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Original article: «No es metáfora»: organizaciones denuncian el mayor recorte a la cultura desde el retorno a la democracia

Cultural Organizations Warn of Historic Cuts to Arts and Heritage Under José Kast’s Government

A total of 98 cultural and heritage organizations have raised alarms about budget cuts initiated by José Kast‘s government, which threaten programs, memorial sites, museums, and cultural spaces.

This Monday, May 25, coinciding with the Day of Cultural Heritage, various cultural organizations and memorial sites held a press conference at the National Library, called by ANATRAP and the Labor Union of Heritage Workers, alongside other union organizations from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage.

The event aimed to highlight the risks facing cultural heritages and memorial sites in the country due to the announced budget cuts for the sector.

In a declaration titled #NoEsMetáfora, signed by 98 organizations, they denounce how culture, arts, and heritage are at risk due to the budget cuts implemented by José Kast’s government, which allegedly benefits only the wealthiest 1% of the country.

Consequences of Budget Cuts in Culture 

Regarding the impact of these budget reductions, they declare that so far, this is the only cultural plan presented by the current administration of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage. Furthermore, they warn that the cut reaches 9.8%, marking one of the highest reductions seen across the public sector.

“Minister Francisco Undurraga has publicly stated that this percentage will not be the final cut and that resources from halted GAM projects will be included. However, there has been no clarity on how this reduction will take place, its timelines, or the amounts involved,” they state.

They also noted that the budget adjustments are already affecting funds, programs, and cultural policies, leading to the suspension or cancellation of numerous scheduled activities for the remainder of the year.

According to their warnings, the measure exacerbates the precarious situation already facing the cultural sector, reduces access and public participation in arts and heritage, and could negatively impact employment and the economic contributions of this sector to the country.

On another note, they criticized the authorities for failing to consult with various cultural, artistic, and heritage organizations, leaving them unaware of the criteria, data, and evidence used to decide which programs and budget lines to cut.

“Workers are the first to acknowledge and warn of the necessary improvements in administration, management, and integrity needed to better reach all cultural and artistic spaces in the country. Mincap and Serpat require strengthening, not weakening,” they add.

The organizations warned that budget cuts will have direct effects on access to culture and heritage, resulting in fewer books for children, reduced artistic and cultural programs in schools and communities, fewer training opportunities in music and other disciplines, and a decrease in cultural activities across neighborhoods.

They also raised concerns about the impact on cultural centers, memorial sites, museums, archives, and libraries, as well as on the preservation and dissemination of heritage and support for traditional cultural practitioners and expressions throughout the country.

In this context, they claim that while public policies pertaining to arts, culture, and heritage are being reduced, José Kast’s government is promoting its main policy through the bill for “National Reconstruction and Economic Development,” which proposes various measures to cut taxes for large corporations and the super-rich of the country, without considering the compensation for the resources the State will lose, even though numerous economists have warned that this project is not beneficial for the country.

“Furthermore, under the guise of this project, there is an assault on heritage protection by modifying the actions of the National Monuments Council, allowing work to be done without explicit authorization. This change primarily benefits large transnational corporations and neglects the notion that social progress is not merely economic growth but integral development of communities,” they state.

In this context, the organizations denounce that the cultural and heritage sector is facing the largest resource reduction since the return to democracy, affecting an institutional structure that was developed with the participation of cultural, artistic, and social actors from across the country.

Heritage, Memory, and Identity Under Threat 

As previously mentioned, the 30th and 31st of May marks the Day of Heritage. In this light, it is crucial for citizens to be aware of what is currently at risk:

• Museums, libraries, archives, and historic monuments that safeguard and preserve our history and memory.

• Memorial sites and human rights locations that keep our memories alive to ensure that the atrocities of Pinochet’s dictatorship never happen again in Chile.

• Living traditions and various artistic and cultural expressions that define our identity across our territory.

• Historic neighborhoods and heritage areas that withstand the test of time.

• Natural heritages and cultural landscapes that are part of our identity and biodiversity, which also require protection and conservation.

• Cultural centers and theaters that enable citizens to practice and enjoy the arts and cultures.

• Archaeological and paleontological finds and their study, which allow us to understand the past to project the future.

“Cultures and heritages are the essence of a people, and cutting 9.8% from the current Ministry budget infringes upon the collective right to preserve and promote our social memory. Heritage is much more than a single day, and this reduction particularly impacts the Programming and Promotion of Heritage, with a 10.1% decrease in the National Service of Cultural Heritage and a 17% reduction that directly affects actions on Heritage Day,” they declare.

Finally, the groups called on Chilean families to participate in Heritage Day activities, asserting that the best way to defend our culture is to inhabit it, value it, and demand public policies that strengthen it.

In this vein, they made an urgent appeal to the public to reject the budget cuts and to express their support explicitly through three concrete actions: First, endorse this public declaration; second, actively engage on social media using the hashtags #NoEsMetáfora, #NoALosRecortesEnCultura, #NoALosRecortesEnPatrimonios, and #NoMásRecortes; and lastly, inform themselves about the consequences the cuts will have on cultural centers, artists, organizations, and community spaces in their areas.

They emphasized that culture is not a metaphor; it is a right, it is memory, identity, creation, enjoyment, better coexistence, mental health, and community safety.

“The defunding is happening today, and we believe that the arts, cultures, and heritages matter to Chile. Defending them is a task that calls on all of us,” they concluded.

You can review the full declaration and join the cause by clicking here.

La entrada Cultural Organizations Warn of Historic Cuts to Arts and Heritage Under José Kast’s Government se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.