Czech Republic/ 3. Competence, decision-making and administration  

3.3 Inter-ministerial or intergovernmental co-operation

The Ministry of Culture (MC) cooperates with other ministries and with the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic (CR) when reaching the goals of their cultural policy – be it representation in internal advisory bodies or intergovernmental groups. It also cooperates on legislative drafts and other documents from other bodies. The most frequent collaboration occurs among these bodies:

• Ministry for Regional Development;
• Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MEYS);
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
• Ministry of Finance;
• Ministry of the Interior; and
• The Office of the Government.

The cooperation with the MEYS lies mostly in the field of out-of-school children's and youth activities and in the field of education. In 2000, the Inter-Ministerial Committee of both ministries for out-of-school children's and youth artistic activities, for education through art, for art and cultural heritage and for arts education was established. The committee was cancelled after three years because of the passivity of the MEYS. In 2011 co-operation was re-established. In September 2011, the Inter-ministerial Discussion Forum on Education in the Arts and the Role of Cultural Organisations was organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs as a follow up to the outcome of the Second UNESCO World Conference on Arts Education in Seoul and Bonn; see also chapter 8.3.1.

In 2008, the MC appointed the Council for Research of the Minister of Culture, which is composed of representatives nominated by the Research and Development Council, Academy of Sciences of the CR, the Council for Higher Education Institutions and the Czech Rectors Conference, and it is intended to fulfil the Inter-ministerial Concept of Industrial Research and Development of National and Cultural Identity until 2015.

The MC closely collaborates with the Ministry for Regional Development, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance in the utilisation of finances from the Structural Funds, mostly from the Integrated Operational Programme (2007–2013).

The MC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborate during the conclusion of international treaties and the implementation of plans for cultural agreements and during the preparation of big cultural events and shows. MC candidates are represented in the advisory bodies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; for example, when preparing the EXPO exhibition. The UNESCO department at the MC participates in activities of the Czech Committee for UNESCO at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Important partners of the MC include some advisory and working bodies of the government of the CR; their activity is overseen by the Office of the Government. These bodies include the Government Council for National Minorities, the Government Council for Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organisations, the Government Council for Human Rights and the Government Board for People with Disabilities.

The MC is also an important actor in the National Coordination Group for Digital Broadcasting in the CR run by the Ministry of the Interior and it is the co-ordinator of the process of the transition to digital broadcasting which involves various ministries and sectors.

The MC also collaborates with regional and local authorities through their structures, like the Association of Regions of the CR and the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the CR. Regional and local authorities are the appeal body for strategic documents of the MC and they are represented in some advisory bodies of the Minister of Culture.

The year 2008 was the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue and therefore the website http://www.mezikulturnidialog.cz was created with the aim of developing a platform mostly for the non-governmental sector and its activities in the field of culture and education that contribute to solving the goals of migration and integration policy in the CR. Since 2010 the website has been supported by the MC through its organisation – the Arts and Theatre Institute and it is financed by the Ministry of Interior. See also chapter 4.2.3.

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