The Popular Art Museum is located in the district, province and region of Cusco. The Museum of Popular Art is under the administration of the American Institute of Art of Cusco, an entity that has been operating in the region since 1937.
The Popular Art Museum in Cusco is located in block 1 of El Sol Avenue, and can be visited from Monday to Sunday, from 9 in the morning until 6 in the afternoon. That one is also open on holidays, although only until 1 in the afternoon.
As the name of the museum already indicates, it concentrates its exhibition on popular art from Cusco, that is, that which is made by the community’s artisans. The exhibition that this museum presents, although permanent, increases year after year, since it is every year that the Santuratikuy Christmas Fair is celebrated, a traditional event that was rescued by the American Institute of Art, and that annually awards the best pieces that are exhibited and sold at said event.
Among the pieces shown in the rooms of the Popular Art Museum in Cusco, there are textiles, ceramics, crafts, sculptures, photographs, among many others that attest to the incredible artistic talent of the Cusco population.
As a large part of the pieces that are exhibited in the museum are obtained from Santuratikuy, a fair that takes place every December 24, most of them have religious and Christmas themes, so the most abundant reason are births. Another type of artistic pieces that populate the set are the Virgins and the effigies that represent the baby Jesus, among others. Also, groups of masks used in the different traditional dances of the town, and others, are added to the pieces.
Whoever visits the Popular Art Museum in Cusco, will not only be able to appreciate the artisanal and artistic wealth that is exhibited in it, but will also be able to access other areas such as the Photo Library that the museum presents, and which is made up of more than seventy photographs of renowned authors; These photos have in common exhibiting images of Cusco from the 19th century, as well as from Cusco from the middle of the 20th century, in which the town is observed in poor condition after a disastrous earthquake.
Another important area of ??the Popular Art Museum in Cusco is its Pinacoteca, which presents in its collection both canvases, as well as sculptures and engravings by authors of both Peruvian and foreign nationality. Of the pieces that are on display, those of authors such as Hilario Mendivil, Luis Acosta, Antonio Olave, among many others, great representatives of Cusco art, stand out.
The entity that manages the museum, not only has the purpose of exhibiting the skill of artisans and artists of the region, but also seeks to promote the customs and traditions of this same group of the population, which is why the Santuratikuy Fair, It is one of the many events that the American Institute of Art has been commissioned to rescue.
Location
- Region: Cusco
- Province: Cusco
- District: Cusco
- Address: Av. El Sol No. 103 (Basement Tourist Galleries of the Provincial Municipality of Cusco)
Description
The Popular Art Museum in Cusco belongs to the American Institute of Art, an ancient and traditional cultural organization of the city, which founded the Cusco Jubilee Week and rescued the Santurantikuy fair from disappearance.
It has some of the best pieces of Cusco folk art since the 1940s, most of which were systematically acquired at the Santurantikuy Christmas fair. In the collection there are pieces by the outstanding masters: Hilario Mendívil y familia, Edilberto Mérida, Nemesio Villasante, Santiago Rojas, Luis Acosta, Jesús Latorre, Antonio Olave, among others.
History
The Popular Art Museum in Cusco was created thanks to the cultural contribution of the American Institute of Art of Cusco, whose members rescued the traditional Christmas fair of Santurantikuy, when it was about to disappear, rewarding year after year over 74 years to the artisans who The best works were presented at this fair, with whose crafts the museum is formed, which is the best or one of the best in Peru.
The American Institute of Art achieved many achievements for the benefit of the city of Cusco, among them it has rescued the famous Santurantukuy Christmas fair, when it was about to disappear, rewarding the artisans who presented the best works year after year over 69 years. in this fair, with whose crafts he has formed the Museum of Popular Art of the American Institute of Art of Cusco, which in the opinion of connoisseurs is the best in Peru in this genre.
Attractions
The museum’s collection is distributed in two permanent exhibition rooms and includes cultural assets of popular art, sculptures, old photographs of Cusco and contemporary Cusco painting.
The collection highlights the artistic productions of the Mendívil, Mérida, Olave, Maxi Sierra families, among others.
It shows works such as sculptures, ceramic works, photographs and other of the most renowned artisans of Cusco such as: Edilberto Mérida, with his grotesque art sculptures made of clay, Hilario Mendívil, his made in mass of rice, in a religious style; Its most important feature are the images of elongated necks with flower drawings, the most characteristic are the Virgin of Bethlehem and the Holy Family. You can also see works by Santiago Rojas with representations of the daily life of the inhabitants of Cusco (typical for the Santuranticuy December 24 festival), with typical dances; Another important artisan is Follana with his children Manuelitos, made in maguey and glass palate, the Child of the Thorn being representative. Antonio Olave, is also a renowned craftsman with his gold leaf art in making children for Christmas nativity scenes.
Schedule
- Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. – Sundays and holidays 8:00 – 1:00 hrs.
- Entrance: Included in the Tourist Ticket.
Six other museums in Cusco that you cannot miss
Inka Museum
It has a beautiful Plateresque façade, a courtyard of arches and rooms exquisitely decorated in the style of the time. Among its attractions are its collection of keros or ceremonial vessels, mummies and fabrics. Without a doubt, a special collection of archaeological pieces with which you can marvel at the Inca culture.
- Address: Cuesta del Almirante 103.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturdays and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Coca Museum
This is a curious museum where you can learn more about the coca leaf: its origins, properties, characteristics and cultivation from a different and educational perspective. Of course, you can also buy various products and souvenirs to give as gifts.
- Address: Calle Palacio 122.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Qoricancha site museum
In Qoricancha you can admire pre-Inca, Inca and colonial pieces throughout your journey. Get ready to see ceramics, lithic pieces and various objects found in the excavations carried out at the site.
- Address: Av. El Sol block 3.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Museum of Pre-Columbian Art
In the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art you can learn more about the Nazca, Mochica, Huari, Chimú, Inca and Viceregal cultures. In addition, you will find the Gold Room and the Silver Room. All its corners will surprise you.
- Address: Plaza de las Nazarenas 231.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Santa Catalina Museum
The Santa Catalina Museum will impress you from the beginning, as you will be able to appreciate its colonial architecture typical of the Renaissance. Inside, you can find beautiful paintings from the so-called Cusco school from the 17th to 18th centuries, the most emblematic artistic movement in the area. Each area of ??the museum has precious relics such as furniture, arcades and other works of art that will undoubtedly surprise you with their degree of detail.
- Address: Plazoleta de Santa Catalina 401.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Chocolate Museum or ChocoMuseo
The Chocolate Museum is a special place dedicated to cocoa and chocolate where you can learn more about the history of cocoa and its derivatives. In addition, this museum has an artisan chocolate factory where a wide variety of these are manufactured with organic grains grown in Cusco.
- Address: Calle Garcilaso 210, Int. 216.
- Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Visiting Cusco is a real adventure whose protagonist will be yourself, instead of a memorable experience, that is why Cusco is definitely one of the most incredible cities with a great variety of archaeological centers and tours such as Sacred Valley, Camino Inca or Machu Picchu. To enjoy an unforgettable experience, contact Inka Trail Backpacker, a company that will better assist you during your visit, of course it is always with the necessary advice for you and yours as well as the guarantee, responsibility and security that characterizes us. If you visit the city of Cusco another impressive destinations that you can visit are the tour to rainbow mountain peru or the humantay lake tour from cusco, which only takes one day. But if you are gonna to stay more days in Cusco, other archaeological places you can know will be the choquequirao trek peru, the salkantay trek to machu picchu, and the classic inca trail 4 days 3 nights.
