 THIRD YOUNG ARTISTS' COMPETITION A HUGE SUCCESS
The robust response to FOFA-MEAPO's Third Contest for Young Folk Artists - with its theme "Celebrating Mother Earth: Inspiration for Oaxaca's Folk Arts" -- yielded 119 interpretations in a spectrum of folk art modalities. On August 5th, 2013 an international panel of judges had the extremely challenging task of selecting one winner in each of six categories -- Textiles, Woodcarving, Decorative Painting of Woodcarving, Ceramics, Other Modalities, and Creative Youth - from the many extraordinary submissions. The prodigious talents of 50 additional artists were recognized with honorable mention.
AWARD CEREMONY
An estimated 300 people attended the heartwarming award ceremony on August 9, 2013 at which all winners, recipients of honorable mention, and participants were awarded certificates. Winners were also gifted cash prizes of 10,000 pesos (about US $800), as well as the opportunity to define their artistic sueños (dreams) to be translated into specific tutorials or other projects that will enhance their development. FOFA will fund and help them implement these dreams.
FOLK ART MARKET & MEZCAL TASTING, AS WELL AS OPENING OF EXHIBITION OF WINNING PIECES IN 2013 COMPETITION & CATALOGUE PRESENTATION
 (exhibition on view November 9, 2013-February 9, 2014)On November 9, 2013, winners and recipients of honorable mention sold their artwork at a tianguis (folk art market) in the courtyard of MEAPO (Museo Estatal de Arte Popular Oaxaca, Oaxaca State Museum of Popular Art). A presentation was made of FOFA-MEAPO's stellar new 80-page, full-color catalogue "Celebrating Mother Earth: Inspiration for Oaxaca's Folk Arts". It features artwork, artists' statements, and contact information for the 56 winners and honorable mention recipients, all of whom are 30 years of age and under.
12-WEEK CULTURAL HERITAGE COURSE
 This venture grew out of Carlomagno Pedro Martínez's deeply moving presentation in November, 2012 in NYC in which he spoke of the crucial influence of several educational experiences in his development of pride in his cultural heritage and his place in artistic traditions of his pueblo, state, and country.
In September FOFA, in collaboration with MEAPO, launched a 12-week course to enrich young folk artists' knowledge of their cultural heritage. Each Saturday (September 7-December 7, 2013) a group of approximately 25 participants - who entered the 2013 contest for young folk artists and MEAPO staff members -- meets for four hours. They are exposed to a combination of didactic (but highly participatory) classes and trips to Oaxaca's cultural treasures that most of them have never visited (examples are Monte Albán, Museo de los Pintores, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo Oaxaqueño, Museo Rufino Tamayo). Two profesores frame these trips from specific vantage points and create assignments for preparation and/or discussion at the subsequent class. They are Emilio León Zurita, a visual artist with a degree in Spanish literature, and Juan de Dios Gómez, a visual artist, anthropologist, and promoter of crafts in Oaxaca.
YOUNG FOLK ARTISTS' WEBSITE TO LAUNCH IN DECEMBER 2013
FOFA is in the process of developing a website for winners and recipients of honorable mention of the 2013 Young Folk Artists competition. The objective is to enhance their communication with potential collectors and marketing prospects. More news about this project will follow over the next months.
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