Mexico expands funding for traditional musicians and indigenous language arts

Mexico’s Secretariat of Culture has announced a significant increase in funding for traditional musicians and indigenous language artists through its 2026 calls for proposals. Under the Sistema de Apoyos a la Creación y Proyectos Culturales (Sistema Creación), the program has reached historic levels of support.

The Músicos Tradicionales Mexicanos (MTM) initiative has doubled its grants from 20 to 40. These projects represent 21 musical genres, including various forms of son, bolero, and corrido, spanning 14 Mexican states. Oaxaca received the highest number of selections with 10, followed by Michoacán and Mexico City with eight each. Notably, 72.5 percent of the MTM recipients are participating in the program for the first time.

Additionally, the Artes en Lenguas Indígenas Nacionales (ALIN) program increased its support by 52 percent, rising from 23 to 35 grants. These funds aim to strengthen linguistic diversity and support artistic creation in 24 different native languages. Culture Secretary Claudia Curiel de Icaza described the expansion as a decision of “cultural justice” to ensure the continuity and circulation of Mexico’s diverse musical and linguistic heritage.