Latvia/ 2. General objectives and principles of cultural policy  

2.2 National definition of culture

The Cultural Policy Guidelines (2006 – 2015) (see chapter 2.3) use the broad definition of culture that corresponds with the conclusions of the World Conference on Cultural Policies (Mexico 1982), the World Commission on Culture and Development Report (1995), and the Intergovernmental Conference on Cultural Policies for Development in Stockholm (1998). The definition is: "In its widest sense, culture may now be said to be the whole complex of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features that characterise a society or social group. It includes not only the arts and letters, but also modes of life, the fundamental rights of the human being, value systems, traditions and beliefs." Despite the all-embracing definition, the Ministry of Culture takes responsibility only for the particular art fields, such as copyright, architecture, libraries, museums, music, fine art, folk art, theatre, literature and books, film arts, cultural education, and the protection of monuments and archives.

See also  chapter 3.2.

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