We celebrate and empower the keepers of the world’s heritage and tradition—artisans who sustain culture through craft and beauty
300 million artisans, most women, remain economically marginalized outside the $6.5 trillion global economy.
MISSION
The artisan economy is a $6.5 trillion global industry, yet over 300 million artisans—more than 70% of whom are disadvantaged women—remain disconnected from profitable markets and trapped in cycles of economic vulnerability. Artisanal Collective is pioneering a Mass Economic Empowerment approach to fundamentally change how artisans engage with global markets.
The Artisanal Collective™ is committed to doubling or tripling current artisan earnings — raising the global baseline of $3/day to $6/day or more within three years of engagement.
Through strategic partnerships, storytelling, and digital tools, we identify artisan communities where our model can create early, measurable results — especially where trusted relationships already exist.
We are building the world’s first AI Cultural Heritage Large Language Model (LLM) Framework to preserve, translate, and empower the traditions of thousands of artisan communities. Rooted in the principles of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, this initiative fuses local knowledge with modern storytelling to protect endangered crafts, activate new markets, and redefine how AI can serve humanity.
Every $1 million invested helps catalyze long-term cultural resilience and economic uplift valued at $100 million or more.
Whether through AI-powered artisan discovery, heritage-aligned commerce, or immersive storytelling, our model multiplies every dollar through artisans, their families, and the global systems they influence.
Featured Programs
We connect artisans, experts, and consumers through the Artisanal Collective™ Community. Artisans gain skills and knowledge via the Artisanal Collective Academy™. Consumers can explore the Artisanal Collection™ eCommerce marketplace, tap into expert design help for themselves or their homes, and connect directly with artisans worldwide through Artisan Encounters™.
For inspiration and entertainment, there’s Madame Planet™ & the Journeymen (Planeteers) to the Rescue, an animated video series that brings the artisan world to life through storytelling and satire.
Be Part of the Story
Artisanal Collective is a nonprofit initiative reshaping the global artisan economy through AI-driven storytelling, strategic collaboration, and market-based empowerment. We unite artisans, consumers, corporate partners, and cultural advocates in a worldwide network that empowers and promotes sustainability, gender equity, and economic resilience.
Founded by a group of leaders from the development, UN Agency, development bank, sustainability, and commercial sectors, our mission is to ‘make the pie bigger’ — expanding the artisan economy so that all stakeholders, including artisans, investors, and consumers, thrive in a more sustainable world.
