Original article: Rectora de la U. de Chile pide al Gobierno reponer financiamiento de la Gran Sala Sinfónica Nacional: Fue eliminado del Presupuesto 2027

University of Chile’s Rector Urges Government to Reinstate Funding for the National Symphony Hall After Budget Cuts

Rector Alejandra Mizala of the University of Chile, alongside Dominique Thomann, director of the Center for Artistic and Cultural Extension (CEAC), called for the restoration of funding included in the 2026 budget for the Ministry of Cultures, which allowed the operation of the venue, but has been eliminated for 2027.

Following their presentation, the minister and the sub-committee agreed to work towards reaching a consensus to reinstate the budget allocation, as reported by the university’s bulletin.

“In July 2025, the University of Chile inaugurated its National Symphony Hall at the Vicuña Mackenna 20 University Complex (VM20), a project costing over 40 billion pesos funded almost entirely through its own resources,” the notice recalls.

Since then, they highlighted, the space “has been heavily attended and has allowed for democratized access to culture: only between January and August 2026, more than 156,000 people participated in activities at the CEAC, with 67% of access to CEAC events being free of charge.”

These figures formed the basis for the presentation by Rector Alejandra Mizala and CEAC Director Dominique Thomann at the Fourth Mixed Budget Subcommittee at the National Congress, where they advocated for the funding of the cultural venue.

“The Effort of an Entire Community”

The current draft budget bill removes funding from the Ministry of Cultures, Arts and Heritage that was allocated for the operation of the National Symphony Hall—an allocation that recognized it as a collaborative institution, amounting to 2.165 billion pesos in 2026.

“The University of Chile built this Symphony Hall through the efforts of the entire community. What we’re asking for is to be able to open it every day, conduct educational and cultural mediation activities, provide a space for regional orchestras, and promote symphonic music to the population,” Rector Mizala explained to the parliamentarians.

After the presentation, the committee decided to initiate a dialogue to work on the necessary agreements to reinstate the funding, a decision that the university’s top official expressed gratitude for.

In her remarks, the rector detailed how the current budget covers the funding for permanent ensembles—the National Symphony Orchestra of Chile, the National Ballet of Chile, the Symphonic Choir, and the Vocal Camerata—alongside the operation of the Hall, and what changes are coming in the 2027 budget: since 1994, public funds have taken care of the ensembles through the National Interest Activities in the Ministry of Education budget.

Additionally, the funding for the Symphony Hall was included in the Ministry of Cultures allocation for 2026. Now, the budget for the ensembles for 2027 will be drawn from the National Interest Activities funding, kept separate, while completely eliminating the amount designated for the Hall.

“The result is that the ensembles remain funded, but the operation and upkeep of the Hall, the ability to offer free activities, and the promotion of symphonic music are left without financial support, and that is what we seek to correct,” stated the university authority.

Among the list of collaborating institutions are the Municipal Theater, GAM, and the Cultural Center Palacio La Moneda, “which maintain exactly the same funding. The only line that disappears is that of the CEAC at the University of Chile,” Mizala revealed.

“We’re not asking for special treatment, we are asking for the same treatment that other collaborating institutions receive. Therefore, what we are requesting is limited and specific: to reinstate the funding as it stands in the 2026 law,” emphasized the rector of the University of Chile.

A Hall for Chile

During the University of Chile’s presentation, CEAC Director Dominique Thomann shared some statistics regarding the National Symphony Hall, which this year has hosted 39 concerts as part of the Official Symphony-Choral Season and over 170 educational sessions, including “My First Concert,” which was attended by 1,500 children from Renca.

“Between January and August, 156,000 people participated in our activities, with 103,000 attending for free. The agreement with the Ministry of Cultures requires that 60% of access be free, and we have already exceeded 65% (…) Out of 98 activities in the agreement, we have executed 87 as of September, with three months still to go, and all financial reports have been submitted promptly and without major objections. This means that public resources are reaching the people and are being accounted for,” expressed Thomann.

The CEAC Director also reinforced the significance of the National Symphony Hall, “the first space in Chile specifically designed for symphonic music.”

“It has 1,078 seats and Latin American-level acoustics. It cost over 40 billion pesos, financed almost entirely by the University of Chile. Its construction took a decade and spanned three rectors. It was awarded the Grand Prize 2025 by the Circle of Art Critics. There is a benefit that extends beyond music,” the academic said.

What the University Requests

Specifically, the University of Chile requested that the Executive present an amendment to reinstate allocation 24.03.127 “Center for Artistic and Cultural Extension of the University of Chile” in Item 29, Program 03, with the same funding line and purpose, before October 28, as already requested by official letter to the Minister of Cultures, Arts and Heritage on October 14, with copies sent to the Minister of Finance and to DIPRES.

The amount is equivalent to 2.225 billion pesos in 2027 currency. It was also requested that it be noted in the report of the Fourth Mixed Subcommittee, chaired by Senator Yasna Provoste (DC), that CEAC is the only collaborating institution whose allocation is being eliminated, despite fulfilling its 2026 agreement in full.

Finally, the committee postponed the voting on the issue concerning CEAC for further separate discussion.

We will continue to provide updates.