On July 2, 2026, the far-right government of Chile, led by José Antonio Kast, canceled a major retrospective of Argentine artist León Ferrari at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA) in Santiago due to significant budget cuts. This decision follows a reduction of nearly 10% to the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage budget, impacting various cultural initiatives.
Record Arts Funding in New York City
In contrast, New York City has made headlines with a record arts budget. On July 2, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the City Council approved $323.8 million in funding for culture, marking a 7% increase from last year’s budget of $299.6 million. This funding aims to support the city’s artists amidst a growing affordability crisis.
Mamdani emphasized the importance of this budget, stating, “A crushing affordability crisis has threatened to drive out the very artists who have long defined life in this city.” The new budget also includes a $10 million “Cultural Stability Fund” to assist struggling cultural organizations.
Impact of Budget Cuts on Cultural Exhibitions
The cancellation of the León Ferrari exhibition, which was set to open in June 2026, has drawn attention to the challenges facing the arts under Kast’s administration. Curator Andrés Duprat, who organized the exhibit, expressed disappointment, saying, “It is a great shame. Everything was already in place: the list of works, the transport and insurance budgets, and the exhibition layout.”