Maria Belén Contreras

Belén is an actress, theatrical producer and arts administrator from Chile. She graduated from Pontifical Catholic University where she majored in Drama. Her interest in the relationship between arts and society encouraged her to obtain a second Major in Aesthetics at the same University.

She believes that the arts can contribute to the equality in social development, as space of community building and critical thinking. For that reason, during her professional development, she has focused on two main areas: artistic creation and education.

In the field of theater, she worked with several independent companies as an actress and producer, in the realization and management of creative and cultural projects.

Her interests in introducing the arts in the traditional curriculum influenced her to works in several schools as an arts educator and theatrical facilitator. After while she performed as Arts Education and Culture Coordinator on the implementation of arts education programs in 26 public schools.

Additionally, she is General Director and co-founder of "Enlace Teatro Producciones" (2014), winner of Chilean Government Award (2014), which is dedicated to the insertion of theater expression in the educational field.

What drew you to the MA Arts Politics program?

I believe the arts have been playing a relevant role in the society, in which they act as a reality transforming agent. For me, the intrinsic relationship between arts and politics is essential to understand the sense of these expressions and their value as a central aspect of human development.

Studying the MA in Arts Politics would give me the tools and the understanding to wield influence in the improvement of arts policies, seeking the democratization of the artistic practice and placing the arts at the center of community building. Furthermore, this program will allow me to acquire new knowledge about interdisciplinary work, through sharing experiences with other students from different artistic disciplines and with students from diverse cultural contexts as well.

I'll be an active agent and advocate in the discussion of future public policy that encourages creative and artistic practices, fostering equal access to the arts for all, seeking to recover spaces of integration and collaboration among all actors of the society. I will work for the Arts as an intrinsic part of the community and return them to the place they deserve, developing a most respectful, fair and humane society.