Open Letter to Colombian Culture Ministry Demands Fair Evaluation System for Cultural Projects
An open letter has been published addressing Colombia's Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge, highlighting systemic issues within the cultural project evaluation framework. The document emerges from personal experiences and incorporates feedback from numerous colleagues who have encountered comparable challenges. Released ahead of the 2026 Juror Bank opening, the letter details a specific instance of exclusion faced by an individual after voicing legitimate critiques regarding working conditions during project assessments. Additionally, it presents findings from a survey conducted among jurors, revealing troubling patterns of precarious employment, widespread distrust, and insufficient communication within the call-for-proposals process. The letter includes supporting graphical data from this survey. The author calls upon readers and the artistic community to engage with, disseminate, and add their support to the initiative, aiming to collectively advocate for a cultural evaluation system that respects the dignity of its participants.
Key facts
- An open letter criticizes Colombia's Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge.
- The letter is based on personal experience and input from many colleagues.
- It was published in anticipation of the 2026 Juror Bank opening.
- The author reports being excluded for criticizing labor conditions in project evaluations.
- A survey of jurors revealed issues of precarity, distrust, and poor dialogue.
- Graphical data from the survey is included in the letter.
- The call to action urges the artistic community to read, share, and support the effort.
- The goal is to build a cultural evaluation system that honors participants' dignity.
Entities
Institutions
- Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Knowledge
Locations
- Colombia