FONART Reforma

The FONART Reforma store is one of the most celebrated of the four FONART shops in Mexico City.  A treasure of national artisan works, you have to visit. No number of internet photos will do justice to the constantly changing collection of unique high quality goods you’ll find inside and no where else.

• FONART is the Fondo Nacional para el Fomento de las Artesanías (FONART), the National Fund for the Support of Artisans. It’s a public trust fund by the Federal Government, under the Secretary of Culture. The fund was begun in 1974 with the intention of promoting and disseminating Mexican artisan goods while supporting artisans so that they receive better remuneration from sales of their work. FONART supports training and technical assistance, production support in the purchase of raw materials, health prevention, community-based purchases at fair prices, and sales through the FONART stores, national and international fairs and exhibitions, artisan competitions, strategic projects, and support for workshops and outlets in travel areas.

This store reflects the Fund’s history. It began under the Federal Secretary of Bienestar, (Social Welfare) and the shop is still just downstairs from that Secretariat’s main Mexico City offices. FONART was moved to the Secretary of Culture only in 2019. But here the store remains.

It’s important to allot a little time to visit any of the FONART stores. While there are precious and sometimes fragile items, there’s still a lot more that needs to be handled, and turned over, to appreciate the true quality of what you’re looking at.

Hours: Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.