The Arizona Republic reports that Scottsdale is looking at Santa Fe’s three-day International Folk Art Market–which attracts 23,000 buyers and lookers. The market hosts more than 100 artists from 46 countries, selling indigenous art at a wide range of prices.

The Scottsdale Public Art and the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, under the direction of the Scottsdale Cultural Council, want to organize their own market, which could debut by fall 2012:

“A lot of people think of folk art as inexpensive things made for tourists,” said Tim Rodgers, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art director. “But this is high-end craft with traditions that go back generations.”

Rodgers worked as chief curator at the New Mexico Museum of Art in Santa Fe before moving to Arizona last year. Although Santa Fe attracts a growing following to the market, the potential to attract more people and grow the festival even bigger is possible in Scottsdale, Rodgers said. The Valley has an international airport. People traveling to Santa Fe had to fly into Albuquerque. Also, the event could be hosted on the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, which is four times larger than the Santa Fe space.

“People in Santa Fe said, ‘You guys are primed for this,'” Rodgers said.

Scottsdale Could Snare Santa Fe Global Folk Art Market (Arizona Republic)