A. M. 
To continue bringing art and culture closer to the population, the Ministry of Culture has planned to implement various projects to promote this area, such as bibliographic production, artistic dissemination, and heritage conservation, among others.
To this end, the Ministry of Finance has decided to grant this government department US$30.9 million for the 2026 fiscal year. This amount would come from the US$10,555.6 million that comprises the General State Budget, which has a zero dollar gap.
To learn about the strategic projects, the members of the Finance Committee met with the minister of Culture, Raúl Castillo, who reported that the institution he represents is promoting a transformation in the country’s cultural spaces.
According to Castillo, the ministry guarantees that these environments are accessible and welcoming to Salvadoran families. Through the Family Friendly program, they are redefining cultural experience as a right for all ages.
“Culture is everyone’s right. With the Family Friendly strategy, we ensure that every salvadoran family can enjoy, learn, and create memories in cultural spaces designed for their well-being”, said the official.
Investment in 2026
The minister of Culture told parliamentarians that next year they will invest $9 million in expanding and updating the BINAES bibliographic inventory, as their goal is to have 300 titles to promote reading among the salvadoran population.
The ministry also plans to allocate US$5,350,255 to plans to revitalize and promote artistic activities in national theaters. In San Miguel, there will be a design and construction of refurbishment works and the supply and installation of air conditioning equipment; in the Presidente theater, there will be waterproofing work on the roof slab and improvements to the Great Hall; while in the Santa Ana theater, there will be improvements and comprehensive remodeling of the infrastructure.
To produce and disseminate artistic expressions, US$471,979.52 will be invested in the cine Libertad, café, film library, and restaurant project. This will preserve, disseminate, and ensure the study and research of Salvadoran and Latin American cinema and audiovisual media, promoting film and audiovisual exhibitions, cycles, and festivals, the minister said in his speech.
In addition, Castillo announced that cultural heritage preservation projects will also be carried out, such as the San Andrés archaeological park, located in Ciudad Arce, La Libertad. The museum at this site will be restored and modernized, and the park’s screening room and bathrooms will be improved.
Achievements in 2025
According to the official, the five most visited cultural sites are the Biblioteca Nacional (BINAES), the National Palace, the Tazumal Archaeological Park, the Museo de Historia Natural (MARN) and the Teatro Presidente.. In addition, the ministry organized cultural events throughout the country.
The Ministry of Tourism reported to the Ministry of Culture that from october 2024 to October of this year, the country received 4,027,350 visitors, representing an increase of 28.4%.
As a result, the ministry increased its activities to cater to honduran and guatemalan visitors during their vacation week, for example.
“The trend indicates that cultural policies and events have had a positive impact on attracting foreign tourists”, Castillo said. “This year, we have welcomed 225,917 foreigners, and this is due to the security measures that have been implemented in the country”, he said.
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