MiCultura strengthens cultural partnership with Costa Rica

A convention was signed between the Ministries of Culture of Panama and Costa Rica with a view to establishing an international cooperation framework for the conduct of cultural exchanges with a view to strengthening the fields of music, theater, artistic and cultural groups and cinema.

In addition to an exchange of artistic expressions, this document aims to cover the indigenous population living at the border of both Bribris and Nga-Buglé and seasonal workers at the border by identifying actions that can be undertaken with these ethnic groups.

"We are committed to continuing to seek more precise and prompt action to put in place public private alliances for the reactivation of creative sectors of both nations, within the block of law currently in place in each country and in compliance with the conduct of cultural exchanges between Costa Rica and Panama," stated Carlos Aguilar Navarro, Minister of Culture.

 
For his part, Sylvie Duran Salvatierra, Minister of Culture and Youth of the Republic of Costa Rica, emphasized that "the pandemic put us in clear terms with the goals of sustainable development, our common area, we have, for instance, at our border music from both countries, with a great number of interactions from the private and tourist sector, where we have the opportunity to continue to share part of our history" and we are therefore pleased to formalize our goals with the Ministry of Culture of Panama.

A second point that countries will set up is to discuss illicit traffic in cultural property as well as to join efforts to strengthen the conservation of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Calipso and to promote implementation and participation in events such as the Calipso Festival that takes place every year, in July, with a view to strengthening the Calypsonians of the region as an important part of their cultural contribution to Central American culture.

That bilateral sign at a cultural level was held between Carlos Aguilar Navarro, Minister of Culture and Sylvie Elena Duran Salvatierra, Minister of Culture and Youth of Costa Rica, who was represented by Ingrid Piado, Ambassador of Costa Rica to Panama.

That convention will also take into account Costa Rican and Panamanian filmmakers through the Costa Rican Center for Cinematographic Production and the direction of the film and audiovisual industry of Panama, setting up festivals as a whole to generate economic activity at the border and to support the groups of both nations.

Both authorities undertake to maintain continuous communication between both ministries and other cultural actors with a view to achieving appropriate co-ordination between the parties, and this will be implemented in accordance with the guidelines and procedures of each Party and propose concrete plans, projects and programmes.