, every piece of folk art, every technique passes from generation to generation and carries with it a story, knowledge and part of our identity.”

Salvador Vitelli Macías, director general of the Yucatecan Institute of Entrepreneurs (IYEM), said the effort aims to open more opportunities for artisans to sell their work in new spaces and markets. He added that the initiative seeks to revalue artisan products as expressions of identity while helping them reach new markets through innovation and design, without losing the traditional techniques, materials and knowledge at their core.

Mayra Acosta Ramírez, winner of the state award in the embroidery contest, said each piece reflects discipline, patience, craft and love. “When an artisan creates, they are not only producing a piece; they are sharing a way of looking at life, because in every stitch, every stroke, every carving and every shape modeled with patience, part of our identity appears,” she said.

Milton Vicente Elvir Hernández, winner of the state award in the folk art contest, thanked the organizers for creating spaces to showcase traditional techniques and talent.

The ceremony also inaugurated the exhibition “Memoria Viva de Yucatán 2026,” which will display the richness and diversity of Yucatan’s artisan production. The exhibit will be open during September on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visitors can also purchase the pieces that took part in both contests.