The Republic of Azerbaijan has an impressive landscape of grants, awards, and scholarships for artists. Thus, to evaluate the services of Azerbaijani literary and artistic figures, as well as those who have made significant contributions to science, education, culture, economy, public administration and other fields of country, and to improve their social status, five hundred personal scholarships of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan were established in the amount of 1,500 (one thousand five hundred) manats each following the Decree On the establishment of personal pension of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.715 of June 11, 2002).
To strengthen state care for artists and create more favourable conditions for the development of performing arts in the Republic of Azerbaijan, one hundred and fifty prizes of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 500 manats per month each for leading artists (determined in the first quarter of each year) engaged in stage activities were established by the Decree On the establishment of the prizes of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for artists (No.707 of May 28, 2002).
The Decree On honorary titles of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.706 of May 22, 1998) established the honorary titles of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the fields of culture, literature, science, education, health, physical education and sports, journalism, engineering, as well as civil service, law, agriculture and civil aviation. The sphere of culture and literature includes such honorary titles as “People’s Writer”, “People’s Poet”, “People’s Actor”, “People’s Artist”, “Honoured Art Worker”, “Honoured Actor”, “Honoured Artist”, “Honoured Cultural Worker” and “Honoured Architect”. According to the Regulations on Honorary Titles of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No.130 of May 14, 1999), honorary titles are awarded for exceptional services in culture and literature, outstanding professional achievements, and active participation in public life. Individuals awarded the honorary title of the Republic of Azerbaijan are entitled to the privileges established by law. In addition, they are awarded lifelong stipends according to the Decree On Granting Monthly Scholarships for Honorary Titles (No.878 of July 4, 2005). According to the 2024 statistics, 252 persons are paid a monthly scholarship of 200 manats for the honorary title “People’s”, and 4,539 persons receive a monthly pension of 150 manats for the title “Honoured”.
Prominent figures of culture and art are awarded high state awards on a regular basis: thus, in 2023-2024, two persons were awarded the “Glory” Order, two persons were awarded the “Labour” Order, three persons were awarded the “Honour” Order, 32 persons were awarded the “100th Anniversary of Heydar Aliyev (1923-2023)” jubilee medal, five persons were awarded the Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and one person was awarded the State Prize.
The “Golden Book” of young talents of Azerbaijan, the “Young Talents Foundation”, and a special monthly scholarship of AZN 400 was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan On the State Care for Young Talents in Azerbaijan (No.464 of June 22, 1996). The renewed Regulations on the ‘Golden Book’ and special scholarships for young talents (No.2368 November 30, 2023) define that The Golden Book and Scholarship were established to provide citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan aged 10 to 25 with exceptional abilities in the field of culture with the personal patronage of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and state care for developing their creative potential. The scholarship is awarded to the individual for three years from the date their name is entered in the Golden Book and is disbursed monthly in the amount of 400 AZN until they reach the age of 25.
The Ministry of Culture also announces grant competitions for non-governmental organisations. Thus, in 2023-2024, 320 projects were submitted to the competitions, of which 52 were selected and awarded grants totalling AZN 620,000.0 (EUR 337,025.6). The projects supported within the framework of grant competitions covered the protection of cultural heritage and its transmission to future generations, support for cultural and creative industries, the return of culture to the territories liberated from occupation, the development of volunteerism in the field of culture, the study, research, and promotion of the historical and cultural heritage of Western Azerbaijan, support for archival heritage, international promotion of Azerbaijani culture, cultural development of people and society, and other topics.
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