Czechia 1.2.2
Jul 31

Czechia 1.2.2

  • July 31, 2019

The central body of state administration for the field of culture is the Ministry of Culture (MC). The scope of the MC is defined in Act No. 2/1969 Coll. on Establishing the Ministries and Other Central Administration Bodies of the CR. According to §8 of this Act, the MC is a central state administrative body for:

  • art;
  • cultural and educational activity;
  • cultural monuments;
  • matters relating to churches and religious societies;
  • matters relating to the press, including publication of the non-periodical press and other information sources;
  • the preparation of draft laws and other legal regulations in the area of radio and television broadcasting;
  • implementation of the Copyright Act; and
  • production and trade in the area of culture.

The MC processes cultural policy, prepares drafts of acts and other legal provisions in the field of culture, and carries out tasks connected with the negotiation of international treaties, with the development of international relations and cooperation and other duties that the CR has in meeting its obligations under international treaties and membership in international organisations.

The MC supports the arts, cultural activities, and the preservation of cultural heritage with grants and contributions from the ‘culture’ division of the state budget of the CR. It establishes 31 state-managed organisations (which are founded, managed, and supported by the state) and 1 public benefit organisation, which is the International Music Festival Prague Spring (an independent non-profit organisation, where the state and the city of Prague are co-founders).

There are two state funds that operate at the state level: from January 2013 – the Czech Film Fund (previously known as the State Fund of the Czech Republic for the Support and Development of Czech Cinematography) and the State Cultural Fund of the CR. Both are founded on the basis of legislation. Administration of the State Cultural Fund falls under the authority of the MC, which is responsible for the financial management of the fund’s resources. The Czech Film Fund is an independent institution, but the MC nonetheless retains influence over it by exercising certain functions such as appointing its director, members of the Supervisory Board, and experts (see also 3.5.3).