One of his priorities will be to foster the reconstruction of the buildings considered cultural heritage that the recent earthquake destroyed. His administration will promote audiences’ participation in cultural institutions and will make cultural institutions more efficient, taking into account what has already been done.

Last Thursday, March 11, Luciano Cruz-Coke took on the post of Minister President of the Consejo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes (National Council of Culture and Arts)–CNCA–. After accepting his appointment, he announced that his administration will meet the urgent need of coordinating, from the CNCA, the reconstruction of the cultural heritage destroyed by the earthquake. “A task of such proportions forces us to work immediately and in a coordinated manner in order to achieve a lasting reconstruction. The CNCA, the DIBAM and the Consejo de Monumentos Nacionales (National Monuments Council), are organizing joint initiatives to rebuild the buildings of cultural interest and invigorate the intangible heritage whose strength and spirit have been diminished”.

The Minister pointed out that the plan would require an efficient administration of available resources and a significative support from the private sector. To promote the latter, there will be legal initiatives that will create incentives.

Action Plan

The Secretary of State pointed out that he values the work done by his predecessors to build solid cultural institutions in Chile. “We value what the CNCA has done since it was created up to the present moment. We want to strengthen and improve its mechanisms, in a responsible and efficient manner, so that an equitable access to cultural goods that reaches every corner of the country is guaranteed”, were his words.

He also stated that his administration would have as central axis citizens’ participation in Chile’s cultural development. The State, the civil organizations, the private sector, institutions, communities and citizens will be invited to take part. One of his main tasks will be to decentralise culture, promoting development centres in every region that will allow the generation, sharing and promotion of local cultural manifestations, as well as to strengthen the internationalization of Chilean culture.

“Our mission is to promote cultural heritage and to invite individuals, communities and institutions to create room for expression throughout the country”, were the last statements of Cruz-Coke.

His welcoming greeting to government employees can be viewed at: www.youtube.com/lamoneda#p/u/19/lHIvRYkM35o

http://www.consejodelacultura.cl/portal/index.php?page=articulo&articulo=11235