# Ministry of Cultures (Bolivia)

The Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization, and Depatriarchalization (Spanish: Ministerio de Culturas, Descolonización, y Despatriarcalización) is the ministry of the government of Bolivia that provides for the preservation and protection of the cultures and artistic expressions of the indigenous peoples of Bolivia as well as promotes the country's tourism sector and process of decolonization and depatriarchalization.

## History

The history of the Ministry of Cultures began with the establishment of the Bolivian Institute of Culture (IBC) by President Hugo Banzer on 14 March 1975. The IBC —later renamed as the Secretariat of Culture— was a dependent entity of the Ministry of Education and Cultures, granted jurisdiction over the National Archives of Sucre, the Casa de la Libertad, and the Casa de la Moneda in Potosí. During Banzer's second presidency from 1997 to 2001, the secretariat was further elevated to the status of a vice ministry.
In 2006, during the early government of President Evo Morales —Bolivia's first indigenous president— the office was expanded as the Vice Ministry of Cultural Development. On 7 February 2009, through Chapter XX of Supreme Decree N° 29894 on the Organizational Structure of the Executive Body of the Plurinational State, Morales formed the Ministry of Cultures. The until-then vice minister Pablo Groux was appointed to head the ministry. With the enactment of the General Law of Tourism "Bolivia Awaits You", the cultures portfolio was expanded, and it was named the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism for the duration of Morales' term.
The transitional government of Jeanine Áñez eliminated the portfolio on 4 June 2020 to preserve funds to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision criticized by both the opposition and members of Morales' Movement for Socialism (MAS-IPSP). After the return to power of the MAS in that year's general elections, President Luis Arce restored the office as the Ministry of Cultures, Decolonization, and Depatriarchalization on 13 November 2020.

## List of ministers

| Portfolio | Minister | Party | Party | Prof. | Took office | Left office | Term | President |
| Minister of Cultures | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | Office vacant 7 February 2009 – 8 February 2009 | 1 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures | Pablo Groux | | Ind. | Jrnl. | 8 February 2009 | 23 January 2010 | 349 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures | Zulma Yugar | | MAS | Mus. | 23 January 2010 | 15 February 2011 | 388 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures | Elizabeth Salguero | | MAS | Jrnl. | 15 February 2011 | 23 January 2012 | 342 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures | Pablo Groux | | Ind. | Jrnl. | 23 January 2012 | 25 September 2012 | 1,123 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures and Tourism | Pablo Groux | | Ind. | Jrnl. | 25 September 2012 | 19 February 2015 | 1,123 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures and Tourism | Marko Machicao | | MAS | Eco. | 19 February 2015 | 23 January 2017 | 704 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures and Tourism | Wilma Alanoca | | MAS | Jrnl. | 23 January 2017 | 10 November 2019 | 1,021 | Morales |
| Minister of Cultures and Tourism | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | Office vacant 10 November 2019 – 14 November 2019 | 4 | Áñez |
| Minister of Cultures and Tourism | Martha Yujra | | MDS | Uni. | 14 November 2019 | 4 June 2020 | 203 | Áñez |
| Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | 162 | Áñez |
| Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | Office abolished 4 June 2020 – 13 November 2020 | 162 | Arce |
| Minister of Cultures, Decolonization, and Depatriarchalization | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | Office vacant 13 November 2020 – 20 November 2020 | 7 | Arce |
| Minister of Cultures, Decolonization, and Depatriarchalization | Sabina Orellana | | MAS | Uni. | 13 November 2020 | Incumbent | 1,460 | Arce |