Bolsonaro's Vetoes Threaten Cultural Sector Despite Economic Growth from Aldir Blanc Law

The artistic community in Brazil faces significant challenges due to President Jair Bolsonaro's vetoes of the Aldir Blanc 2 and Paulo Gustavo laws, which are vital for cultural funding. The Aldir Blanc Law, implemented in 2020 and 2021, provided R$ 3 billion and resulted in the creation of 855.5 thousand jobs in the cultural sector. In 2021, employment in this field grew by 13%, outpacing the general economy's 11% growth rate. By the end of 2021, the creative economy boasted 7.5 million workers, an increase of nearly one million since December 2020. Federal cultural expenditures have plummeted from R$ 1 billion in 2018 to R$ 109 million in 2022. The Paulo Gustavo Law earmarks R$ 3.86 billion, while Aldir Blanc 2 allocates R$ 3 billion for cultural initiatives, with cultural funding historically representing less than 1% of the Union Budget.