Chile cuts cultural ministry budget, sparking artist backlash and heritage site threats

The government of President José Antonio Kast announced a cut of 51.75 billion pesos (about 9.8% of the 2026 budget) to the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage, the largest reduction since Chile’s return to democracy. The austerity measure affects programs such as the Cultural Pass, public library network, museum funding and the operations of sites like the Casa Memoria José Domingo Cañas.

Artists, actors and directors responded with public criticism. In a podcast, actor Paty Maldonado called the cut “a betrayal” and used harsh language toward fellow performers, demanding that actors fund themselves like other professions. Nearly 100 cultural and heritage organisations warned that the budget squeeze threatens education, research, conservation work and the preservation of historic memory, citing unpaid salaries and halted activities at memory sites.

The cuts have raised concerns about the state’s obligations to human‑rights and historical memory, with organizations arguing that the reductions could jeopardise the preservation of Chile’s cultural patrimony and limit public access to the arts.