Azerbaijan/ 3. General objectives and principles of cultural policy  

3.3 Cultural policy objectives

According to the draft "Culture Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan", prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism recently, there are 7 general cultural policy objectives to be pursued in the medium term.

1.      Legal assurance development:

• complex improvement of national cultural policy legislation;
• broadening of collaboration in the framework of international conventions and bilateral agreements; and
• perfecting existing expertise on authors rights protection.

2.      Implementation of modern methods in culture and arts administration:

• continuation of the decentralisation processes in administration by managing the balance between central and local executive authorities;
• realisation of de-monopolisation by forming arts-management and producer institute systems; and promotion of contemporary administration; and
• sustainable democratisation in order to form civil society, preserve national identity and encourage private initiatives.

3.      Diversification of financing sources:

• assessment of optimal scopes of state budget for arts and culture;
• attracting alternative financing sources (sponsors, Maecenas, supporters etc.); and
• implementing up-to-date marketing in order to improve the system of paid cultural services.

4.      Enhancement of information provision:

• conducting methodological research and public opinion polls, holding specialised conferences, seminars, and etc;
• generation databases, drafting and implementing relevant programmes and projects; and
• presenting information about national arts and culture in national and international mass media and the Internet.

5.      Human resources development:

• provision for moral and material requirements of cultural workers;
• perfecting the educational and professional training systems; and
• discovering young talents by holding specialised competitions, exhibitions, festivals, etc.

6.      Modernisation of the material and technical bases:

• construction of specialised buildings and rehabilitation of cultural institutions;
• equipping cultural enterprises with modern engineering and information communication technologies;
• providing cultural institutions with stage costumes, musical instruments, etc.

7.      Development of international cooperation:

• promoting multilateral collaboration in the framework of international organisations;
• strengthening of bilateral relations with leading European, American, Asian and African states; and
• supporting the Azerbaijan national cultural centers functioning abroad.