National art schools in danger after announcement of budget cut of more than 60%

The National Superior Autonomous School of Fine Arts of Peru (ENSABAP), the National Superior School of Folklore Jose Maria Arguedasthe National Superior School of Dramatic Art (ENSAD) and the National Superior Ballet School (ENSB) have spoken out against the Multiannual Budget Allocation 2024-2026—Circular Letter No. 009-2023-EF/50.03—announced by the Council of Ministers on May 31, and which cuts between 60% and 70% of the budget allocated for the next few years.

“The four National Art Schools (formerly also the National Conservatory of Music, today the National University of Music) that, in the midst of the circumstances, made all our efforts to provide students with a quality education, Now we are threatened in our institutional functioning due to the proposed budget cut 2024 – 2026”, can be read in the official pronouncement of the four schools.

Likewise, they warn that with said amount assigned they will not be able to function as of next year, directly affecting students, teachers and workers.

“We Fine Arts teachers found out today that for next year the MEF is reducing our budget from S/15 to S/5 million. In other National Art Schools (such as those of Theater and Dance), the situation is more dramatic, since they are going from S/8 to S/2 million,” denounced the professor of Fine Arts, Hernán Hernández Kcomt, on his social networks.

In addition, in the official statement, they indicate that the approval of the replacement text of Bill No. 758/2021-CR, a law that regulates the Higher Schools of Artistic Training, would also endanger the freedom of said institutions due to the fact that the Government would have the power to dictate and create the contents of our curricula. “This legislative initiative reduces our university rank and limits our academic, administrative and government autonomy, and prevents the different bills that create the National Universities of Art from being debated in the National Parliament itself, based on each one of them. of the schools in question ”, they add.