Peruvian Minister of Culture Alberto Beingolea has backed the repeal of Law 32645, a controversial measure requiring artists to hold formal degrees.
Speaking at a press conference, Beingolea said lawmakers in Peru's Parliament share the view that the legislation creating the Professional College of Artists of Peru must be annulled, stating that its days are numbered.
The minister expressed confidence that legislators would vote unanimously to overturn the measure, reassuring the national artistic community that the law will soon be revoked regardless of the final legislative formula.
Controversial degree requirement
The legislation was originally introduced in October 2025 by Congressman Segundo Montalvo of the Perú Libre party. The proposal aimed to establish the Professional College of Artists of Peru, known as CPAP, to oversee visual arts, music, dance, performing arts, and related disciplines nationwide.
Although promoted as an effort to professionalise the cultural sector, the measure was enacted without prior consultation or debate among cultural workers. In Peru, professional colleges function as official regulatory institutions that govern licensing and standards for specialized professions.
The central grievance of the cultural sector involves the law's strict affiliation criteria, which require a mandatory university or technical degree to join the college. This rule excludes thousands of self-taught creators, as well as practitioners who completed university coursework but never finalized their formal degree certification.
Widespread protest and legislative repeal
The officialisation of the law triggered immediate outrage across the arts sector. Actors, playwrights, musicians, and filmmakers organized street demonstrations and coordinated campaigns across social media platforms.
Protesters circulated posters asking who decides who qualifies as an artist in Peru, uniting the cultural community in a demand for the definitive repeal of Law No. 32645.
Beingolea noted that recent discussions with legislators from various parliamentary groups confirmed broad agreement to dismantle the restriction. He reassured artists that the law would be repealed very soon.
