In Liechtenstein, support for artistic production and reception is provided on the one hand by promoting cultural, educational and media institutions as part of the cultural, social and economic ecosystem. On the other hand, the state, municipalities and organisations create art-friendly framework conditions, including various support and funding programmes for artists such as:
- Artists’ studios in Berlin and Liechtenstein
- Purchase of works of art (e.g. by the Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation)
- Support for festivals, events, conferences etc.
- Scholarships or contributions for artistic education and training
- Competitions, promotional awards (e.g. Most Beautiful Books from Liechtenstein, Josef Gabriel von Rheinberger Award of the Municipality of Vaduz)
The country’s cultural promotion focuses on creating a framework for the development of art and culture, promoting cultural institutions of national interest, preserving and protecting cultural heritage, culture as a means of foreign policy and historical awareness (see 1.1 and 1.2.2).
The Liechtenstein Cultural Foundation promotes artistic creation and cultural exchange in Liechtenstein on behalf of the state. It acts autonomously in numerous cultural fields, awards work grants and production subsidies to cultural creators and for cultural education. The Cultural Foundation supports cultural creators on their path of development as well as regional and international collaboration. It promotes the safeguarding and preservation of cultural heritage and, through cultural associations, broad cultural engagement.
Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, Liechtenstein has supported cultural creators with a total of CHF 1.25 million from December 2020 to 2022 via the Cultural Foundation. Funding was also provided for the development of online formats and channels (e.g. live streams of the Liechtenstein Symphony Orchestra, Literature Channel of the Literature House). From 20 December 2020 to 30 June 2021, cultural stakeholders were also eligible for benefits under the UEKplus policy, i.e. support for businesses directly affected by regulatory closures. In addition to the financial aid provided by the state, the municipalities also provided assistance in individual cases. The media received a total contribution of CHF 900,000 to support their role in information.
Architecture and architectural art are important elements of culture. For example, the artistic design of the government building or the parliament building in Vaduz, the municipal and town halls, the churches and school buildings or the museums, etc. falls under a cultural policy mandate. In 1967, the government regulated the integration of architectural art in public buildings and facilities, and in 1990 it was enshrined in the Culture Promotion Act (see 4.2.7). According to this, about one per cent of the total construction costs for public buildings is to be used as a contribution to art. The same applies to subsidised municipal buildings. Depending on the building and the type of artistic intervention envisaged, competitions, direct contracts or study commissions are awarded to several artists.
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