Czech Republic/ 2. General objectives and principles of cultural policy  

2.2 National definition of culture

The National Cultural Policy of the Czech Republic for 2009–2014 is based on the tenets expressed in the 2007 Programme Declaration of the Government of the Czech Republic. Since 2007 there have been two new governments formed in the Czech Republic and two new governmental programme declarations. The most recent declaration is from 2010 and among others, it includes the following statement on cultur:

"The government views the cultural potential of the Czech Republic as an important developmental factor for society as a whole. It not only acknowledges the positive effect of culture on the development of society and the quality of life of citizens and on shaping and preserving national identity, but also sees culture, and the cultural goods and services derived there from, as cultural capital, the economic potential of which has not yet been fully tapped and used."

The National Cultural Policy of the Czech Republic 2009-2014 defines culture as follows:

"Culture is an important element of modern civic society that contributes in a major way to its integration as a whole. It supports intellectual, emotional and moral development of each citizen and therefore has an educational, socialising and cultivating potential in creative and value-forming processes. Culture is the means to transfer information between generations and creates the essential identity of an individual. It connects the Czech Republic with the outside world and at the same time it separates it and characterises it in comparison to other nations. Culture has not only an integration, educational and representative function but it is also an important economic area. Despite the fact it thrives on state budget finances and local municipality support, it directly contributes to their replenishing through tax revenues from the culture industry and indirectly also by creating conditions for increasing income to the national and communal budgets via cultural tourism, the source of which is our cultural heritage. It is part of the active economic function of culture and provides opportunities for a number of citizens. Culture fulfils an important social role, because it holds the key to understanding the social world. It contributes to self-awareness of citizens as free individuals and to a feeling of solidarity with society, neighbourhood, region and nation. This role has a large motivational effect. Participating in culture creates meaningful leisure time and therefore is amongst others an important tool of prevention of drug addiction, gambling, criminality and other social pathologies that threaten young people. In general, culture contributes to a better understanding between citizens of different ethnic and national origins and is a significant means of combating xenophobia and racism. Participation in cultural life helps people with physical disabilities to integrate themselves fully in the community; and helps victims of violence to recover. Culture (participating in and enjoyment of) also has a therapeutic function that is directly connected to its creative effects."

Act No. 203/2006 Coll. on Certain Kinds of Cultural Support and Amendment of Related Regulations defines the term "public cultural services" as services of artistic activity and cultural heritage accessible to the public and obtaining, processing, protection, preservation and accessibility of information serving to satisfy the cultural, cultural educational or educational needs of the public.

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