Public authorities were negligent in relation to cultural professionals during the pandemic. This was the tone of the meeting between the candidate for São Paulo councilor for PT De Lucca (13000) and actors, producers and other theater workers, held last week.
De Lucca met with cultural professionals to discuss options for the sector. Among the proposals brought by the participants is the municipalization of independent theaters, which would be used on a lending basis by current companies that already operate in these locations. With this measure, part of the financial problems for maintaining these spaces would be alleviated.
“Many artists and producers who participated in the meeting reported that their projects were reduced to zero right away at the beginning of the pandemic. And the public authorities did nothing to minimize the damage”, criticized De Lucca. “The Central Bank injected R$1,2 trillion into Brazilian banks, but what about credit for cultural producers? What are the subsidies for theaters to continue paying rent and bills, which keep coming? With this municipalization proposal, these independent theaters become the responsibility of the City Hall, which must ensure the functioning of each of them, guaranteeing, at the same time, creative and artistic freedom for the groups that manage them”, he explained.
The proposal for the municipalization of independent theaters will be taken by De Lucca to the City Council so that the City Hall is obliged, by law, to adopt such a measure.
On the basis of dialogue
Since the beginning of the campaign, De Lucca has been talking to several professionals from the culture and entertainment sectors – two areas devastated by the pandemic and forgotten by public administration. Conversations were held with bar owners, nightclubs, DJs, drag queens, actors, event producers and others.
“I usually say that, in these conversations, I exercise the 'listening place', instead of the 'speaking place'. Knowing the reality of different professional categories, we are able to develop a program for the mandate that is coherent, inclusive and that effectively has a positive impact on people’s lives”, he explained. “I support the daily battle of people who work in the culture and entertainment sector, which is why I will take all the proposals that emerge in these conversations to the City Council”, he added.
