No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsArts and CultureFIAsco continues: Culture Ministry cancels rescheduled international concerts

FIAsco continues: Culture Ministry cancels rescheduled international concerts

Costa Rica’s Culture Ministry in a press release confirmed the definitive cancellation of all concerts suspended during the failed edition of this year’s International Arts Festival (FIA 2015).

The cancellations include concerts by Chilean pop band La Ley and Argentine stars Miguel Mateos and León Gieco originally scheduled to take place from April 23 to May 3 and rescheduled for June 20-22 during the Switch Festival, a private event that was to take place at the Antigua Aduana facilities in San José.

Recommended: How Costa Rica’s 2015 International Arts Festival flopped

The concerts were part of several events that were cancelled or postponed as a result of several planning delays and scandals that ended up costing former Culture Minister Elizabeth Fonseca, vice ministers Alfredo Chavarría and Luis Carlos Amador, and festival director Inti Picado their jobs.

Temporary Culture Ministry Sylvie Durán has now terminated all contracts, which may trigger claims for damages on the part of producers.

Durán said officials did not consider a private festival to be the appropriate solution for the bands in question.

“We made the rescheduling proposal in good faith, but procedures were not conducted properly,” she said.

Moving forward with these concerts would have meant an additional expenditure of up to ₡50 million ($93,000) for taxpayers, Durán said.

The ministry’s statement also said that the government already has paid producer Decent Showtec 50 percent of the ₡49 million ($91,000) contract for La Ley.

Costa Rica also owes ₡36 million ($67,000) to another production company, Alma Productions, which was to bring six international artists: Miguel Mateos, León Gieco, No te va a Gustar, La Zimbabwe, Majareta Campo and Compañía La Tal.

Trending Now

Internet Cut in Panama Near Costa Rica Border Amid Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panamanian authorities suspended internet and mobile phone services on Saturday in the Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro, following President José Raúl Mulino’s declaration...

Panama Regains Control of Bocas del Toro After Violent Protests

Panama’s government has regained control of Bocas del Toro province after months of violent anti-government protests sparked by pension reforms, officials announced. The unrest,...

Costa Rica’s Top Court Bans President Chaves from 2026 Election Campaign

Costa Rica’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal on Thursday barred President Rodrigo Chaves from participating in the 2026 election campaign, ruling that he "illegitimately used" his...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....

Panama Vows Constitutional Action Amid Worsening Bocas del Toro Unrest

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino announced Thursday that he will take “constitutional measures” to stop the wave of protests and road blockades affecting the...

OIJ Warns: Costa Rica Now a Key Warehouse for Drug Lords

Costa Rica’s recent drug busts, with tons of cocaine and marijuana seized across the country, shine a harsh light on its deepening role in...
L. Arias
L. Arias
Reporter | The Tico Times |
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica