Museo Estatal de Arte Popular de Oaxaca

[2] The main purpose of the museum is to conserve and promote Oaxacan handcrafts, folk arts and the artisans, as they are an important part of the state's culture and economy.

[3] The permanent displays trace the history of Oaxaca handcrafts and folk art from the early pre-Hispanic period to the present day.

[4] The museum is sponsored by government agencies with foreign foundations with the aim of growing its collection and to hold events and other activities to promote traditional Oaxacan crafts and the people who make them.

[3] The museum works to build collaborative partnerships such as that they hold with the Friends of Oaxacan Folk Art association based in New York City.

The cyber-museum is part of the museum's efforts to promote a dynamic image with attractive, interested and novel content, emphasizing the artistic value of the artisans and their works.

[8] MEAPO's director is artist and artisan Carlomagno Pedro Martínez, a native of San Bartolo Coyotepec and one of the forces behind the founding of the museum in its current form.

Starting in 1989, his work has been shown abroad in the United States, South America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia where he has given classes, conferences and workshops.

In 2008, he was commissioned to create a sculpted mural in barro negro for the San Bartolo Coyotepec Baseball Academy by the Alfredo Harp Helú Foundation.

"[14] In 2011, the museum sponsored an exhibition called "Extensiones" which was a collection of works by young artists from the neighboring state Puebla, presenting their concept of society.

At this time, a resident named Manuel Guzmán donated a plot of land to found a cultural center, along with books to start a library.

[4][11] Much later, in the 1990s, there was a push by a local youth organization to establish a museum on the same site dedicated to San Bartolo Coyotepec's barro negro pottery tradition.

[4][11] By the early 2000s, continued financial problems plus disputes over use of the space led to the decision to close the community museum and build a new one sponsored by the state government.