Latest News

De la Espriella Targets Wokeism and Petro’s Revisionism of Colombia’s M-19

By Richard Emblin - October 16, 2026

President Abelardo de la Espriella has ordered Culture Minister Paola Holguín to remove images and references to former M-19 guerrilla commander Carlos Pizarro from government public spaces, opening a new front in the battle over how Colombia remembers its decades-long internal conflict. Speaking at the Ministry of Culture on Thursday, alongside Holguín, De la Espriella […]

Colombia’s Ministry of Culture faces backlash over 500th anniversary of Santa Marta’s founding

By Richard Emblin - September 6, 2024

Colombia’s Ministry of Culture faces a backlash after downplaying Santa Marta’s 500th anniversary. Local leaders, including the mayor and the Academy of History of Magdalena, criticized Minister Juan David Correa for dismissing the event’s national significance.

Members of the Presidential Guard return Simón Bolívar's sword to the Liberator's estate in central Bogotá. Photo: Presidencia

Bolívar’s sword returns to Liberator’s estate Casa Quinta in Bogotá

By The City Paper Staff - January 18, 2024

Fifty years after the sword of Simón Bolívar was stolen by the M-19 guerrilla during a seige of the Liberator’s estate in Bogotá, Colombia’s Ministry of Culture returned the iconic weapon the Casa Quinta for audiences to admire.

Bandola Music Festival in Sevilla delivers strings to the wind

By The City Paper Staff - August 9, 2022

The Bandola Music Festival in Sevilla, is among the most important in Valle del Cauca, and annual celebration of traditional and alternative music.

Cali Salsa declared Intangible Cultural Patrimony of Colombia.

By The City Paper Staff - July 26, 2022

The fast steps, gyrating hips and sultry moves of Cali’s legendary dance – salsa caleña – has been recognized by Colombia’s Ministry of Culture as Intangible Cultural Patrimony of the Nation; and important step toward the eventual listing of the dance, with all its cultural manifestations, on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Hertiage (ICH). “For […]

World Forum of Art, Culture, Creativity and Technology comes to Medellín

By The City Paper Staff - July 8, 2022

If you’re a creative or start-up, then the Great World Forum of Art, Culture, Creativity and Technology is tailored for your entrepreneurial needs.

Colombia’s MinCultura launches online course in Orange Economy

By The City Paper Staff - May 3, 2022

The Ministry of Culture has launched a free online course in Orange Economy for industry professionals, and available also in English for international participants.

One hundred free books on Colombia’s true land of Encanto.

By María Claudia Peña - May 1, 2022

Villegas Editores and Ministry of Culture teamed up to offer Colombians free access to 100 digital titles by the publishing house, known for its glossy coffee table book collection.

Colombia heads to Seoul as Guest Nation at Book Fair

By The City Paper Staff - April 27, 2022

Korea has reciprocated the invitation as Guest Nation at Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo) by hosting Colombia with its own pavilion in Seoul as part of its international book fair.

Colombia at the epicenter of Latin American audiovisual productions

By Richard Emblin - December 15, 2021

Disney’s animated feature Encanto is the latest release of a Colombia-inspired production by an international studio. A slate of audiovisual projects are in the works for 2022.

Colombia’s Ministry of Culture to set up mobile libraries in FARC camps

By Alejandra Dueñas - January 31, 2017

The Ministry of Culture will take 20 mobile libraries to remote regions of Colombia where FARC rebels are concentrating for the handover of weapons.

A stone statue within the San Agustin natural park.

San Agustín and the Gods who didn’t return

By Richard Emblin - December 6, 2013

A landmark exhibition of San Agustín’s stone deities opens to the public, but without the protagonists.