The government of President Daniel Noboa has allocated over $10 million in non-reimbursable funds to support artistic, cultural, and heritage projects throughout Ecuador. The initiative aims to benefit managers, artists, and cultural groups across the country.
The funding is managed by the Ministry of Education, Sport and Culture (MINEDEC) in coordination with the Institute for the Promotion of Arts, Innovation and Creativity (IFAIC), the Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Creation (ICCA), and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage (INPC). It is part of the Arts Promotion Fund designed to strengthen cultural development, promote creativity, and stimulate economic activity within the sector.
According to official information, calls for proposals for 2026 began in February. There will be 67 public calls aimed at financing 722 cultural projects across various artistic disciplines. Guidelines and schedules for applications are available at https://fomento.culturaypatrimonio.gob.ec/.
Of the total amount allocated, $5.88 million will be used to continue funding lines executed between 2024 and 2025. Approximately $7.5 million is earmarked for new calls intended to expand access to competitive funds nationwide.
IFAIC will use its share of resources to support several initiatives such as equipping 12 community libraries, strengthening 10 independent cultural spaces, organizing 20 established art festivals, incubating 50 cultural enterprises, supporting about 100 national or international artistic mobility projects, developing 20 innovative prototypes in crafts and design, fostering five art projects by incarcerated individuals, launching a new project bank that will finance 30 diverse proposals from different disciplines, as well as offering training programs like Semilleros Culturales along with other educational initiatives targeting both professionals in culture and new audiences.
The ICCA plans to allocate funds toward writing, developing, producing and post-producing feature films and short films; distributing audiovisual works; running training programs for filmmakers; and providing international mobility funds for producers and professionals in the audiovisual sector.
Meanwhile, INPC’s focus includes conservation efforts such as restoring heritage buildings; intervening on segments of Qhapaq Ñan (the Andean Road System); conducting archaeological research; revitalizing indigenous languages; and supporting initiatives that help build social memory and preserve cultural heritage.
Those eligible to apply include Ecuadorian individuals or legal entities as well as foreign nationals with permanent residency who are adults registered with the Integrated Cultural Information System (SIIC).
For further details about each call for proposals or ongoing programs applicants can visit cineyaudiovisual.ec , creatividad_ec , or inpcecu .
“With this investment,” states the government release: “the National Government reaffirms its commitment to strengthening the cultural sector, revitalizing artists’ economic prospects and protecting Ecuador’s tangible and intangible heritage.”
