Ticio Escobar is a leading figure in the contemporary cultural debate in Latin America. Despite the isolated position of his country and the difficult political conditions, he has remained in Paraguay, carrying out his work in the field of cultural theory, cultural history, art criticism and education - work which crosses borders and opens up new horizons. Ticio Escobar plays a leading role in shaping avant-garde art, in recognising indigenous art and in the cross-fertilisation of these two art forms. In 1979 he founded the Museo del Barro  (Museum of Mud) in Asunción, a non-profit, private effort seeking to preserve and promote Paraguayan vernacular culture. In the same year he founded the Indigenous Art Museum, to which he donated his own collection. He still runs this museum. His work for the indigenous population has never been confined to their art: together with other activists he has also supported them in their fight for their legal status and entitlement to land.  He was recipient of the 1998 Prince Claus Award (Holland) and 2004 Bartolomé de la Casas Prize (Spain).