São Paulo Governor Proposes 23 Percent Cut to Culture Budget

By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter

SÃO PAULO, Brazil – Nineteen federally-funded museums, cultural institutions, and events in São Paulo could be impacted by steep budget cuts proposed by state governor João Doria.

Earlier this month, the government announced a contingency plan which foresees a cut of R$ 127.3 million (23 percent) to the Ministry of Culture’s annual budget – a reduction some worry will severely impact museums like the Pinacoteca.

Doria refutes the idea that budget cuts will negatively affect cultural enterprises. In a video announcement released by his press office this week, he said, “Nothing will be closed and nothing will be stopped. We have not yet announced which programs will be impacted because we are doing everything calmly and with good planning.”

Despite the governor’s reassurances, the staff at the Pinacoteca expect that the cut will drastically reduce funding for public programs and force the cancellation of temporary exhibitions, lectures, and free admission on Saturdays, which benefit over 150 thousand visitors annually. Educational programs that were due to serve around 53 thousand students in 2019 could also be canceled.

Culture Sector Opposes

Ahead of the final decision, Brazilian cultural representatives are speaking out against the proposal. The newly-opened Afro-Brazilian Museum said in a statement: “The budget cut will mean the dismissal of large numbers of employees, the reduction of projects and activities, and the closing of the museum on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.” The statement adds that all the museum’s temporary exhibitions planned for 2019 will be canceled, and urges institutions and individuals to “mobilize, sign, and share public petitions, and put pressure on authorities.”

The Brazilian Network of University Collections and Museums wrote: “São Paulo is the state with the most museums […] and is the state that pioneered the creation of a continuous public system of museums, as opposed to the public policy today.” And added: “The consequence of budget cuts is the deterioration of buildings, the reduction of security, and the diminishing of public access to museums.”

“Culture must be understood as an investment. It’s a fact that the cultural economy in Brazil brings in R$ 165 billion, accounting for 3 percent of the country’s GDP and generating more than three million jobs. For every one real that’s invested in culture, three reais are returned to society,” said The Brazilian Forum for Cultural Rights.

The budget cuts would also affect the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra, the State System of Public Libraries of São Paulo – which serves 200 municipalities – and the São Paulo Dance Company, among others. The prestigious São Paulo Literature Award would also likely be axed.