The Senate Education and Culture Committee must analyze, this Tuesday (12), a project that recognizes gospel culture as a manifestation of national culture. The proposal recognizes religious temples as “points of culture” and determines the incentive for the segment by the public authorities.
The project establishes that the public authorities “will encourage, promote and protect gospel culture, recognizing its importance in cultural development and strengthening Christian values”.
“Mechanisms to support and encourage gospel culture must be created, including promotion programs, granting of financial resources and facilities for holding events and cultural activities”.
Since 2012, gospel music has been recognized as a cultural manifestation for the purpose of receiving benefits under the Rouanet Law, but the incentive does not apply to events promoted by churches, only to people and entities. The project eliminates this restriction and now allows churches to also benefit.
According to the proposal, the recognition will be valid for gospel culture and related events that involve “music, performing arts, clothing, literature, visual art, dance, audiovisual, gastronomy, crafts and any cultural manifestation that has Christian life as its base”.
The text was authored by senator Lucas Barreto (PSD-AP) and received a favorable opinion from the rapporteur, senator Laércio Oliveira (PP-SE), who did not propose changes. The matter is one of 11 items on the commission’s agenda. If the report is read, a request for review (more time for analysis) is still possible, which could postpone the vote.
According to the rapporteur, by recognizing religious temples as “points of culture”, the project will allow these spaces to “benefit from development programs” with greater access to resources and partnerships.
The matter also includes gospel culture in the Cultural Policy Councils and Culture Conferences which, according to the rapporteur, ensures “due participation of representatives of this cultural segment in public policy decision-making processes”.
The Education and Culture Committee is the only one that will analyze the text. The project is being processed on a terminative basis, that is, if it is approved it may go directly to the Chamber for analysis, if there is no appeal for a vote in the Senate plenary.
In October, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), to be celebrated on June 9th. The measure was considered a nod to Planalto’s rapprochement with the evangelical segment and thematic bench in Congress.
