National System of Popular Cultures
To reinforce the strategic space where the joint efforts made by groups of artists, creators and culture promoters, as well as individuals, can be organized, along with that of public and private entities, voluntary committees and the community at large, to enhance the creation of traditional, popular cultures, by contributing to, educating about and disseminating the arts and knowledge.
The National System of Popular Cultures is the strategic space wherein the joint efforts of government entities dealing with culture is organized along with that of the institutions, groups and individuals that operate professionally in the creation of popular culture and traditions.
Among the members of the National System of Popular Cultures are all those groups, associations, confraternities and other forms of collective organization that operate in an ongoing, authentic basis on the creation of traditional, popular cultural expressions, so long as they voluntarily opt in, are duly registered, and are recognized as such by the governing body.
“Honorary” members of the National System of Popular Cultures include all those intellectuals, writers, artists, and culture promoters that have enjoyed a long career, and have been publically recognized as individuals of exceptional value, and have been invited by the governing body and expressed their will to be part of the system. Other potential members include non-profit voluntary committees organized within a communal council or any other form of social organization originating from the popular power, to strengthen, promote and give visibility to the traditional cultural expressions of our people, under the current regulatory framework.
Between 2013 and 2016, 15,246 workshops were carried out to teach about and disseminate the arts and the knowledge relating to popular, traditional expressions; 109 audiovisual records and pieces of documentary research on popular, traditional expressions were prepared; 5,857 activities with tradition bearers were organized; 14,442 socio-productive supplies were awarded to artists and creators to develop a productive cultural economy; 297 creators were given special assistance; 63 special donations were made; and 7,552 presentations associated with traditional expressions took place.
The project received an average of US$ 600,000 per year under the regular national budget and supplemental appropriations.