In the 35th Meeting of the Planning Commission of the Regional Fund for Culture and the Arts, held in Merida, Yucatan, participants agreed to develop cultural projects for the benefit of the six southern states.
Antonio Crestani, Director of Cultural Connections (Vinculación Cultural) of Conaculta stressed the importance of joint work with culture officials in every state to achieve the construction of cultural projects with regional vision.
At the meeting the representatives of the culture institutions in the region agreed, in accordance with the policies outlined by the president of the National Council for Culture and the Arts, Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, and according the Digital Culture Agenda, to work on the formation and operation of the Mexican Digital Cultural Information Platform (MICultura), which is an online application that will integrate the cultural information of the 478 municipalities in the south of the country
.As regards cultural administration, explained Antonio Crestani, the country is divided into five areas called: South, Central, Central West, Northeast and Northwest, each of which has, since 1999 a Regional Fund for Culture and the Arts.
The funds operate as a financial instrument between Conaculta and state culture agencies, to develop projects and programs to benefit the region, said Antonio Crestani.
Conaculta, through the Directorate General of Cultural Connections is responsible for coordinating the work of the five regional funds.
This year, the Regional Fund for Culture and the Arts of the South Zone will allocate 10 million dollars for cultural heritage, cooperation and regional development.
The states involved will carry out artistic and educational activities that provide tools for the development, evaluation and preservation of local culture and the identity.
Among the projects to be implemented are the Regional Theatre Festival, with the participation of companies of performing arts from all the regions, in collaboration with the National Institute of Fine Arts and the National Dance Festival Network, coordinated by the INBA.