Serbia/ 3.4 International cultural co-operation  

3.4.6 Other relevant issues

The first translation programme has been launched in September 2007. 33 foreign publishers participated in the competition with 46 projects, out of whom the Ministry supported 35 – with a total of 60 000 EUR for translation from Serbian into different foreign languages. Mostly, the chosen titles are from contemporary Serbian awarded authors, such as: Dragoslav Mihailovic, David Albahari, Dragan Velikic, Milorad Pavic, Mihajlo Pantic, Milena Markovic. Every year the interest of foreign publishers has been raised, thus in the year 2012, 71 project was submitted while 66 projects has been supported and amount has been raised up to 90 000 EUR.

Key issues concerning the Serbian Diaspora communities are the responsibility of the Ministry for the Diaspora, such as customs regulations, military service, voting rights, etc.). The Ministry has also been organising and supporting some programmes in the field of culture for the Diaspora communities, but those programmes are predominantly traditional (preserving language, traditions and religion, nurturing folk traditions, music etc.).

Continuous cultural actions and projects coordinated and supported by the Ministry for Religious Affairs and Diaspora include:

• "MOBA"- a traditional manifestation, started in 2002, in cooperation with the Serbian Orthodox Church, which takes place in the Sokograd monastery complex. The basic idea of MOBA is to improve knowledge of the Serbian language, history and geography, culture, tradition and religions of the children from the Diaspora.
• "The European Review of Serbian Diaspora folklore" is organised in cooperation with the Amateur Association of Serbia and Diaspora societies.
• "The Arsenije Carnojevic" Prize for Literature is awarded to Serbian writers in the Diaspora who write in the Serbian language.
• The literary prize "Stojan Steve Tesic" is intended for Serbian authors living in the Diaspora who write in foreign languages, reaffirming Serbia-related themes. The Prize was established in cooperation with the Association of the Literary Authors of Serbia.
• "Serbian Days"includes manifestations dedicated to the promotion of Serbian commerce, culture and tourism in different cities.

In 2007, The Ministry of the Diaspora set up centres for the diaspora and offices for the diaspora-network bodies responsible for Diaspora activities on the territory of the Republic of Serbia.

In September 2007, a new system of supporting Diaspora projects was introduced. Open competitions to fund Diaspora projects have been set up in several areas: improving cooperation between the homeland and the Diaspora, fostering partnerships between the homeland and the Diaspora communities, protection of Serbian culture and traditional customs, protection and fostering of the Serbian language, affirmation of Serbian culture and traditions in the Diaspora communities. Competitions are open to Diaspora organisations as well as NGOs and associations registered in Serbia.

In the City of Belgrade, the new Council for Culture was created in September 2012. The role of the Council will be to help the City in restructuring its cultural system in order to survive this time of crisis. The budget of the City has decreased by 40% in 5 years and the extensive network of public cultural institutions (37 city institutions, plus a large network of festivals) is receiving symbolic funds for programmes and projects.

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