The National Arts Foundation (Funarte) released the call for entries for the 2020 Music Band Support Award , but prohibited the participation of rock bands.
As expected, the announcement caused unease, especially on social media. People are accusing the foundation of prejudice against the musical style. This is based on the controversial statement that the organization's president, Dante Mantovani, released in December 2018, saying that "rock music leads to drugs, abortion, and Satanism."
Funarte responded to the statements saying that the veto has already been used in past editions of the text and claims that the award is dedicated to bands considered "traditional". The call for proposals provides resources of R$5.47 million for 158 projects of "music band", "municipal band", "symphonic band", "concert band", "philharmonic band", "musical society" and "wind orchestra".
The veto extends to "fanfares" or "marching bands" linked or not to educational institutions, "fife bands," "rock bands," "big bands," and "military bands." According to Funarte, in an interview with Estadão, the current wording is "almost identical to the three previous versions, and is absolutely not a novelty of the Dante Mantovani administration.".
"Funarte has never had, does not have, and can never have prejudice against any musical style – as is expected of a federal and state institution," the entity said.
