The Creative Isle initiative launches festive edition of CAN Weekend Market
By Naveed Rozais
The Christmas season is well and truly upon us and the Ceylon Artisan Network (CAN) Market, in this festive spirit, has launched the CAN Market Christmas Experience, aiming to promote Sri Lankan artisans and local micro-businesses.
The CAN Market Christmas Experience takes place from today (15) till 31 December and marks the return of the CAN Weekend Market following the second wave of Covid-19 infections that hit Sri Lanka in early October.
The CAN Market Christmas Experience is held in partnership with the Foundation of Goodness, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Colombo City Centre (CCC) and was created in 2020 by the Creative Isle initiative to support creative micro-entrepreneurship amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and create a platform and marketplace for local vendors to showcase their raw talent and be discovered.
The CAN Market Christmas Experience is a two-week experience that has been spread out to take place across the ground, first, and second 
floors of CCC. Creative Isle Co-Founder Keshini Ann Suraweera explained that this decision to speak about the experience across CCC’s common areas was taken with public health and safety in mind. “We want to create a safe shopping environment, while adhering to regulations and with adequate distancing between stalls,” Suraweera said.
The CAN Market Christmas Experience will feature over 50 vendors from around Sri Lanka and will focus on Christmas-related items including handmade Christmas decor and decorations; unique, functional art; dehydrated fruit and fruit cocktails; toys, gifts, and stationery for adults and children; novel combinations of chutneys, jams, and spreads; a curated collection of home and lifestyle products including batik, tie-dye, cane craft, ornamental plants, ceramics, metalwork, and sustainable decor and decorations; a variety of festive farm products; a range of handmade soaps and fragrances; convenient nutrition options like dehydrated soup and ready-to-eat vegan curries; local nutritional staples like jackfruit and banana blossom brined for convenience; fashion and beauty products; and personalised Christmas hampers that will make the most memorable gifts.
The CAN Market Christmas Experience offers guests a wide range of unique products to choose from. Some of the more unusual products include homemade wines from unusual bases like beetroot and star fruit; a range of soft and cream cheeses; ayurvedic herbal teas; an aquarium selling fish along with the accessories needed for keeping them; and a variety of products with a seasonal twist like handmade soaps with snowmen embedded.
Speaking on the second wave of Covid-19 and its impact on micro-businesses, Suraweera shared that recovering from the second wave has been challenging because people are still skeptical about getting back out there. “This Christmas is going to be one of our worst-hit Christmases, unless we locally support. The small man will have trouble surviving due to the overall business situation.”
Like many other platforms, the CAN Market has considered trying to create an online space but this has proved to be no small undertaking with over 70 vendors spread out all over the island. Surawareera also noted that the touch and feel element is an important aspect of the shopping experience and shouldn’t be overlooked.
Suraweera explained that the CAN Market Christmas Experience has been made a two-week experience to allow shoppers the chance to visit in the build-up to Christmas, which is typically the most active shopping week of the year. This way, last-minute shoppers also have a way to give meaningful gifts that support local small businesses.
Suraweera hopes that the CAN Market Christmas Experience will give shoppers a greater appreciation for creative entrepreneurship and Sri Lanka’s traditional crafts and skills. “We want the new generation to acknowledge and be a part of these craft experiences, from batiks to tie-dyes, wooden crafts, and similar from all around the island,” Suraweera said, adding: “If these crafts are not given support, they may not survive.”
Suraweera also noted that collaboration plays a key role in helping these businesses, extending thanks to CCC for opening their doors with a large heart to welcome and support CAN Market entrepreneurs.
“‘Tis the season to be merry, but this has been our gloomiest Christmas in a long while. What we can do now is care about each other and make it through,” Suarweera said, adding that it is now more important than ever to support small businesses. “Every little purchase makes a difference for a small business.”
