Dear Mr Prime Minister

The subscribing Cultural Entities have verified that in the Recovery and Resilience Plan to be presented in Brussels, brought out for public consultation on the 16th of this month, there is no proposal regarding investment in Culture. This Plan is recognised transversally as an opportunity to intervene in a structuring way in the definition of the life of the country in the coming years: correcting asymmetries that block its development and making it more competitive, facing historical fragilities in the various sectors of national life, promoting resilience.

Being aware of the specific directives of the European Union for the objectives of this investment, we understand that this document should reflect the main concerns and strategic lines of this Government for the economic recovery of all sectors, "so that no one is left behind". We are therefore surprised that Culture is not present, in its various areas - creation, heritage, fruition, access, and the necessary dimensions of technological capacity building, infrastructures and internationalisation. What is the reason for this absence? Is this Government, and its Prime Minister, assuming that it does not see Culture as a fundamental motor for development and national cohesion? Does this decision mean that the Government is not taking responsibility for this vast and diverse sector that generates undeniable value? It is known, and assumed by your Government, that Culture has suffered from chronic underfunding, precariousness and lack of structural investment.

The asymmetry in access to cultural goods and infrastructures between the different regions of the country is also well known. These historical weaknesses will be aggravated, and the recovery and resilience of this sector are threatened. How can this Government, and the Prime Minister, want to miss this opportunity?

The omission of Culture from this plan in the medium term will have large-scale economic, social and political consequences. At a time when democratic cohesion is an issue of transversal concern, it seems to us a serious mistake that our Government chooses not to invest in the future of a sector that is so fundamental for this cohesion.

For these reasons, we hereby demand the inclusion of a plan for Culture that takes advantage of the opportunity that presents itself, revitalising in a structural way this sector that is so central to the future of our national life.

Signatory personalities:

Aldina Duarte
Ana Margarida de Carvalho
Anabela Mota Ribeiro
António Pinto Ribeiro
Bárbara Bulhosa
Camané
Carlos Vaz Marques
Irene Pimentel
Jorge Silva Melo
Maria do Céu Guerra
Miguel Lobo Antunes
Pilar del Río
Samuel Rego
Sérgio Godinho
Tiago Bartolomeu Costa

Subscribing entities:

AÇÃO COOPERATIVISTA DE APOIO - ARTISTAS, TÉCNICOS E PRODUTORES
ACESSO CULTURA
AGÊNCIA DA CURTA METRAGEM
AMAEI - ASSOCIAÇÃO DE MÚSICOS ARTISTAS E EDITORES INDEPENDENTES
APNEIA – ASSOCIAÇÃO DE PRODUTORES DO NORTE E EMPRESÁRIOS INDEPENDENTES
DO AUDIOVISUAL
APORDOC - ASSOCIAÇÃO PELO DOCUMENTÁRIO
APR – ASSOCIAÇÃO PORTUGUESA DE REALIZADORES
APTA - ASSOCIAÇÃO PORTUGUESA DE TÉCNICOS DO AUDIOVISUAL
APURO - ASSOCIAÇÃO CULTURAL E FILANTRÓPICA
ARTE EDUCADORES EM LUTA
ASSOCIAÇÃO OS FILHOS DE LUMIÈRE
CASA DAANIMAÇÃO
CONVERGÊNCIA PELA CULTURA
CURTAS VILA DO CONDE
DOCLISBOA
INDIELISBOA
LOVERS & LOLLYPOPS
MONSTRA
OMNICHORD
PCIA – PRODUTORES DE CINEMA INDEPENDENTE ASSOCIADOS
PLATAFORMADANÇA - ASSOCIAÇÃO NACIONAL DE DANÇA
PLATEIA - ASSOCIAÇÃO DOS PROFISSIONAIS DAS ARTES CÉNICAS
PORTO POST DOC
PORTUGAL FILM
QUEER LISBOA
TREMOR FESTIVAL
WHY PORTUGAL - ESTRUTURA DE INTERNACIONALIZAÇÃO DA INDÚSTRIA DA MÚSICA
PORTUGUESA