Brazil implements new regulatory frameworks and municipal investments for cultural funding

Brazil is undergoing significant shifts in how public funds are allocated to the cultural sector. In Rio de Janeiro, an evaluation of the ISS Law revealed that between 2021 and 2025, the city allocated approximately R$ 336.9 million to over 1,100 cultural projects. This fiscal incentive policy, which averaged R$ 67.4 million annually, aims to stimulate the creative economy and job creation. A new cycle has already been opened, with more than R$ 91 million earmarked for projects scheduled for 2027.

On a national level, the implementation of Law 14.903, known as the Regulatory Framework for Cultural Promotion, is introducing new mechanisms for public financing. Maria Beatriz Salles, Attorney General of Funarte, noted that the law seeks to provide greater legal security and reduce bureaucracy by introducing specific instruments such as Cultural Execution Terms, Cultural Award Terms, and Cultural Scholarship Terms. The framework also expands the definition of a cultural agent to include individuals without formal legal entities or fixed addresses, aiming to democratize access to funding.