Before the Culture Strategy 2025 was created in 2016, there was no clear coordinated or strategically developed governmental programme for the promotion of participation in cultural life, and no state policy for extended civil participation or development / solidarity in the civic community.
There are some initiatives to promote the sale and distribution of season tickets by Zachariah Paliashvili State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and project “Dmanisi” of the National Museum – which is a summer archeology camp for children.
Some activities organized by the state could be considered as promoting participation in cultural life e.g.:
- National holidays such as the Day of Independence on 26 May, Rose Revolution Anniversary, New Year etc.;
- Municipal and local holidays
For the purposes of facilitation of active involvement of the public, particularly of the youth in the field of protection of national heritage, the National Agency of Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia carries out the following programs:
- Archeology – The journey from finding artifacts to their restoration;
- Methods of one of the first branches of craftsmanship;
- How our ancestors lived – history of their garments, jewelry, things used in daily life and weaponry;
- From the Pagan Times to Christianity – touring through the ancient capital of Georgia-Mtskheta; and
- History of Art- general introduction
To involve the public, in particular youth, in cultural life, the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia and the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia have launched a joint project “Field Trip to Theatres” in January 2015. This large-scale project of the Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia is aimed at getting school students interested in theatre. In the frames of the Project, all school-age children throughout Georgia will be able to visit theatres to examine the stage and technical spaces. The school students will learn about the theatre’s history and archives; they will attend rehearsals, meet with theatre directors and actors and will even enjoy a 50% discount on tickets. In the first phase the project involves 11 theatres subordinated to the Ministry. Step by step, the intention is to involve all Georgian theatres.
The Culture Strategy 2025 has highlighted the areas of “Raising awareness” and “Promoting public access to culture”.
In 2017-2019 in the strategic area “Development of Cultural Infrastructure and Facilitating Public Access to Culture” the following was implemented:
- Integration of persons with disabilities
- Project “Inclusive Education in Georgian Museums”
- Projects involving persons with disabilities – exhibitions, performances, concerts and other cultural events
- Promoting ethnic minorities- events within the framework of the programme “Diverse Georgia”
- Activities in the regions along the administrative border separating line (Rukhi, Anaklia, Orsantia, Nikozi, Ditsi)
- Promoting the involvement of internally displaced persons in cultural life
Promotion of operation of 12 art schools in the areas of compact settlements of IDPs is underway. In these schools, 69 teachers are employed and 700 pupils attend. Various project groups run in schools: feltmaking, ceramics, painting, knitting, folk instruments and more.
Since 2020, Covid- 19 has contained and slowed down the process of cultural consumption and participation in cultural life.
In 2021, the Minister of the newly established Ministry of Culture, Sport and Youth announced 12 priorities of the Culture Promotion Programme. The 8th priority is accessibility of culture. In 2021, the Ministry funded the following sub-programmes in the framework of this priority:
- Supporting children’s access to books;
- Classical music, Georgian concerts and folklore in the regions – promotion of regional projects;
- Professional theatres of the capital in the regions – promotion with tour expenses;
- Facilitating the implementation of individual creative projects/initiatives in the regions, including at the occupation line;
- Concerts of classical music in open and alternative spaces (schools, museums, libraries);
- Cultural projects/events for Georgian Sunday schools operating abroad;
- One creator (actor, artist, writer, art critic, etc.) per village;
- Developing a concept for the sale of creative and publishing products.
Comments are closed.