Through a press release, Mexico’s Ministry of Culture has informed that the additional MXN$500 million included in the Federal Budget for 2019 will go to cultural projects in several communities, as well as the country’s cultural infrastructure and programming, including festivals, fairs, and conferences, through operation mechanisms that will be announced shortly.
The Official Journal of the Federation includes details of the MXN$500 million enlargement through the Cultural Support Program S268 , which aims to finance non-governmental state and municipal projects. The program states that the money will be destined to activities such as the International Film Festival of Morelia, with 9.5 million pesos; the Guelaguetza, with MXN$9 million; the Tajín Summit, with another MXN$9 million; The International Film Festival of Guadalajara, and the International Book Fair of Guadalajara (FIL), with MXN$7 million each .
However, the government body informed that the list would be included in accordance with operating regulations issued in the future, and that the S268 provision would enable “clear and transparent rules for a fair and democratic access.” Furthermore, the disposition would be open for “other activities and cultural projects, following criteria of austerity, honesty, and the fight against corruption.”
The resources will be allocated through the Support Program for Cultural and Artistic Festivals (Profest); to different communities through the Support Program for Community and Municipal Cultures (Pacmyc); and to infrastructure and activities through the Support Program for State Cultural Infrastructure (PAICE) .
The Ministry of Culture claimed that the budget enlargement was meant to enrich “cultural projects in different communities as a strategic endeavor to recompose the social tissue and aid in the pacification of the country .”
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