Colombian Artists and Cultural Workers Endorse Iván Cepeda in Presidential Runoff
Over 200 Colombian artists, curators, educators, and cultural workers have signed an open letter published by esferapública, endorsing Iván Cepeda in the presidential runoff against Abelardo de la Espriella. The letter warns that de la Espriella's platform, based on a minimal state and radical capitalism, threatens the arts through budget cuts, privatization of museums, censorship, and loss of cultural sovereignty. It argues his proposed elimination of ministries would defund the National Stimulus Program, leaving artists without non-commercial financing. The signatories also express concern over his punitive rhetoric and hostility toward LGBTQ+ rights and academic freedom. In contrast, Cepeda's program promises to strengthen the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge, decentralize art funding via a 'Territorial Revolution,' expand access to technology for digital arts, and advance the Artist Statute to guarantee social security. The letter emphasizes that public platforms like the National and Regional Artist Salons and the General Culture Law (Law 397 of 1997) have been vital for memory and social cohesion. It calls for a vote on June 21 to protect artistic freedom, labor dignity, and cultural identity. The letter was coordinated by Elena Salazar Jaramillo and other prominent figures, and additional signatures are being collected.
Key facts
- Over 200 Colombian artists and cultural workers signed an open letter endorsing Iván Cepeda in the presidential runoff.
- The letter warns that candidate Abelardo de la Espriella's platform threatens arts funding, museums, and freedom of expression.
- De la Espriella proposes cutting 70 billion pesos from state spending, potentially eliminating the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge.
- The letter criticizes de la Espriella's rhetoric against LGBTQ+ rights and academic freedom.
- Cepeda's program includes strengthening the Ministry of Cultures, a 'Territorial Revolution' for decentralization, and support for digital arts.
- Cepeda aims to advance the Artist Statute to provide social security and labor formalization.
- The open letter was published by esferapública and additional signatures are being collected.
- The runoff election is scheduled for June 21.
Entities
Artists
- Elena Salazar Jaramillo
- Ricardo León Rodriguez
- Sebastián Jaramillo Matiz
- Diana Brinez Castro
- Lina Bolaños Avila
- Alejandro Araque Mendoza
- Juan de Dios Vargas Mejia
- Rodrigo Echeverri Calero
- Bernardo Prieto Hernandez
- Valentina Avella Romero
- Luis Alberto Santana Murcia
- Jorge Andrés Martínez Peñaloza
- Jorge Alfredo Leiva Cock
- Mariana Varela
- Natalia Manzo Salazar
- Alejandra Tashko
- Olga Cuellar Serrano
- Josue Carantòn
- Sofía Morales Corcho
- Óscar Nossa
- Jorge Jaramillo Green
- Julio Sampedro
- Lina Marcela Cadavid
- Carlos Andrés Rubio
- Erika Rubio Parra
- Darío Ramírez Segura
- Clara Clavijo
- Marta Rodríguez
- Gustavo Mantilla Herrera
- Leonardo Guayán Jaramillo
- Oscar Monsalve
- Clara Inés Ángel
- Douglas Gaviria
- Beatriz Eugenia Díaz
- María Adelaida Samper
- Paula Durán
- David Guarnizo
- Jorge Jaramillo
- Jaime Enrique Barragán Antonio
- Tircia Carolina Holguin Godoy
- Alix Camacho Vargas
- Hernando Velandia Guerrero
- Isabel Cristina Díaz Moreno
- Andrés Daza
- Natalia Peña
- Julia Buenaventura
- Edinson Quiñones Falla
- Jorge A Mora
- Juan David Laserna Montoya
- Rosa Ximena Tisoy
- Dilma Valderrama
- Carlos Jimmy Ramírez
- Angela Ipia
- Cristina Figueroa Palau
- Joyce Rivas Medina
- María Elvira Escallón Vélez
