Brazil's Economic Crisis Leads to Culture Budget Cuts and Affects Private Sector

03/25/2015 - 09h23

At a time when the government admits difficulties in the economic scenario, the culture budget has already been cut by the federal, state and municipal administrations.

The crisis also affects the private sector, threatening projects financed by incentive laws.

While museums and cultural centres in São Paulo let go their staff and plan cuts in programming, institutions linked to the Ministry of Culture try to adapt to crisis, with a budget that is lower than forecast in 2014.

The Pinacoteca do Estado has cut 15% of its US$ 8.6 million budget, and will dismiss 29 workers. They will also reduce their opening hours on Thursdays. Brazil's Afro Museum, MIS and Paço das Artes, all institutions managed by São Paulo's State government, have fired 33 employees.

Run by the Federal government, the National Library, in Rio, dismissed 79 trainees and reduced the opening hours to save light. Casa de Rui Barbosa Foundation also plans to turn off the lights earlier and change the new research scholarships.

Tightening affects the entire federal sphere, but the Minister of Culture, Juca Ferreira, says he believes the impact will be greater for his Ministry, which has one of the lowest budgets.

The Ministry of Culture's budget has been dropping in the last two years. Last Wednesday (18), the Congress approved US$1.03 billion for culture. In 2014, the authorized amount was US$ 1.05 billion.

The Ministry of Culture does not comment the cuts, arguing the budget can only be set with Congress permission. São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture says there is an effort to "reduce the effects". The city's Municipal Secretariat of Culture affirmed to be expanding activities.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

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	Adriano Vizoni/Folhapress
	Minister of Culture, Juca Ferreira, says he believes the impact will be greater for his Ministry, which has one of the lowest budgets