The modern art of Bolivia differs from European art in its themes but not in its techniques. And despite the fact that modern music predominantly comes from the United States, traditional music can be found everywhere.

Thanks to Simon and Garfunkel and their song "El Condor Pasa" traditional music became popular worldwide. The typical instruments in traditional music are the zampona or panpipes, and the quena, which is comparable to the European recorder and is mainly made of llama bones.

During celebrations and on holidays, the Bolivians perform their traditional dances as well as Salsa to the point of exhaustion. However, the most impressive events are the traditional diabladas. During these festivities, the dancers with their devil masks vie for the favour of the audience and the jury.
 

If you want to enjoy the typical folkore while leisurely drinking a beer, you could visit one of the many locales called peñas. You can find them in many big cities and several times a week, local groups present traditional music there. Further cultural highlights, besides the diabladas, are the feasts and parades during which the streets are filled with dance, music and celebrating people over a period of several days. People only go home to catch a few hours of sleep.

Bolivian fiction does not play an important role in the rest of the world. The only novel which has had international success was written by Jesús Lara in 1952 and is called "Yanakuna" (engl: Sold like sheep and dog). However, there is a considerable body of documentary and political literature.

Due to a lack of money, the importance of Bolivian film is also negligible. "Vuelve Sebastiana" (1955) and "Wara Wara" (1929) are famous Bolivian films.

Holguín is the most famous Bolivian painter. His works date from the colonial period. Even if Bolivian art, film and literature are not very well known, Bolivian weaving with its pre-Columbian patterns is world-renowned.