- Javier Leonardo Villamizar
- Florence Antonia Gómez
- Juan Bedoya Moreno
- Alvaro Garcia Ordonez
- María Isabel Rueda
- Paula Torrado
- Jaider Orsini
- Luisa Vélez Hurtado
- Mildred Durán Gamba
- Leyla Cárdenas
- Juan Covelli
- Camila PAEZ
- Camilo Pachón
- Carlos Camacho
- Rosa Helena Lamprea
- Paola LEAL
- Diana Marcela Naranjo Garcia
- Alejandro Castillo
- Mauricio Oicatá Narvaez
- Luza Quiceno Quiroga
- Jonathan Chaparro
- Marco Bonilla
- Armando Valbuena Vega
- Jim Fannkugen
- Diana Osorio Charry
- Ivonne Elizabeth Martínez Merchán
- Laura Camila Bonilla VargaHes
- Nelson Enrique Moncada Sepúlveda
- Carolina Fandiño
- Santiago Acero
- Álvaro Barrios Vásquez
- Mariangela Aponte Núñez
- Franklin Aguirre Rincón
- Maria Natalia Avila Leubro
- Natalia Catalina Martínez Zapata
- Eblin Grueso
- Ana Karina Moreno
- Fernando Arias
- Laurentino José López Prieto
- Libardo Archila Sanabria
- Armando Chicangana López
- María Buenaventura Valencia
- Miguel Ángel Gelvez Ramírez
- Laura López Duplat
- Diana Paola Angarita
- Carolina Rubio
- Luz Angela Medina Torres
- Lorena Diez Arias
- Jhony Chaparro Porras
- Zaira C. Medina Trujillo
- Olivia Miranda
- Enrique Franco Lizarazo
- Lina Rodríguez Vásquez
- Mauricio Carmona Rivera
- Dana Cárdenas Ortiz
- Ana Lucía Arbeláez Z
- Alejandra Melo Vanegas
- Yesid Fernando Hernández Rojas
- Amy Navarrete Soto
- Trixi Allina
- Natalia Guevara Ayala
- Ana María Montenegro Jaramillo
- Marcel Marentes
- Christian Padilla
- Ana Maria Villa Navas
- Catalina Suescún
- Camila Carrillo Vargas
- Libertad Patiño Morales
- Helena Wiesner
- Jorge Uricoechea
- Camilo Sabogal
- Javier Pareja
- Diana Mejía
- Gabriel Zea
- Julian Dupont
- William Bahos
- Sandra Patricia Navia
- Ramiro Camelo
- Julian Anibal Henao Garcia
- Julián Zalamea
- Cesar Faustino
- Aura Cardoiz
- Dolly Galindo
- Andrea Catalina Martínez González
- Laura Arias
- Ana María Villate
- María Rincón Abril
- Juan Walker
- Claudia Marcela Ruiz Paz
- Mauricio Vega Sanchez
- Henry Olarte Alvarez
- Eduardo Marceles Daconte
- Diego Arango A
- Nubia Medina
- Fernando García P
- Cesar Montoya
- Jairo Mariño Mesias
- Fernando Grisalez Blanco
- Angie Roa Bancarel
- Jors Sebastián López
- Francisco Saade
- Jorge Ramón Gómez Bedoya
- Guillermo Alexander Vanegas Flórez
- Ángel Alfaro Echevarría
- Nicole Hortua Franco
- David Alexander Parra
- Milena Bonilla
- Natalia (Nika) Sorzano
- Mauricio Valencia Giraldo
- Myriam Fabiola Escobar
- Luis Escobar Escobar
- Jhoni Cuellar Cantor
- Magma Orjuela
- Héctor Iván Valencia
- Diego Fernando Del Castillo Criollo
- Laura Olave Agudelo
- Leonel Vásquez
- Diana Rivera
- Andrés Vergara Bonilla
- Indira Ricaurte Villalobos
- Maria Nelly Rojas
- Tzitzi Thlini Barrantes
- Ana Londoño
- Ruth Kattia Castro Andrade
- Pauli Pamela Paternina
- Juan Manrique Silva
- Natalia Karenka Parra Sierra
- Claudia Milena Amorocho Galvis
- Natalia Marín
- Martín Alonso Lozada
- Roberto Orrù
- Adriana Ramírez
- Omaira Joya
- Luis Cayetano Silva
- Deisy Gómez Velandia
- Fabiana Rodríguez
- Kelly Johanna Gutierrez Mejia
- José Julián Agudelo
- Laura Wiesner
- Andrés Roballo
- María Mercedes Toloza Rojas
- Jorge Torres González
- Mary Smith Monsalve
- Rodolfo Andres Gonzalez Morales
Institutions
- esferapública
- Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y los Saberes
- Programa Nacional de Estímulos
- Salones Nacionales y Regionales de Artistas
- Centro Nacional de Memoria Histórica
- JEP (Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz)
- Bienal Internacional de Arte Desde Aquí
Locations
- Colombia
- Bogotá
- Armenia
- Cauca
- New York
- Sabana de Bogotá
- Suramérica