Ten Thousand Villages IC

Описание: Anchor Lead- Art is always changing. Ten Thousand Villages has taken art and made it a way for people in other countries to make a living. We go downtown where Joseph Dickson has the story.

Here in Iowa City there are lots of art galleries downtown. But lets go find our what makes Ten Thousand Villages so special.

Ten thousand villages is a fair trade retailer. But what does this mean? They like to call it giving a fair wage. Since 1946 Ten Thousand Villages has been helping disadvantaged artisans sell their art. Normally these artist would not be given the chance to sell their art but Ten Thousand Villages is allowing these people to create art and it also gives these artist a way to provide for their families though these fair wages. They work with over 70 countries around the world and over 120 different artisans groups.

“Artisans you'll see around the store they use what they have in their environment and so you will see a lot of recycled products there is a giraffe over there that's made out of a coke can.”

But what happens if the product the artist makes never sells?

“If it doesn’t sell the artist never take a hit Ten Thousand Villages takes a hit.”

Ten Thousand Villages has come up with a way to show buyers the meaning behind every piece of their art in the form of what they call story cards.

“When you purchase something here you know the country of origin. And then we have a story card that talks about the artisan group and it also talks a little bit more about the product so you can kind of understand the product.”

Ten Thousand Villages has become the newest edition to the Ped Mall in downtown Iowa City, and also has become the first Ten Thousand Villages in all of Iowa.

This is Joseph Dickson with Daily Iowan TV.