OPINION: Culture on the backburner

What do the arts and culture mean for Panamanian society? Taking an inventory of the state of our cultural infrastructure, the answer seems to be that this issue matters almost nothing to governments. The National Theater, founded in 1908, is one of the jewels of cultural heritage and national identity, but since 2015 this venue has been closed due to its precarious physical conditions. In this country, politicians have adopted the mantra that maintenance does not win votes. For these talented administrators of the State, culture is a burden and even an obstacle to the most populist uses of the national budget. Now, a board will try to save the National Theater from apathy. The challenge is not only to finish the restoration work but also to give it continuous maintenance and to promote so that more Panamanians know and enjoy this treasure. Our society has tolerated too long that the main theater and the most important museum remain closed. It is time to recover culture as the fundamental expression of our being and an opportunity for development for all – LA PRENSA, Mar.  24.