Marta announces R$ 50 million for Culture during the World Cup.

The Arena Corinthians, which hosted the opening of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, was the stage for the launch of the Ministry of Culture's actions for the major events that will take place in the country in the coming years. The Minister of Culture, Marta Suplicy, announced this Thursday (8) that the amount invested will exceed R$ 50 million and that the objective is to broaden the image that the world has of Brazil, showcasing its richness and diversity.

"We have approximately R$ 19 million for culture, R$ 17,5 million for the revitalization of facilities chosen by the host cities, R$ 20 million from Petrobras for museums, R$ 2 million for flash mobs – which is very interesting for culture –, R$ 12 million for the Espaço Cultura fan fests, which will take place in the host cities, and R$ 4 million for communication. That's almost R$ 60 million that we are investing in different ways," said Marta.

The minister emphasized that Brazil is known for samba, carnival, music, and football, and that hosting the World Cup in Brazil is an opportunity to expand this identity. The ministry's main initiative is the 2014 Culture competition, which aims to contract at least 1.200 cultural performances for the competition period (June 10th to July 15th) to, in partnership with state and municipal governments, strengthen the cultural programming of the host cities.

"We have to preserve this gold, recognized worldwide, and expand it to the wonders that people don't know about. This is a grant that I want to include small and medium-sized businesses, because the large ones already have sponsorship," Marta argued.

The 2014 Culture Program foresees investments in four pillars of the Cultural Content section of the Ministry of Culture's Action Plan for Major Events: Audiovisual Brazil (presentation of Brazilian audiovisual production, including medium-length films, documentaries, animation, and fiction); Creative Brazil (artistic content, in digital format, of crafts, fashion, architecture, design, and gastronomy, of local expression, dealing with the most varied languages ​​of the creative economy); Diverse Brazil (traditional manifestations from all states of the country, activities between Cultural Centers, and the valorization of Brazilian tangible and intangible heritage); and Brazil of the Arts (artistic exhibitions in the areas of music, theater, circus, dance, literature, and visual arts).

"The Culture (2014) program will leave a legacy of image. When the World Cup is over, we want our image to have changed, to have been broadened. We want people to better understand the greatness and diversity of Brazilian culture," the minister added.

Marta also mentioned the facilities planned for the revitalization. Among them are the Mercado dos Pinhões, in Fortaleza, the Pátio São Pedro, in Recife, and the Centro Municipal de Arte Helio Oiticica, in Rio de Janeiro.

"The Ministry of Culture is undoubtedly focused on social inclusion. We have been taking action in this area all along. We believe that this World Cup cannot be for just a select few; it has to be for the whole of Brazil. We will make every effort to ensure that this is the case, in addition to showcasing our Brazilian identity, which is so diverse, rich, and beautiful," he concluded.

The opening ceremony featured a performance by the Paraisópolis Philharmonic Orchestra and poets from the Pombas Urbanas Cultural Center. Present were the executive secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Marcelo Pedroso; the architect brothers Ruy and Ricardo Ohtake; the actor Sérgio Mamberte; the new president of Funarte, Guti Fraga; the president of the Palmares Foundation, Senator Antônio Carlos; the federal deputy and president of the Parliamentary Front for Culture, Luciana Santos; Andres Sanches, representative of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, and other authorities.

After the event, the minister spoke with the press present, visited the Arena Corinthians construction site, and greeted the workers.

NOTICE

Registration for the 2014 Culture competition will be open from August 9th to September 23rd, 2013, and must be done exclusively through the SalicWeb system, available at www.cultura.gov.br. Individuals and private legal entities, with or without profit motives, and groups not legally constituted may participate.

Text: Ananda Figueiredo, SE/MinC