The main non-governmental bodies of the cultural community in Lithuania are various associations and unions. The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania provides data on 19 artists’ associations that have a special status of “artists’ organisation” granted them according to the Law on the Status of Artists and Artists Organisations (1996): Architects’ Association of Lithuania, Lithuanian Union of Journalists, Lithuanian Theatre Union, Professional Folk Artists’ Association, Lithuanian Writers’ Union, Lithuanian Musicians’ Union, The Lithuanian Association of Literary Translators, Lithuanian Composers’ Union, Lithuanian Filmmakers’ Union, Union of Lithuanian Art Photographers, Lithuanian Designers’ Society, Lithuanian Artists’ Association, Lithuanian Association of Landscape Architects, Contemporary Dance Association, Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Artists’ Association, Association of Performing Arts Critics, Lithuanian Association of Chores, Association of Vilnius Region Folk Artists, Lithuanian Association of Art Creators. The latter organisation is an umbrella association of twelve unions of artists, listed above. It was established in 1995 and aims to coordinate cooperation between artists and artists’ organisations in Lithuania. The association represents the interests of Lithuanian professional artists and writers abroad, organises public debates between artists and politicians on the issues of the development of culture and arts, organises conferences, submits proposals on draft laws and regulations, and awards Lithuanian artists for outstanding professional works created in the last two years.
Members of the above-mentioned organisations delegate members or take part in the activity of many cultural policy bodies, such as advisory Councils of Ministry, Lithuanian Council for Culture, Council of Press, Radio, and Television Support Foundation, Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania, National Commission for Cultural Heritage, Council for the Protection of Ethnic Culture, State Commission on the Lithuanian Language, and Council of the Lithuanian Radio and Television Company (see chapter 1.2.1, the organigram of the Lithuanian cultural policy institutions).
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