Czech Republic/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and debates  

4.2.1 Conceptual issues of policies for the arts

A basic strategy document for the arts is the Concept of More Effective Support of the Arts in 2007-2013, which was adopted by the government in May 2006. For the first time in the history of the CR this Concept covers the entire field of the arts and thus complements the already existing concepts in individual branches of the arts. The Ministry of Culture (MC) prepared the Concept by drawing on materials from the wider professional community processed under the direction of the Theatre Institute. The goal of the Concept now in effect is to ensure good conditions for free creative expression, the presentation of works of art, and their critical reflection and the preservation of these works as cultural heritage for future generations. Another important task is to foster conditions conducive to the future development of art and supportive of the activities of cultural subjects so that public access to art is secured. The document covers the basic art fields such as theatre, music, film, literature, dance, and the visual arts, both in the professional and amateur spheres, and in relation to foreign co-operation and the presentation of Czech art abroad. In recent years many of the Concept's objectives have been achieved, such as the introduction of the MC scholarship programme, while other tasks have not yet been fulfilled, either conceptual ones – e.g. the Concept for International Cultural Co-operation – or systemic ones – e.g. new grant programmes like a subsidy programme for presenting contemporary visual art and architectural work in galleries, museums and exhibition halls, or the programme to support the further education of artists, art managers, administrators, and animators in the field of culture; the main reason these goals have not yet been achieved is the decreasing volume of financial resources. 

The concept for the arts applies across the full spectrum of arts fields, while conceptual materials in individual areas within the culture sector are updated on an ongoing basis. In 2010 the following documents were adopted: The Concept of Effective Care of Movable Cultural Heritage in the Czech Republic for 2010–2014, The Concept of Effective Care for Traditional Folk Culture in the Czech Republic for 2011–2015, and The Concept of Support and Development of Czech Cinematography and the Czech Film Industry 2011–2016. In 2011 the following documents were produced: The Concept for Heritage Conservation in the Czech Republic for 2011-2016, and The Concept for the Development of Libraries in the Czech Republic for 2011-2015 including "Libraries for Europe 2020" to bring libraries online – see chapter 4.2.2 and chapter 4.2.11.

In 2011 the MC published two new studies prepared as part of implementation of the National Cultural Policy drawn up by the Arts and Theatre Institute (ATI). The first study is Obstacles to Mobility in the Field of Culture in the CR. It describes mobility in general and then specifically with respect to the CR, outlines the individual obstacles preventing mobility (taxes, visa requirements and work permits, social and health insurance), and contains a questionnaire survey on theatres, orchestras, choirs, festivals, and musical promoters, and it also contains recommendations at the EU level and concluding recommendations to improve the situation in the CR. It also includes a separate study International Cooperation in the Field of Culture, which maps the individual actors involved in this area in the CR, programmes of support, and the situation and specific features in individual branches of the arts.

The second study, Support for the Market in Contemporary Visual Arts, aims to outline possible positive steps towards improving the overall situation in contemporary Czech visual arts. It addresses the issue of the operation of state collection institutions, the role of curators and private galleries, art education at schools, and the promotion of Czech art abroad. It puts forth a number of proposed measures designed to foster a vibrant and functional art scene in the CR.

Both studies are available online at: http://new.institutumeni.cz/cs/vyzkum

The start of 2012 saw the publication of the results of another research grant undertaken by the ATI, A Study on the State, Structure, Condition and Funding of the Arts in the Czech Republic (2006-2011), which includes the Report on State Support for the Arts. The results should foster an informed approach to innovation and the formulation of state cultural policy (http://www.idu.cz/cs/studie-umeni).

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