MiCultura participates in planning meeting for National Foklore Center

Panama, 24 October 2019.Authorities from the Ministry of Culture participated in the first meeting of alignment and definition of objectives for the project of the National Folklore Centre, to be built in the province of Los Santos and that corresponds to one of the priority actions of the Plan of Action of the Good Government leading by the President of the Republic Laurentine Cortizo Cohen.

The delegation of the cultural entity was made up of Gabriel González, Vice Minister of Culture, Karen Peralta, National Director of Folklore and Jaronne Rovi, Director of infrastructure, who shared this work session with representatives of entities such as the National Secretary of Disability (SENADIS), Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), Province of Los Santos, Public Services Authority (ASEP), Centre for Art and Culture, Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and the Ministry of President (MIPRE).

Advisers at the Public Infrastructure Coordination Unit (UCIP) of the President of the Republic were in charge of the discussion and exchange of ideas about the characteristics, advocacy, sustainability and services for the beneficiaries, among other things that this site will require.

The Unit is responsible for evaluating and approving projects for the design and construction of public infrastructure works, which are assigned to it by the Cabinet Board and monitoring compliance with the relevant technical requirements and specifications of each project as well as previous studies, such as environmental impact studies, soil studies and those permits and procedures established by the provisions in force.

Gabriel González emphasized that this first stage of planning is important because through the Ministry of Culture we work on the concept of "accessible culture" of access to artistic events for all, where it will be not only the Folklore of Azuero but also the customs and traditions of the other regions of the country, people of African descent and indigenous peoples, strengthening the identity of all these groups.

In this accessible or inclusive culture we also wish to address the challenges of infrastructure for people with disabilities and older people, with the aim that this place will be for all Panamanian people, added Gabriel González.

During the day, members of the work table agreed that the Folklore National Centre should be administered mainly by the Ministry of Culture in partnership with the Ministry of Education and supported by local and private authorities from the area where it will be established.

Karen Peralta, national director of folklore, stated that as part of MiCultura's actions a citizen's consultation to listen to cultural managers, members of the community and local authorities, among others, with a view to collecting more data for the implementation of the Folklore National Centre.