Rio grants R$1.5 million subsidy to Grupo Especial samba schools

The Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through Riotur, made official this Thursday (16) the transfer of R$ 1.5 million to each of the 12 samba schools in the Special Group. The subsidy, which is treated as a cultural incentive, was detailed in this farm’s Official Gazette (16). The transfers happen even with uncertainties about the Covid-19 pandemic that threatens the realization of the 2022 Carnival.

The first installment, in the amount of R$ 500 thousand, will be paid by Riotur this Thursday (16) to the samba schools. In January, the associations will receive an additional R$ 850,000. The rest of the amount, R$ 150,000, will be paid after the carnival, after accountability.

In 2020, the last edition of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival, the then mayor of the city Marcelo Crivella did not release funds for the Grupo Especial samba schools. At the time, Crivella stated that Rio was ‘living a crisis’ and would not have the funds to subsidize the party.

Expectation for Carnival

The governor of Rio, Claudio Castro (PL), said on Wednesday (15), that he and the mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes (PSD), should meet until January 15 to define the direction of Carnival 2022. On this date, the technical rehearsals of the Special Group’s samba schools will begin. Castro highlighted that the influenza epidemic may impact the government’s decision.

In a post on social media, also on Wednesday (15), the mayor of Rio highlighted that it is still too early for any decision to be taken regarding the party. However, he highlighted that, in accordance with current health rules, both the samba school parades in Marquês de Sapucaí and the dances can be held due to the collection of the vaccination passport and/or RT-PCR tests .

According to the mayor, the application of rules for access to the parades is under discussion with the Liga Independente das Escolas de Samba, which should be presented to the Scientific Committee. The structures to carry out the celebration at the Sambódromo are already being assembled, such as the chairs in the friezes and the decoration of cabins.