Bill 24,808 strengthens collaboration with the independent sector, expands opportunities for artists, and transforms the management of public cultural spaces.

San José, Costa Rica. May 7, 2026. Costa Rica took a historic step this Thursday to strengthen its cultural ecosystem. The Legislative Assembly approved in second debate Bill No. 24,808, an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCJ) that modernizes the management of public cultural services, strengthens ties with the independent artistic sector, and expands opportunities for cultural access and circulation throughout the country.

With this approval, the project is ready for signature by the Executive Branch and its subsequent publication in the official gazette La Gaceta, the final step before it enters into force.

The reform once again enables mechanisms for co-production between the State and the independent cultural sector, allows the holding of additional performances, expands access for artists, managers, and producers to public cultural spaces, and authorizes the incorporation of complementary services such as cafeterias and other public services that contribute to the sustainability of cultural venues and improve the audience experience.

The project represents a profound update of the legal tools with which the country’s cultural institutions operate, allowing for more flexible, efficient management in line with current dynamics of cultural creation, circulation, and consumption.

“Today Costa Rica takes a transcendental step to strengthen its cultural life. This approval means more opportunities for our artists, more tools for cultural institutions, and better services for citizens. We deeply thank the honorable deputies from the different legislative factions who understood the importance of this reform for the present and future of the Costa Rican cultural sector,” expressed Jorge Rodríguez Vives.

The minister added that this initiative is the result of more than a year of technical work, institutional coordination, and dialogue with various actors in the national cultural sector.

The approval received the support of a broad legislative majority, reflecting a national consensus on the need to modernize cultural institutions and provide them with tools to expand their social, territorial, and economic impact.

The MCJ highlighted that the reform will directly benefit artists, technicians, producers, cultural managers, and creative enterprises, while expanding the cultural offer available to citizens and facilitating access for more people to artistic and cultural activities in public spaces.

With this progress, Costa Rica consolidates a more articulated, sustainable cultural management model that is open to collaboration with the independent sector, recognizing culture as a driver of development, social cohesion, and democratic construction.