Specialists point out the need to improve distribution and to provide institutional support
The coming of a new year opens up the space to think about what to do during these new times. This is why LA NACION asked intellectuals, cultural administrators and writers which should be the cultural priority that Argentina should solve during 2010.
Some of the people consulted agreed on the need to improve the distribution of the country’s cultural production and to develop a larger institutional structure that could produce long-term support and programs.
“The priority should be institutional development. There are indications that allow us to talk about a high level of artistic creativity in all areas that is not well matched by the existing institutional structure. As a result, talent is wasted and the cultural offering available to the citizens is poor”, stated Américo Castilla, Typa Foundation’s Director and former Heritage and Museums National Director.
Diana Saiegh, Arte de Tigre Museum’s Director and Deloitte Foundation’s Executive Director, affirmed: “We are lacking network building, culture is segmented. A better structured support and programs with continuity are needed”. She also pointed out that theoretical seminars and colloquia are needed.
Similarly, Andrea Giunta, Ph.D. in Philosophy and researcher in visual arts, stated: “Regarding arts policy the articulation of an interinsitutional program is urgently needed”. She also added: “Not everything must be based on volunteerism and on people’s individual effort”. For her, one of the major problems is the lack of continuity of cultural programs.
Daniel Divinsky, publisher responsible for Ediciones de la Flor, pointed out that it is necessary to “improve to its maximum the distribution of Argentina’s cultural production, public and private, because the problem, rather than the lack of production, is inadequate distribution”.
At the same time, the sanction of the law that creates the Book National Institute is one of the priorities for Jorge Coscia, Culture National Secretary. It will give a boost both to literary activity and writers in Argentina; it will regionalize book’s industry and will promote abroad the Argentinean books.
For Buenos Aires’ Minister of Culture, Hernán Lombardi, the cultural priority for Argentina during 2010 should be to consolidate culture as a tool to create and strengthen citizenship. “Culture is unbeatable when we are dealing with the creation of free, creative and critically aware citizens”, he affirmed.
“To eradicate hunger and to diminish the rich-poor divide”, was the straightforward answer of the writer Mempo Giardinelli. He considers there is a lack of a decisive political action both in the ruling party and in the political opposition. He proposed to strengthen the good things that have been done so far.
Antonio Bellucci, National Museum of Decorative Arts’ Director, considers that “our cultural deficit is due to the deterioration of the educative base that supports everything”. Thus, he considers that during this year it is essential to achieve a long-term agreement in all jurisdictions that should establish clearly rights and duties and guarantee the steady continuity of the school cycle and the quality of contents.
Looking Towards Frankfurt
“A priority that cannot be postponed for the country is to know what is happening abroad, to be seen from outside and stop contemplating one’s navel. This year Argentina’s literature has the unique opportunity of being at the centre of attention at Frankfurt’s Fair and to recover the space it once had”, expressed the writer Elsa Osorio.
The historian and former Culture National Secretary, Pacho O’Donnell, considers that a monument to José Hernández in Buenos Aires is lacking. “The union UPCN has been leading this initiative and it has been approved by the legislative body”.