Budget 2027 Cuts 25.3% from Memory Sites: Human Rights and Historical Memory Under Threat

Original article: Memoria y derechos humanos con menos recursos: Presupuesto 2027 recorta 25,3% a Sitios de Memoria

The administration of José Antonio Kast will implement a 25.3% budget cut to the Memory Sites Program as part of the 2027 budget, according to allocations from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage. This measure results in a direct loss of $231 million, with the fund decreasing from $915 million in 2026 to $683 million in 2027, marking one of the most sensitive adjustments affecting historical memory and human rights.

As revealed by CIPER, the reductions are structured in three main areas. The first is the Memory Sites Program Fund, which accounts for the largest decrease. The second pertains to the Memory Museum, which will see its funding frozen at $2.642 billion, showing zero percent variation compared to the previous year. The third impacts collaborating institutions, which will see a 1.1% reduction, dropping from $4.200 billion to $4.154 billion, equating to a $47 million cut.

Kast’s cuts affect several significant organizations, including Londres 38 Casa Memoria, Corporación Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi, Memorial de Paine, Fundación Documento y Archivo Vicaría de la Solidaridad, Corporación Estadio Nacional Memoria Nacional, Fundación de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas (FASIC), Centro Cultural Museo y Memoria de Neltume, Fundación 1367 Casa Memoria José Domingo Cañas, and Corporación de exPresos Políticos de Pisagua; these entities will face reduced or stagnant funding.

The cuts to memory and human rights programs occur within a broader context of overall budget adjustments by the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage. The 2027 budget proposal, drafted by the Ministry of Finance under Minister Jorge Quiroz, establishes a total expenditure of $440.518 billion, representing a reduction of $49.381 billion (-10.1%) compared to the adjusted budget of 2026 ($489.899 billion). This reduction particularly impacts investment programs and funding supports.

According to documents submitted by CIPER, cultural infrastructure and transfers to the Ministry of Public Works for cultural projects are suffering a staggering 96.9% drop, falling from $11.671 billion to $360 million. Additionally, the Cultural Infrastructure Program sees a 41.3% decrease, down to $5.565 billion. These figures confirm that the budget cuts extend beyond just memory sites, affecting various areas of cultural activities.

In the same vein, funding for heritage programs, specifically the projects of the National Heritage Service (SERPAT) carried out through the Ministry of Public Works, has decreased by 70.5%, while the Heritage Fund is down 45.3%. Furthermore, the Cultural Pass has been reduced by 50.8%. These setbacks significantly impact both the conservation of heritage and public access to cultural resources and activities.

Fewer Resources for Historical Memory and Human Rights

The reviewed documentation suggests that these reductions are made in comparison to the 2026 budget and reinforce adjustments announced and executed by Kast’s administration since March 11 of this year. As a result, the 2027 budget not only cuts funding for Memory Sites, but also retracts resources for infrastructure, heritage, development funds, and the Cultural Pass, creating a landscape of less funding for historical memory and human rights.

The situation for Villa Grimaldi had already shown signs of strain. The aforementioned outlet noted that back in May, an article revealed delays in resource transfers to the Parque de la Paz Villa Grimaldi, leading to a significant financial crisis. The new budgetary environment now deepens the uncertainty for spaces dedicated to memory and the defense of human rights.

When questioned about the cuts, Culture Minister Francisco Undurraga refrained from commenting on the rationale behind this decision, stating that he would “not address the issue until the Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, provides remarks on the 2027 budget next Tuesday, October 6”.