American Folk Art Museum
The Tomás Lago American Popular Art Museum (MAPA) was created on the occasion of the first centenary of the University of Chile in 1942, an opportunity in which the study house received many gifts, among which small collections of popular art pieces from various countries stood out. With that collection the first exhibition was formed, being inaugurated on December 20, 1944.
Tomás Lago, after whom the museum receives its current name, headed it since its creation for more than twenty years. For several decades, MAPA was the only one of its kind in Latin America. Currently, the institution dependent on the Faculty of Arts of the University of Chile has more than 8,000 pieces, which make up the most valuable collection of traditional crafts in the country.
Thanks to obtaining Bicentennial Funds, in 2011, the Museum opened its exhibition hall at the Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center (GAM). In 12 years, the MAPA collection has increased its assets by more than 30%, mainly through donations and project acquisitions. At the same time, since 2014, the winning pieces of the Seal of Excellence for Craftsmanship of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, enter based on the homonymous collection that the museum started. To date, ten books/catalogs have been published that include each project financed with external competitive funds.
Location
The American Popular Art Room, MAPA, is located in Building B (floor -1).
At 198 square meters, it is a space designed to host assemblies, artistic works and crafts.
Schedules
Tues to Fri – 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday and Sun – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Mon and holidays – closed.
Closed in February due to university recess.
Contact