The Arts

Panama [1] takes great pains to preserve its traditional music forms, dances, costumes, crafts, and customs. It also has a vibrant contemporary arts and entertainment scene with roots in its unique history.

While music and dance are extremely popular, one often hears complaints in Panama that the fine arts and literature play far too small a role in daily life.

A number of painters have received at least some international recognition, though Panama’s most widely known artistic creations are the work of anonymous indigenous artists, especially the Kuna with their molas [2] (handcrafted blouses) and the Emberá-Wounaan with their tagua and cocobolo carvings and woven baskets.