The colorful downtown artisan market, which features crafts, clothing, bags and other accessories aimed at tourists, has been located along the west side of the Plaza de la Democrácia in downtown San José for over 15 years.

Last Friday, however, the Cultural Ministry and the Municipality of San José informed the artisans that their market would be relocated to a building at the south end of the Plaza de las Garantías Sociales, between Ave. 2 and 4 and Calles 3 and 5.

The relocation decision followed a week of uncertainty for the artisans, who were told on Sunday, Aug. 2, that they were no longer permitted to conduct business along “Calle 13 bis,” the small street bordering the west end of the Plaza de la Democrácia in front of the National Museum.

The temporary closure of the market was ordered by the Culture Ministry, which ousted the artisans after a recent presidential veto of Law 16.377, allowing the artisans use of the street.

The law was initially vetoed in October 2008 and was vetoed a second time in late July. This prompted the artisans'eviction last week.

According to the Cultural Ministry and the municipality, a peace museum will be constructed opposite the National Museum on the Plaza de la Democrácia. The peace museum, which will be operated by the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress, will use Calle 13 bis as a pedestrian walkway and provide access to a parking lot opposite the plaza.

“After 15 years, the president of the republic wants to make a peace museum,” said Victor Hugo Torres, who has worked at the artisan market since its inception in 1994. “We have performed honest, hard work in the same place for all that time, and now we are told we have to leave because of a museum. It seems the president cares more about his museum than he does about his people.”

At a press conference on Friday, the Cultural Ministry and the municipality of San José announced that the artisans market will be moved to a three story,$1 million building to be constructed on the south side of the Plaza de las Garantías Sociales.

Culture Minister María Elena Carballo said that with financial assistance from China, the new market will be a state-of-the-art building called the Frontón.

“This makes the market a thousand times better,” said Carballo. “The Cultural Ministry has made a $1 million investment in the city of San José so that the people can continue to enjoy the public market.”

For more on this story, see the Aug. 14 print and online editions of The Tico Times.