Empowering Indigenous Artisans
through training, cultural preservation, and community support for a sustainable future.
About us
Home of Indigenous Arts Belize Limited is dedicated to empowering indigenous artisans.
We provide training, marketing support, and resources that help preserve cultural traditions
while creating sustainable livelihoods. Our work promotes honesty, integrity, innovation,
community, and sustainability across Belize.
#Preserving_culture
#Passed_down
Our Team
Mrs. Marcelia Assi
President/ Director
Mrs. Marcelia Assi—a Q’eqchi’ Maya woman —serves as HIABL’s President/Director with 15+ years in education, project management, and community development. She leads capacity-building for women, men, and youths, pairing skills training with entrepreneurship support for artisans. Recipient of Belize’s 2025 National Women’s Award (Education & Training), she is committed to expanding opportunities across the creative and cultural industries. Her passion is to support the innovation, creativity and resilience of indigenous artisans in Toledo so they may be able to preserve cultural heritage and improve their livelihoods. She is supported by a team of Board of Directors for the management of the organization.
Mrs. Holly Gill
Temporary Assistant
Mrs. Holly Gill, comes to our team with a business background and great interest in the
arts. She often creates crafts such as jewellery as a hobby. Mrs. Gill is an outgoing
professional, who provides support to all of our artisan members in the eight communities
we are working with. She conducts field visits and trainings to support their empowerment.
She aims to strengthening the skills of all our members as they are supported to embrace
their traditional talents as an alternative source of income generation. She enjoys working
with all the men, women and youths who are skilled embroiderers, weavers, basket
weavers, wood workers and painters.
- 2023 – Year Established
- Supporting Members From 8 Communities