FYR of Macedonia/ 4. Current issues in cultural policy development and debate  

4.1 Main cultural policy issues and priorities

The main issue in cultural policy over the past several years was the question of decentralisation and the re-allocation of the responsibilities (not only in the field of culture) to the municipalities and to the City of Skopje.

The proposal of the Ministry of Culture for a new (decentralised) reorganisation of the network of cultural institutions (on national and local levels) was followed by a wide (positive) public debate. It ended with the government's Decision on the Network of National Institutions in the Field of Culture passed in December 2003. According to this Decision, only 51 (from the previous 115) institutions gained the status of national institutions. It also included a major change in the re-allocation of the responsibilities for culture. Since June 2005 this decentralisation model has been put into practice.

The new government (July 2011) has announced its main cultural priorities as:

• protection, promotion and development of creative potentials;
• protection, promotion and development of cultural heritage;
• cultural development of the ethnic minorities;
• further professionalisation of the staff in cultural institutions;
• improving the cultural infrastructure;
• stimulation of the independent cultural scene;
• equal cultural development;
• support to people with special needs through cultural projects; and
• promotion of Macedonian culture and art in the world, etc.

There has been no serious public debate in recent years on the necessity for having a clear concept of the cultural policy system, or following any particular model, etc. However, a chance for a serious cultural debate is provided by the draft of the National Strategy for Culture 2012-2017, which has been put into procedure.

See also chapter 2.3.

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