Public funds in Liechtenstein are allocated at two levels: the state and the municipalities. Beyond state cultural funding, theatres, museums, concert and exhibition organisers also seek funding from the private sector. Cultural promotion often follows a pragmatic approach in which the state, municipalities and private sponsors jointly support larger projects.
It includes, for example: promotion and support, contributions from benefactors, membership fees, sponsorships, partnerships and promotional awards. In Liechtenstein, promotion is broad-based. The principle of subsidiarity encourages and promotes private initiative.
The state intervenes where cultural activity is only possible with increased financial and human resources, especially as concerns exhibitions and educational institutions, or where structural requirements for cultural activity must be met. The Ministry of Culture also has a discretionary budget of CHF 125,000 per year for foreign cultural policy projects.
State spending on culture is administered by the departments (ministries) of culture and education, which provide transparent information on the money spent. The composition of the state budget for culture and education is regulated by the annual Finance Act.
The Minister of Finance announces the amount of funds to Parliament annually in the budget. In 2021, Liechtenstein spent CHF 31.3 million on culture and recreation as well as CHF 179.95 million on education, international programmes and research (including music and art schools).
Decisions on the promotion of culture are taken by the government at the request of the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation. The Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation is financed primarily by the national contribution, income from cultural projects and events, as well as two-thirds of Liechtenstein’s share of the profits of the Swiss intercantonal national lottery Swisslos. In 2020, the payouts, which had fluctuated in previous years, were higher than budgeted by the Cultural Foundation at CHF 1.43 million. As a result, cultural creativity in Liechtenstein received extensive support.
In accordance with the Culture Promotion Act (2008), the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation submits its annual budget, report and accounts to the government. The law sets out the funding principles. In its annual reports, the Cultural Advisory Council provides information on the funding that has been distributed to organisations, individuals and projects. The same applies to the Adult Education Foundation.
The Swiss intercantonal national lottery, known as Swisslos since 2003, has been running lotteries and sports betting in Liechtenstein since 1968. Swisslos is considered the most important promoter of culture and sport in Switzerland. Since 2011, the Gambling Act has been in force in Liechtenstein, which means that Swiss lottery law in Liechtenstein only applies to large Swiss operators such as Swisslos. Swisslos paid out a profit share totalling CHF 2.27 million to Liechtenstein in 2020, compared to CHF 2.15 million in 2019. One-third goes to the state treasury.
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