Old Mansion Zuloaga, Prolongation Av Zuloaga, Quinta Micomicona, Los Rosales, Caracas 1040, Venezuela

Apartado Postal Nº 40315, Caracas 1040A, Venezuela

Courses in ethnomusicology (Latin-American, Asian, African), organology, anthropology and folklore were provided for students of the Instituto Universitario de Estudios Musicales (IUDEM) and for the Universidad Central de Venezuela.

The Foundation of Ethnomusicology and Folklore (sometimes known as FUNDEF) was founded in 1987 and is organised through the National Cultural Council of Venezuela. It is not primarily a teaching body, and has the aim 'to investigate, preserve and disseminate the traditional and popular oral cultures of the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean'. The Foundation holds an extensive archive of materials from Latin-American countries and the Caribbean including a number of field recordings of cultural groups of the Pemón, Arawak, Wayúu and Piàroa, collected between 1973 and 1981, documenting traditions that have disappeared or changed due to the accelerated process of acculturation. These have been gathered and stored following the Memory of the World selection criteria as a collection of world heritage significance. FUNDEF has published educational materials on folklore for use in schools as well as specific titles on ethnomusicology and folklore of Latin-American and Caribbean countries. It supported the Orchestra of Latin American Instruments (El Systema) and organised exhibitions, concerts, conferences and programs on radio and television.

December 2022