Oaxacan Popular Art in the New Millennium:
Nurturing Young Artists
Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art (FOFA)
supports the preservation and promotion of the folk art traditions
of Oaxaca, Mexico. These traditions are endangered by economic
challenges in the region that significantly impact the folk
art community. FOFA’s projects are designed to
provide (1) public exposure (both in Mexico and the US) to raise
awareness, appreciation and marketability of these art forms;
(2) encouragement to young Mexican folk artists to pursue and
refine their crafts—in view of their uncertainty about
folk art as a viable livelihood and their attraction to modernization
that promotes migration—in order to preserve folk art
traditions for generations to come; and (3) assistance to “artesano”
communities to enhance market opportunities. FOFA does
not provide direct financial support to any individual or family,
but works through existing organizations (such as the State
Museum of Popular Art of Oaxaca) to identify and develop our
projects.