In a small state, cultural policy is closely linked to other political areas, such as foreign policy, financial policy, tourism, communication policy, education policy, migration policy, the economy and environmental policy. Cultural policy is about more than managing and promoting culture; it always affects society as a whole. The country, ministries, authorities and municipalities work together at different levels.
Ministries
The Department of Education, which is part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport, is responsible for the Liechtenstein education system. This also includes the University of Liechtenstein, the Agency for International Educational Affairs (AIBA) and the Liechtenstein Music School, the Liechtenstein School of Fine Arts as well as the Adult Education Foundation. The Ministry of Education as well as the School Board constantly cooperate with various bodies, commissions and working groups such as the municipalities, the business associations and the Office for Vocational Education and Training.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also responsible for cultural events at the embassies in Bern, Vienna, Berlin, Strasbourg, Brussels, Washington and New York, as well as for its involvement in the UN.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Culture is responsible for the social, societal and cultural policy of the Principality of Liechtenstein. It is also responsible for independent foundations under public law, such as the Liechtenstein National Museum, the National Library and the Art Museum. The Department of Culture is also responsible for cultural issues in cooperation with the Council of Europe, the EEA, the EU and the region.
Authorities and municipalities
Cooperation in the field of art and culture has traditionally been close between the Ministry of Culture, the Office of Cultural Affairs and the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation as well as the University of Liechtenstein and the Liechtenstein embassies. The same applies to the cooperation between the state and the municipalities. For example, the National Archives, which are part of the Office of Cultural Affairs, are in regular contact with the municipal archives. Similarly, the areas of monuments and archaeology regularly exchange information with the eleven municipalities in the country.
300 years of Liechtenstein
Cooperation at all levels in the preparation and implementation of Liechtenstein’s 300th anniversary in 2019 is impressive. After the celebrations of 300 years of the Lower Country (1999) and Upper Country (2012) as well as 200 years of sovereignty (2006), the 2019 jubilee points to the real culmination around the birth of the Principality. The central idea was: “Thinking about tomorrow today with yesterday’s experience”. This was the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Culture. Cooperation was specifically coordinated through the Office of Cultural Affairs and the municipalities. The project was managed by the Liechtenstein Marketing Competence Centre, which reports to the Department of Economic Affairs.
Discussions on the implementation of the anniversary were broad-based. The idea was to make the population identify more closely with the country and to promote a sense of the basic values of the state (300.li). The state and the municipalities jointly financed the anniversary: the municipalities organised a nationwide jubilee trail, while the state handled events, exhibitions, the scientific review of Liechtenstein’s history, an internet platform, as well as media coverage through media partnerships. In addition, there was support from cooperation partners such as companies, associations, institutions, government offices, foundations and private individuals. The diplomatic representations of Liechtenstein also played an important role (see 1.4.1).
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