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Artists Demand Immediate Revocation of São Paulo's Paulo Gustavo Law Edicts

institutional · 2026-04-23

On Wednesday, the 20th, at the São Paulo Legislative Assembly, cultural managers and artists called for the cancellation of 24 decrees issued in September by the State Secretariat of Culture, linked to the Paulo Gustavo Law (LPG). On Thursday, the 21st, the Ministry of Culture issued a warning regarding potential misinterpretations of the law's intent. Enacted in 2022, the LPG designates R$ 3.8 billion for cultural initiatives by the end of the year, yet it will support only 900 projects in São Paulo, marking a 677.7% decline compared to the Aldir Blanc Law (LAB) in 2020. The decrees favor larger productions, mandate five years of operation for entities, and overlook regional disparities. Artists are set to meet with Culture Secretary Marilia Marton and Governor Tarcísio de Freitas to halt the process.

Key facts

  • Artists demanded revocation of 24 Paulo Gustavo Law edicts in São Paulo on Wednesday, 20.
  • The Ministry of Culture warned against deviations from the law's purpose on Thursday, 21.
  • The LPG is a federal emergency law injecting R$ 3.8 billion nationally into culture by year's end.
  • São Paulo's edicts will benefit only 900 projects, 677.7% less than the Aldir Blanc Law in 2020.
  • Average funding per project under LPG in São Paulo exceeds R$ 400,000, compared to LAB's R$ 37,000.
  • 21 of 24 edicts favor legal entities, requiring at least five years of operation, disadvantaging individuals.
  • Edicts remove the requirement for 50% of applicants to be from outside São Paulo capital, contravening the law.
  • The Ministry of Culture stated LPG edicts are not subject to Bidding and Administrative Contracts Law rules.

Entities

Artists

  • Márcio Tavares
  • Marilia Marton
  • Tarcísio de Freitas
  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Marília Marton
  • Guillermo Rojas de Cerqueira César

Institutions

  • Ministério da Cultura
  • Secretaria de Cultura, Economia e Indústrias Criativas do Estado de São Paulo
  • Assembleia Legislativa
  • Congress Nacional
  • Lei Paulo Gustavo
  • Lei Aldir Blanc
  • PROAC
  • Lei de Licitações e Contratos Administrativos
  • Secretaria de Cultura, Economia e Indústria Criativas de São Paulo
  • Defensoria Pública da União no Estado de São Paulo
  • 14ª Vara da Justiça Federal Cível
  • Ministério Público do Trabalho
  • Procuradoria Regional do Trabalho da 2ª Região
  • Governo do Estado de São Paulo
  • Governo Federal
  • União
  • Congresso Nacional

Locations

  • São Paulo
  • Brazil

Sources