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| National Culture Institute (Peru) | |
|---|---|
| Name | National Culture Institute (Peru) |
| Native name | Instituto Nacional de Cultura |
| Formation | 1971 |
| Dissolved | 2010 |
| Successor | Ministry of Culture (Peru) |
| Headquarters | Lima |
| Jurisdiction | Peru |
| Parent organization | Presidency of the Council of Ministers (historically) |
National Culture Institute (Peru) The National Culture Institute (Peru) was a Peruvian public institution created to promote, conserve, and regulate Peruvian culture and cultural heritage across the Republic of Peru. It operated alongside institutions such as the Municipality of Lima, National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (Peru), and the Ministry of Education (Peru) until its functions were subsumed by the Ministry of Culture (Peru) in 2010. The Institute engaged with patrimonial sites like Machu Picchu, archaeological projects involving Nazca Lines, and cultural events connected to the Inti Raymi festival.
The Institute was founded under the administration of Juan Velasco Alvarado amid reorganization influenced by the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces of Peru and legislation such as laws passed during the tenure of Fernando Belaúnde Terry and later administrations including Alan García and Alejandro Toledo. During the 1980s and 1990s it interacted with agencies like the Central Reserve Bank of Peru for heritage funding and with international bodies including UNESCO, ICOMOS, and the Organization of American States concerning sites at Chan Chan and Chan Chan Archaeological Complex. It coordinated responses to crises involving the Shining Path insurgency and security operations by the Peruvian Armed Forces and Peruvian National Police at contested sites. In the 2000s, debates involving figures such as César Lévano and institutions like the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru influenced policy leading to the 2010 creation of the Ministry of Culture (Peru) under President Alan García Perez.
The Institute's mandate covered preservation of collections held by the National Library of Peru, oversight of museums such as the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology, and History of Peru, protection of archaeological zones including Caral-Supe, regulation of antiquities trade addressed by the Public Prosecutor's Office (Peru), and promotion of intangible heritage like Quechua language initiatives. It issued directives affecting festivals such as Señor de los Milagros and managed inventory systems tied to the Central Bank Museum, collaborating with UNESCO conventions like the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It coordinated with universities—National University of San Marcos, University of Lima—and cultural foundations including the BBVA Continental Foundation.
The Institute comprised directorates that worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Peru) on cultural diplomacy, the Ministry of Tourism (Peru) for site management at locations like Ollantaytambo, and regional offices in departments such as Cusco Region, Arequipa Region, and Lambayeque Region. Leadership posts were filled amid political appointments involving congresses such as the Congress of the Republic of Peru; boards included experts from institutions like the National Institute of Culture of Peru predecessor bodies and advisory input from the International Council of Museums (ICOM). It maintained liaison with the Peruvian Commission for Truth and Reconciliation for cultural restitution and worked with the Ministry of Culture (Peru) transition team.
Programs ranged from archaeological excavations at sites like Chan Chan and Sacsayhuamán to restoration projects for colonial architecture in Arequipa and Cusco. The Institute organized exhibitions with partners such as the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Museo Larco, and collaborated on research with centers like the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Educational outreach included heritage curricula connected to the Ministry of Education (Peru) and public festivals aligned with the Festival of Marinera and the Gastronomic Fair Mistura, engaging culinary institutions like Central Restaurante and chefs recognized by the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list. It helmed repatriation cases involving collectors such as Paul Getty Museum and worked with customs authorities and the Ministry of Interior (Peru).
The Institute managed sites designated under national protection lists and coordinated nominations to international lists maintained by UNESCO World Heritage Committee for locations including Historic Centre of Lima, Chan Chan, and Huascarán National Park. It preserved colonial-era assets like the Cathedral of Lima and indigenous heritage such as garments in collections curated by the Museo de la Nación. Conservation collaborations included partnerships with Getty Conservation Institute, World Monuments Fund, and academic labs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Oxford on conservation techniques applied at Machu Picchu and pre-Columbian textiles from Paracas culture.
Funding came from national budgets approved by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Peru), grants from multilateral donors such as the Inter-American Development Bank and bilateral cooperation with the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, USAID, and philanthropic bodies like the Prince Claus Fund. Private partnerships involved corporations such as Backus and Graña y Montero for sponsorships, while legal frameworks engaged courts like the Supreme Court of Peru for restitution litigation. International cultural agreements included cooperation with the European Union, UNESCO, and bilateral accords with countries like Spain, France, and Japan.
The Institute faced criticism over alleged politicization under various administrations including controversies during the presidencies of Alberto Fujimori and subsequent transitional governments, disputes over site management at Machu Picchu involving the Ministry of Transport and Communications (Peru), and debates about privatization of services with companies such as Inca Kola sponsors. Scholars from National University of San Marcos and independent journalists like Gonzalo Torres criticized transparency and conservation priorities; human rights organizations including Amnesty International raised concerns about heritage impacts during internal conflict. Legal challenges brought by indigenous groups from regions like Puno Region and Apurímac Region contested patrimonial decisions, and international heritage bodies questioned the adequacy of inventory systems and enforcement of conventions.
Category:Cultural institutions of Peru