Cultural policy: Fernando Dobronsky

Abstract

The speech by Gral. Fernando Dobronsky O., Minister of Public Education , to the Otavalo Institute of Anthropology, argues for the urgent need for an authentic Cultural Policy for Ecuador. He criticizes the elitist and exogenous vision of culture imposed by historical processes of conquest and colonization, which has created cultural inequalities and an "artificially created gap between erudite culture and popular culture". The Minister proposes a cultural policy to be inserted into the country's integral development, not only economic, recognizing the anthropological sense of culture as a faithful testimony of man and society. This policy must be endogenous, democratic, feasible, and viable , based on the perceived needs of society. It is founded on the principle that every person has the right to access and participation in cultural life, not just as a recipient but as an actor, to build "better societies". Its implementation requires the awareness, agreement, and coordination of all institutions and citizens.