Chile proposes 16.5% budget cut for Ministry of Cultures

The proposed 2027 budget for Chile's Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage includes a 16.5% decrease compared to the 2026 budget. While the Ministry's total budget is projected to drop from $527,326 million to $440,518 million, the practical decrease is estimated at 10.1% when accounting for technical adjustments made during the first half of the current administration.

The most significant reductions are found in Cultural Investment Initiatives, which are set to fall by 64.8%, dropping from $22,840 million to $8,039 million. Specifically, resources linked to the Ministry of Public Works (MOP) face a 96.9% reduction. Other notable cuts include a 21.8% decrease in the National Fund for the Promotion of Books and Reading.

The only budget increases involve the creation of the National Fund for the Promotion and Development of Handicrafts, allocated $300 million, and $2,202 million for Chile's participation in the 2027 Frankfurt International Book Fair. Minister Undurraga has stated that sufficient funds remain, despite objections from official associations citing “technical inconsistencies.”