Chilean national arts development agency, Fondart, recently approved total funding of 1,963,233 pesos, to be divided among 256 projects estimated to involve some 1,660 artists. Announced by Minister of Education, Mariana Aylwin, Head of the Cultural Division, Claudio di Girólamo, and National Co-ordinator of Fondart, Nivia Palma, the funded projects are aimed at increasing community access to culture and cultural facilities. The ministers noted that of the projects presented by native-born Chileans, 69% are created by men and 30.9 % by women, while 38.4% of all funded artists are under 29 years of age, 44.3% are 30-40 years of age and 35.46% are 41 or more. According to Fondart, 18 touring theatre shows and six touring dance performances have received support, bringing the arts to distant and isolated localities nationwide. Thirty per cent of patrons will be able to attend these performances without charge, while the remainder will pay a subsidised entrance fee of 2,000 pesos. Performances funded include: a five-region tour by the Folklore Company of the Teachers of Arica; the creation of a double CD, Anthology of colonial music in South America; numerous films and youth and children’s theatre productions.