As part of The Cultural Policy Guidelines 2014-2020 “Creative Latvia” there is the Strategy of Theatre Sector, the Strategy for Dance Sector and the Strategy for Music Sector.
In all performing arts sectors there are public institutions (state or municipal capital companies) and private companies (usually non-governmental, non-for profit sector). The most powerful and financially viable institutions are the public ones. They also reach a great part of the audiences as they deliver regular performances in large permanent venues. There are 7 state theatres, 1 circus, 2 municipal theatres, 6 state concert organisations (including the National Opera and Ballet). State institutions receive public subsidy from the Ministry of Culture; though ticket sales, other own income and fundraised money constitute a significant part of their budget (for some of the companies more than 50%). The non-governmental sector has a special role in providing an artistic mission or targeting such audiences, which usually are not in the focus of public performing art institutions. There are contemporary and experimental theatre and dance companies, international festival organisations, organisations providing educational activities etc. To some of the non-governmental organisations the Ministry of Culture delegates certain functions for three-year period, combined with a grant. Otherwise, non-governmental organisations get only short-term grants from the State Culture Capital Foundation or other funding sources.
In recent years, four new concert halls have been built outside the capital city Riga (with public funding and support from the EU structural funds): in Rēzekne (opened in 2013); in Cēsis (in 2014), in Liepāja (in 2015), in Ventspils (in 2019). They operate as municipal capital companies. The main aim is to foster the distribution of professional art in the regions, in particular focusing on professional music. In addition, many other cultural buildings have been reconstructed during the last decade all over the country. Culture consumption studies (2014; 2016; 2018) suggest that there is an increase in regional cultural activity: more and more people attend cultural activities in the region (in 2014 – 43% of respondents; in 2016 and 2018 – 57% of respondents took part in at least one cultural activity in the region per year). These data might indicate the positive impact of regional cultural activity of the residents.
See also chapter 4.2.3 about legislation.
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