Czech Republic/ 4.2 Specific policy issues and recent debates  

4.2.8 Social cohesion and cultural policies

In the CR culture and art have not yet become systematically anchored as tools of social inclusion. This situation is demonstrated by the content of the National Programme for the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, which was developed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the CR (MPSV). http://www.EY2010.cz.

The National Programme sets out 5 priority areas:

• prevention of social exclusion due to over-indebtedness;
• improving access to the labour market for excluded people that are far from the market;
• activation of local public administration bodies in creating and evaluation of the national action plan for social exclusion;
• elevation of the educational level and competitiveness of those on low incomes and those excluded from the labour market; and
• support for adequate housing of socially excluded groups and solving the problem of homelessness.

None of the priorities took culture or art into account as tools for social inclusion. Even NAPSI (the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion in the CR) makes no mention of creative or artistic approaches to social inclusion or of the need to include them in the programmes of the Ministry of Culture (MK) or the MPSV.

The MLSA administers the Committee for Social Integration with representatives of various ministries (there is no representative of the Ministry of Culture on the Committee), The Office of the Government, The Office of the Public Defender of Rights, regions, municipalities, trade unions and non-governmental organisations. The Ministry also opens calls for two fields "Support for social integration and social services" and "Support for the social integration of the Romany people" within the European Social Fund of the CR, the operational programme Human Resources and Employment 2007-2013, priority axis 3 – Social Integration and Equal Opportunities. Social integration and equal opportunities are focused mostly on helping people at risk of social exclusion. Special focus is placed on members of Romany communities, migrants and other groups from different socio-cultural backgrounds. This topic is the subject of long-term discussions and studies in the CR.

In 2008, the Government of the Czech Republic created the Agency for Social Integration in Romany communities, specifically selecting 12 communities with the biggest problems to start with. It is now working with 24 communities. The aim of the Agency, which operates under the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic and is headed by the government human rights commissioner, is to bring about such a transformation of Romany "ghettoes" that will either end up getting rid of ghettoes or at least will improve the quality of life in these communities. It is an instrument of the Government of the Czech Republic for supporting municipalities in the process of social integration. There is no mention in its support however of culture http://www.socialni-zaclenovani.cz/.

In December 2009, the government adopted the Concept of Romany Integration 2010-2013. The document includes provisions for levelling chances and overcoming the initial disadvantage of Romany people that prevents them from full participation in cultural, social, economic and political life of the majority. Adoption of this Concept is essential from the point of view of improving the situation for this minority, which is still not accepted by the majority and which faces higher levels of discrimination. The document is focused on Romany people from the point of fulfilling their cultural needs and it strives to preserve their cultural heritage, ensuring a dignified position for the Romany culture and its integration alongside the majority culture of Czech society. The Concept aims to include the topic of Romany culture in the framework of educational programmes at schools, in research and educational materials and their popularisation in public media. It also deals with preserving a permanent memory of the Romany holocaust victims. The Implementation Plan of the Concept of Romany Integration 2010-2013 has been prepared with tasks for individual projects and recommendations for regions and municipalities.

An updated strategy for the sustainable development of the Czech Republic was approved in January 2010 by the government. It is titled the Strategic Framework of Sustainable Development of the CR. One of the 5 global aims of the strategy is social coherence with cultural diversity – "It is necessary to use culture in the field of social integration with regard to its potential to mediate knowledge, social competences, moral values, healthy lifestyle and the opportunity for development of self-knowledge and the development of the personality of socially excluded citizens; to support intercultural dialogue and intercultural cooperation with the aim of stimulating integration of minorities in society; to prevent negative phenomena that influence social exclusion, especially of children and young people by providing access to good public cultural services. To increase the share of volunteers in operation with cultural organisations." http://psur.mmr.cz/CMSPages/GetFile.aspx?guid=f3ca84ce-8ffd-4224-9518-581eabcc076c

The National Cultural Policy 2009-2014 does not make a direct reference to social cohesion but we can find it in connection with tasks like support for projects simplifying access for disadvantaged citizens and minorities to cultural services and strengthening volunteer activities for the protection, promotion and care of cultural heritage. The Ministry of Culture also announces specialised procedures within its selection grant programmes for cultural projects of national minorities and Romany people, and for projects in the field of the support of cultural activities for disabled people and older people and support for disabled professional artists and their work in the CR.

In 2010 the Czech Office of the Culture Programme issued a publication titled "Artists and Society – Examples of Cultural Projects in the Field of Social Inclusion". The publication contains 23 Czech projects as examples of best practices, other foreign and international projects, links to websites, and strategic and funding programmes.

http://www.programculture.cz/media/document/umelci-pro-spolecnost.pdf

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