Overview
- President José María Balcázar opened the Ruraq Maki ‘Hecho a Mano 2026’ exhibition on Friday, July 17, using the ceremony to outline his administration’s goal of building a more inclusive nation‑state.
- Balcázar said a true nación‑Estado must formally include all social classes and the Quechua, Aymara and Amazonian populations as part of national identity and policy.
- The exhibition brings together about 200 artisan collectives and representatives of 21 indigenous or original peoples plus the Afro‑Peruvian community and runs at the Ministry of Culture in San Borja from July 17 to July 29.
- At the inauguration the president awarded the Personalidad Meritoria de la Cultura to maestro Gerásimo Sosa Alache in recognition of his work with Chulucanas ceramics.
- Organizers present Ruraq Maki as a platform to preserve crafts as intangible cultural heritage, strengthen fair‑trade links and support intergenerational training, which could increase market access and income for rural artisan communities.