Brazilian Cultural Sector Faces Systemic Collapse After Bolsonaro Era
Brazil's cultural framework at the federal level has been significantly eroded, with the Special Secretariat of Culture experiencing a turnover of seven leaders within just four years. A 2021 decree from Secretary André Porciuncula, which prohibited COVID-19 vaccine passports for events funded through the Rouanet Law, was revoked. During Mário Frias's tenure, funding was stalled due to project analysis quotas until Congress took action. Changes to the Rouanet Law imposed low fees for artists, leading events such as the São Paulo International Film Festival to forgo public funding. Cultural budgets were drastically reduced by 85%, plummeting from R$241 million to R$36 million. The National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute (Iphan) underwent staff reductions, while the Brazilian Institute of Museums (Ibram) faced budget cuts. Cultural professionals encountered censorship and harassment, prompting the need for extensive rebuilding.
Key facts
- Seven leaders headed the Special Secretariat of Culture in four years.
- The federal cultural budget was reduced by 85% from 2016 to R$36 million.
- The Rouanet Law was modified to set artist fees at R$3,000 and restrict repeat sponsorships.
- The National Library Foundation awarded its Order of Literary Merit to convicted former deputy Daniel Silveira.
- The Brazilian Institute of Museums' executed budget fell from R$136 million in 2018 to R$118 million in 2022.
- The National Film Agency (Ancine) was rated the second-worst public agency management in 2021.
- Sérgio Camargo of the Palmares Foundation was condemned for moral harassment and religious discrimination in November 2022.
- A diagnostic report cited censorship, harassment, and persecution of cultural workers under the recent administration.
Entities
Artists
- Joel Zito Araújo
- Juca Ferreira
- André Porciuncula
- Mário Frias
- Tassos Lycurgo
- Carlos Alberto Gomes de Brito
- Larissa Peixoto
- Olav Antonio Schrader
- Daniel Silveira
- Hélio Lopes
- Luiz Carlos Ramiro Junior
- Luiz Philippe de Orléans e Bragança
- Pedro Mastrobuono
- Regina Duarte
- Luciana Conrado Martins
- Doris Couto
- Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
- Pedro Machado
- Sérgio Camargo
- Áurea Carolina
- Ricardo Borba D’Água Almeida Braga
- Tamoio Athayde Marcondes
Institutions
- Secretaria Especial de Cultura
- Lei Rouanet
- Congresso
- Tribunal de Contas da União
- Mostra Internacional de Cinema de São Paulo
- Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo
- Grupo de Transição
- Instituto do Patrimônio Histórico e Artístico Nacional
- Agência Nacional de Cinema
- Fundação Biblioteca Nacional
- Instituto Brasileiro de Museus
- Museu Histórico Nacional
- Conselho Nacional e Política Cultural
- Ministério do Turismo
- Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi
- Museu da Ciência e Tecnologia
- Fundação Palmares
- Comissão de Ética Pública da Presidência
- Arquivo Nacional
- Ministério Público Federal
- Funarte
- Fundo Setorial do Audiovisual
- Ministério da Cultura
Locations
- Brasil
- São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Salvador
- Bahia
- Porto Feliz
- Mato Grosso
- Grão-Pará
- Vitória
- Espírito Santo
- Sorocaba
- Belo Horizonte
- Minas Gerais
- Itu
- Recife
- Pernambuco
- La Puntana
- Argentina
- Gran Chaco
- Paraguai
- Nova York
- Estados Unidos
- Los Angeles
- Madri
- Espanha
- Amsterdã
- Países Baixos
- Algarve
- Portugal
- Santo Antônio da Patrulha
- Rio Grande do Sul