The Chilean coalition was formed in October 2001 to bring the voices of creators and producers to Chile and protect the diversity of cultural expressions within the country. In 2009, it became a non-profit association of 11 cultural organizations. Its members defend the right of States to develop cultural policies and encourage, through educational projects, an awareness of the positive value of cultural diversity.
The Chilean coalition meets once a month and regularly participates in seminars and debates on the situation of culture at the national level. In particular, it participates in the cultural conventions organized once a year by the Ministry of Culture. It also provides its expertise in the context of the quadrennial reports that States must provide to present their cultural policies in accordance with the 2005 UNESCO Convention.
At the request of the Chilean Coalition for Cultural Diversity and its various component organizations, a broad cultural reservation was obtained in the negotiation of the chapter on trade in services of the CHILE-UE FTA approved on 6 June 2003 and entered into force on 10 January 2004. This definition includes the same content as that contained in the cultural exception of the Chile-Canada Free Trade Agreement and refers to commercial activities related to the publication, distribution and sale of cultural products.
During the period 2015-2018, the Coalition carried out various activities. For two years, she was involved in the construction of the Performing Arts Act for the dance, theatre and circus sectors. She has also participated in several events in which she presented the challenges of protecting and promoting cultural diversity (Valdivia International Film Festival, Feria 4 Horas de Libros sin IVA, FIA Congress).
In 2017, the Chilean coalition presented a bill to Congress to commemorate the National Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The project was unanimously approved in April 2018 and the first “Día Nacional de la Diversidad Cultural para el diálogo y el desarrollo” was celebrated on 20 October 2018.
