The Senate approved today (15) a bill (PL) that transfers R$ 3.8 billion for emergency actions in the cultural sector across the country. According to the proposal, the resources will come from the current financial surplus of the National Culture Fund (FNC). The Union will have to send the money to the states, the Federal District and the municipalities so that it can be used in initiatives aimed at combating and reducing the effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the cultural sector. The text goes to presidential sanction.
Approved in the Senate in November last year, the project went to the Chamber of Deputies. There, he underwent punctual changes and, therefore, returned to the Senate. The rapporteur of the project in the second passage through the Senate, Alexandre Silveira (PSD-MG), made only one adjustment in one of the articles amended by the deputies: in case of disapproval in the provision of information by the managers, there will be reimbursement to the treasury only when there is evidence of bad -faith of the beneficiary.
When reading the report, Silveira highlighted the importance of the cultural sector for the country. For the senator, encouraging culture is essential for the country’s development. The rapporteur criticized any debate that divides culture into political and ideological spheres.
“Culture has to do with our tradition, with critical thinking, with a people’s way of expressing and manifesting itself. That’s why we have to value it so much. The country can’t stand this sterile, fruitless, and even petty discussion any longer, which preaches that we should no longer invest in culture so as not to benefit sides A or B. Culture is art, education, intellectual enrichment”, said Silveira.
States, Federal District and municipalities will be responsible for indicating the actions benefiting from the funds. In his speech, Silveira highlighted the amount that will be allocated to the states of Amazonas (R$ 86 million), Ceará (R$ 178 million), Santa Catarina (R$ 125 million) and Goiás (R$ 129 million).
The proposal was named Lei Paulo Gustavo in honor of the actor, who died of covid-19 in May 2021. During the vote, senators paid tribute to the actor. Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP) referred to Paulo Gustavo as “one of the greatest artists” the country has ever had.
The Paulo Gustavo Law is the second passed in Congress to help the cultural sector, whose revenue has fallen dramatically with the arrival of the covid-19 pandemic and the consequent suspension of cultural activities, such as musical shows and plays. The first was the Aldir Blanc Law, created as an emergency aid to the cultural sector and also named after an artist. In this case, a writer and composer, also a victim of covid-19.
considerations
The project determines that the beneficiaries of the resources comply with counterparts, which can be the realization of free exhibitions; activities aimed at public and private schools that have ProUni students, as well as members of cultural groups and collectives and community associations.
Accountability for the use of resources is also foreseen.
The counterparts, both for the audiovisual sector and for those benefited through FNC notices, will have to occur within a period determined by governments and municipalities, according to the epidemiological situation and the measures to control covid-19.
