Colombia's 'Arts for Peace' Program Cultivates Youth Through Cultural Education

Edited by: Olga Samsonova

Colombia is launching its most significant cultural and educational initiative, the 'Arts for Peace' program, with an allocation of 184 billion pesos (approximately $40 million USD) for 2025.

The program aims to engage 400,000 students aged 6 to 17 in music, dance, theater, and visual arts. These activities will take place in educational institutions and community spaces nationwide. The overarching goal is to positively impact one million individuals across 5,000 institutions over four years.

Minister of Cultures, Yannai Kadamani Fonrodona, stated that 'Arts for Peace' is a direct response to community needs, designed to foster healing and a brighter future for the nation's youth through the transformative power of culture. The allocated funds are strategically distributed: 67% for training, 20% for human talent, 5% for artistic equipment, 5% for calls for proposals, and 2% for administrative management.

Since its inception in 2023, the program has distributed musical kits in collaboration with various foundations and has reached correctional facilities, ethnic communities, and rural youth. This reflects a strong belief that culture is an inalienable right and a powerful catalyst for social transformation. For 2025, 'Arts for Peace' plans to contract 4,000 artist educators, with a focus on engaging 40% who are cultural knowledge holders to preserve ancestral traditions and foster intercultural understanding.

Research supports the program's approach, indicating that arts education is vital for positive youth development. It offers crucial avenues for emotional expression, management, and social support, helping young people overcome distress. Studies show that arts engagement can increase optimism about future opportunities and reduce negative behaviors in adolescents. Furthermore, cultural initiatives are recognized as potent tools for peacebuilding in Colombia, aiding reconciliation and social cohesion in conflict-affected communities. The 'Arts for Peace' program aligns with national efforts to leverage culture for healing and societal progress, building on the commitment to peace established by the 2016 Peace Agreement.

Sources

  • Diario El Mundo

  • Caracol Radio

  • Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y los Saberes

  • Presidencia de la República de Colombia

  • Ministerio de las Culturas, las Artes y los Saberes

  • El País

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