The government of Solomon Islands is reaching out to donors for assistance in building a market facility for indigenous crafts.
A design for the new market. Photo: Supplied/ Dennis Marita
For many years there has not been any such facility in Honiara for carvers, weavers and basket makers forcing them to sell their wares along the street often displayed on cloths on the ground.
Concept designs for the $US1.2 million dollar facility have been completed and it is to be built around the perimeter of the Art Gallery grounds in Point Cruz in downtown Honiara.
The director of the culture division in the Ministry of Tourism, Dennis Marita said this was to make it more accessible to tourists and the increasing number of visiting cruise ships.
Photo: Supplied/ Dennis Marita
Mr Marita said the ministry, yesterday, presented the project to donors to explore the possibility of co-funding the construction of the craft market facility.
"And also taking into account that most of these products are uniquely ours. Most of them they reflect most of our cultural diversity here. So it is about time that we provide a venue that is not only conducive but also at the same time has some sense of dignity in what our local arts and craft people have been producing in the country."