The holiday season has arrived and Berks County’s most daring arts group is inviting the public to shop local at a gift market unlike any other.
Barrio Alegria, known for its community engagement work and free arts programming, is hosting its annual My Mother’s Refrigerator holiday market in downtown Reading on Dec. 11. Happening in the WCR Center for the Arts from 6pm to 8pm, the name of the market alludes the pride Barrio has for the city’s artists.
Katherin Acosta, lead of Barrio’s creative placekeeping department, feels that the market is about much more than just buying gifts.
“For me, My Mother’s Refrigerator matters because it creates real opportunities for local vendors to grow and be seen,’” Acosta said. “I’m most excited to showcase the talent that lives right here in our neighborhood. People can expect a welcoming space where art, culture, and community come together to support one another.”
The market will feature more than a dozen artists, many of whom are based in the city of Reading. The artists include entrepreneurs in painting, poetry, crochet, treats, and vintage collections. The event will also have several live performances from local talent as well. An aspect of this market that separates it from others is that vendors are not paying Barrio to sell their wares, meaning they keep 100 percent of their profits.
Paola Disla is the head of Barrio’s community development department and will also be selling her handmade soaps at the event. For her, the market is a way to not only celebrate Reading artists, but to give them an opportunity they may not have otherwise.
“It is important because we give them the space that the system often fails to provide: visibility, real support, and the opportunity to grow,” Disla said. “When we buy local, we are investing directly in our neighbors, in their dreams, and in the stability of our families.”
Admission is free for the market, as is on street parking starting at 6pm. For more information, the public is encouraged to visit Barrio Alegria’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or email info@barrioalegria.org.
