The absence of «gradualism» that Javier Milei He promised in his first speech as president-elect that it will impact public policies to promote artistic creation and cultural expressions. As of December 10, Culture will cease to be a ministry and will become a secretariat. In charge of the area will be the producer of theatrical and musical shows Leonardo Cifelli, with a management background during that of Angel Mahler as Buenos Aires minister. Workers in the area are «in a state of alert and mobilization», worried about what is coming and the expiration of contracts.
Who is Leonardo Cifelli
Cifelli was summoned in December by La Libertad Avanza. A season of Dracula, the musical; So he got together in April with Karina Milei. 52 years old, he is a producer of shows like the one mentioned, minced meat, endorphin monologues, The Hunchback of Paris, The prodigious shoemaker, Arabian Nights, Dorian Gray, the portrait and Priscilla, queen of the desert. He has worked with Pepito Cibrián, Antonio Gasalla, Enrique Pinti, China Zorrilla, Moria Casán, Soledad Silveyra, Marilina Ross and Carlos Perciavalle. He is also a partner of the composer Mahler, who appointed him as chief of staff while he was at the head of the Ministry of Culture of the City of Buenos Aires, in a short-lived administration between 2016 and 2017, during the mandate of Horacio Rodríguez Larreta as head of government.
LLA’s main ideas for Culture
Cifelli did not agree to talk with Page 12. In interviews with different media he gave some clues about the future of the area. The budget reduction of the portfolio will be around 33 percent. In the midst of the privatization wave of LLA, he assured that he did not have a «downline» around cultural spaces. He promised that subsidies will not be removed from cinema and theater. The search to «optimize» resources will involve stopping paying «fortunes» to some artists. It is not yet confirmed whether Culture will remain under the orbit of the Chief of Staff or will be absorbed into another portfolio, such as the Ministry of Human Capital. The first option is more likely.
The producer told CNN Radio that with the change in scheme «undersecretaries and general directorates are being removed because the Ministry was a little big.» He did not detail which ones. According to what he anticipated The nation, the Secretariat will have «three undersecretaries and general and operational directorates.» The modification involves a reduction in what he calls the area’s «ravioli.» From 60 to 40: that’s what he said to Infobae.
The 2023 budget for Culture was more than 54 billion pesos. The producer indicated that the area will be «33 percent less expensive than now», that this is «the cut that is going to be made.» He expanded to Ambit this idea, without giving numbers: «The culture budget for next year has not yet been approved but the president-elect has already said that it is not a large budget to make a big cut. With the money we have we must make it worth more, «an artist cannot come, no matter who, and collect fortunes.» He added that the State cannot «pay more cachet than what is paid in the private sphere.» He also said that his management will be open to different ideologies – he questioned the outgoing government in this regard – and that he will give work to those who do not have it – «they are always the same» -. He announced that the enhancement of the Palais de Glace will be completed.
He also reported that he works with a «team of 20 people» and that he will soon announce who the directors of the Teatro Cervantes, the CCK and Tecnópolis. Also, of the National Library, the National Commission of Popular Libraries, the Incaa and the National Fund for the Arts. For the theater on Libertad Street the name of Alejandro Tantanian -who held that position from 2017 to 2020-. This medium was able to reconstruct that, indeed, there was a call on October 20, that is, before PASO; even an offer for the theater director for the CCK, but he will not be part of Milei’s management. Cifelli also called Alberto Ligaluppi -former general artistic director of the Buenos Aires Theater Complex- for the Cervantes. Another appointment that would not materialize.
In a statement prepared prior to the runoff, Cifelli expressed other of his proposals. Titled «For a free and federal culture», the text contains five main ideas: producers and artists will stop paying Profits and Gross Income. Artist presentations in theaters throughout the country. The possibility of establishing a system of patronage like the one that works in CABA.
Also, the intention for Argentina to be a talent «factory». «Artists of the stature of Paloma Herrera, Barenboim and Julio Bocca have come from here, like so many others. We will focus on international cultural promotion, generating alliances and public-private investments that allow us to establish cultural circuits around the world, working in the design and production of traveling programs that nourish Embassies, Consulates and cultural spaces abroad,» the document reads. Finally, it speaks of the «placement of audiovisual platforms» in the country, in order to generate «jobs» and «growth opportunities» for artists and promote «tourism, investments, and the income of foreign currencies.»
«We Argentines are going through the worst economic crisis in the last 20 years,» the statement underlines. «We have a team with experience within culture and its industry, and that allows us to be clear from the first moment what the priorities and decisions we must make are. Our country is a regional cultural beacon and that puts us under the obligation to be more efficient and creative every day,» he says at the beginning.
Alert and mobilization in the Ministry of Culture
Under Macri, the portfolio was also demoted to secretary, but in a gradual process. which began with modifications to the organizational chart, continued with layoffs (many, close to 500, and in the worst way) and maneuvers to defund programs, until the rank change was finally made official in 2018. There was strong resistance from the workers in the sector, who achieved a good number of reinstatements.
Still no one from the new management approached the Ministry. This week Cifelli would meet with Tristán Bauer to begin the transition. This Tuesday the 21st, the workers gathered at ATE sent a letter to the official to inform them that they are in «state of alert and mobilization». They are concerned that Milei has confirmed a program of «budget cuts, reform of the State and de-hierarchization of the Ministry.» Given the «uncertainty» they asked Bauer to carry out the signing of contract renewal, including monotributistas. The majority of the 3,000 Culture workers – including permanent bodies – are in temporary positions, with blank contracts that are renewed annually. At this time, there is tension and spontaneous meetings are activated.