The Ministry of Culture presented the VII Inclusive Gala, under the motto "The Shadow of the Drug," a staging that brought together more than 90 artists with and without disabilities at the Multifunctional Theater, "Aurea" Baby Torrijos from Ciudad de las Artes, an evening dedicated to celebrating diversity, talent and full participation in the arts.

During his intervention, the highest authority María Eugenia Herrera, Minister of Cultural Portfolio, emphasized that every edition of the Inclusive Gala strengthens his commitment to ensuring true, dignified and complete access to culture for all people with and without disabilities. Herrera added that this project promotes accessibility and promotes artistic creation as a space for collective participation, recognition and growth.

The 2025 edition presented a variety of artistic and folkloric points. What included a dramatised, special format that integrated dance, music, theater, humor and tradition, articulated by a central story that gave emotional unity to the function. The work "To the shadow of the drum" evoke the identity, rhythm and cultural roots as elements that united and strengthen the social fabric.

That meeting worked as a place of co-creation, where artists with and without disabilities shared experiences, explored performing languages and contributed from their diversity of sensitivities.

For the second consecutive year, as a significant step forward, the libretto was written by a Panamanian artist with a disability and achieved a practice that promotes sustained representation in creative processes, both at stage and in artistic decision-making.

Minister Herrera recognized the work of the Office for Equal Opportunities and Gender, which for the seventh consecutive year co-ordinated this project and emphasized her commitment to the development of inclusive and accessible spaces.

Panamanian artist Demetrio Ortiz, directed the staging of the foundations: sentinel group, Jadis, familial group Let's talk, Red de Orquestas infantiles and Juveniles de Panama and the ensemble Panama,
Aspadesder.

The VII Inclusive Gala "In the Shadow of the Drug" stated that art unites, strengthens identity and enriches the soul, strengthening culture as a space where all people have a place.

Some of the groups that were part of the presentations were: AEECEP, SOS Albino, Funode, National Director of Art Education, and his Schools of Dance and Theater, as well as his strategic allies, including the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco, Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Senadis, Iphe, Grupo Melo (Pio Pius), Nickos Café and Riba Smith.