Artist of the Year Award-Winners: Mary Lou Big Day 2008, Shane R. Hendren 2007, Amelia Joe-Chandler 2006, Cliff Fragua 2005, Charlie Pratt 2004 and Lorraine Cate 2003.
Welcome
The Indian Arts and Crafts Association was established in 1974 in response to the growing problem of misrepresentation of American Indian arts and crafts in the marketplace. The original founders were American Indian artists and reputable businesses located primarily in the Southwest. Today, IACA is an international organization representing every link in American Indian arts – Native artists from the U.S. and Canada, along with consumers, retailers, wholesalers, museums, government agencies, suppliers and supporting members.
In the early 1970s, the American Indian arts and crafts industry was booming. And, as so often happens with successful businesses, unscrupulous dealers, knockoffs and imported goods appeared in the market to the detriment of the unsuspecting consumer and respectable artists, wholesalers and retailers. Legislation governing the industry and the labeling of authentic arts and crafts produced by Native Americans was weak or non-existent. Where it did exist within several of the States, it was rarely enforced.
Realizing that if these conditions were to continue, the buying public would soon lose confidence in the intrinsic value of American Indian products, these individuals did what people in similar circumstances have done since ancient times. Rather than face the issue privately, they banded together and founded the "Indian Arts and Crafts Association" and incorporated it under the laws of the State of New Mexico.
Our Mission
The original mission "to enhance and maintain the image of marketing of handmade American Indian arts and crafts" was later refined and stands today, “to promote, preserve and protect authentic American Indian arts and crafts.”
IACA has established itself as a highly respected international trade association, and for more than thirty-five years has hosted the largest trade show of authentic handmade art made by American Indian artists from the United States and Canada. To complement the trade show, IACA has added “The Business of Art” seminars for artists and retailers before each show, as well as providing a number of educational programs and publications to promote the understanding of the arts.
IACA’s work to support the effective protection, ethical promotion of authentic Native American art and preservation of material culture has helped instill confidence in the consumer marketplace. Through its markets, educational publications, cultural programs, seminars and networking to enable artists’ work to reach a global market, IACA has played an integral role in the strengthening of the Indian arts and crafts industry. Consumers know that if they see the IACA logo, they can buy with confidence.
