Culture has played a crucial and integrated role in the strategy to target social and economic inequality in the city through the strategic placement of cultural spaces such as libraries, museums and science centres with ample public space, gardens and parks. Children go free at Parque Explora as do any residents from the most deprived zones of the city whose tickets, in an act of deep investment in the lives of citizens, are covered by City budgets. In 2004, a mathematician became Major of Medellin and confirmed the City's commitment to build Parque Explora. The City pays for the centre's public services – energy bills, security and cleaning – and the Parque Explora team fundraise in order to run projects. The DEXCanvas was developed by Jose Ocampo, a member of the Parque Explora design team, and is increasingly recognised as central to their work.