More than fifty artists, cultural managers, municipal culture officials and mayors met at Hotel Diego de Almagro Talca to participate in the seminar "New Cultural Donations Law: Changes and Challenges" organised by the Council of Culture and the Arts in order to introduce changes in this legal instrument, in force since January 2014.
The main speaker was Gloria Valdés, Regional Director of Culture of Antofagasta, who has an extensive and distinguished career in the cultural field with expertise in the Cultural Donations Law. She talked about the need of professional management of this tax mechanism and in its approach to the private world. She also introduced the changes in donor requirements, deadlines and incorporation of owners of heritage properties, among other themes.
Regional Director of Maule, Irene Albornoz, moderated the panel discussion on experiences on cultural donations. The panellists included cultural manager and former manager of the Cultural Corporation of Curicó, Brenda Sandoval. She talked about the challenges of this legal mechanism for artists, managers and institutions.
"The big challenge is to study the legal mechanism and work with them, keeping in mind that the relationship between the donor and the recipient must be of mutual gain. It is not enough that the artist considers good his/her project: the donor must be equally interested, "Albornoz said.
The Legal Framework
The Cultural Donations Law is a mechanism that encourages private companies or individuals to support art and culture projects. It aims to promote the cultural development of the country, to provide new sources of financing for culture and promote access to art, heritage and cultural projects.
The law encourages public -private partnership for cultural development through funding of cultural projects by the State and the private sector. The Treasury provides financing through a credit equivalent - in almost all cases – up to the half of the donation , which means in practice a waiver from the state to collect this part of the tribute.