Original article: Tío Valentín alza la voz por la cultura: deplora los recortes y advierte a Kast que “de esta forma no se llega”

Tío Valentín Raises Concerns for Chilean Culture: Criticizes Budget Cuts and Warns Kast «This Way Won’t Work»

Pianist Valentín Trujillo, fondly known as “Tío Valentín,” and a prominent figure in Chilean music, voiced a strong criticism regarding bureaucratic budget cuts impacting the cultural sector, directly warning President José Antonio Kast, stating that «This way won’t work.»

The 10% budget reduction imposed by the far-right government on the Ministry of Culture for 2026 is the largest among all ministries, anticipating a cut of $51.750 billion that severely affects the development of cultural programs, libraries, museums, and renowned artistic institutions such as the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda, Fundación Teatro a Mil, Fundación Eduardo Frei, and the Museo Violeta Parra, among others.

In an interview with El Mercurio, the musician did not hide his discontent with the diminished resources available for the arts and the halt of projects such as the expansion of the Centro Cultural Gabriela Mistral (GAM), whose construction has been stalled for months without any resolution in sight.

Trujillo, who recently celebrated his 93rd birthday, pointed out that these cuts are not a recent development but have been brewing for some time. «I deplore it, but it’s something that started some time ago,» he noted, connecting the current cultural crisis to the declining focus on artistic education in schools and the gradual elimination of music classes.

«I see it as stemming from budget cuts in education, in schools, where music classes were reduced to a point that caused tremendous damage,” expressed Trujillo, who displayed his musical talent from a young age and has become a cultural icon in the nation.

As an example of the educational decline, Trujillo lamented the poor performance of Chilean athletes when singing the National Anthem.

“It’s just a matter of listening to our athletes try to sing the National Anthem; it’s truly frightening,» he asserted.

Trujillo Warns Kast: «This Way Won’t Work»

However, his most severe comments were directed at Kast and the questionable measures he has implemented since taking office on March 11, which have contributed to his plummeting approval ratings now at 36%.

«Let’s hope these two months serve as a lesson to understand that this way won’t work,» declared Tío Valentín, who among more than 70 years of career achievements, received the National Prize for Musical Arts in 2024, the highest honor awarded by the Chilean state to its most influential artists.

Furthermore, he warned Kast that if he continues to govern in favor of large companies, neglecting the citizens’ needs, he will face a confrontational scenario.

«With this approach, he is going to have a strong opposition,» he pointed out.

The musician called for an appreciation of the country’s cultural heritage, highlighting the two Nobel Prize winners in Literature who have given international prominence to Chile, Gabriela Mistral (1945) and Pablo Neruda (1971), while paradoxically noting that they are little known within the nation.

«Culture is vital for society, we have a country rich in poets, with two Nobel Prize winners in Literature that the world admires but are little known in our own country. That’s sad and there must be a way to reach a point of connection,” he concluded.