Political documents setting out cultural policy frameworks or declarations of principle
In 2019, the Lithuanian Government adopted the Lithuanian Cultural Policy Strategy (Lietuvos kultūros politikos strategija) for a period of 10 years. This is the first long term comprehensive strategy adopted since the restoration of the independence of Lithuania in 1990. The strategy is based on empirical data, situation analysis and expert’s evaluation of the current situation. It formulates core values and sets strategic directions, goals, and tasks of cultural policy (see chapter 1.1 for more information).
In 2019, the Lithuanian Ministry of Culture prepared a draft of a new Law on Culture (Kutūros pagrindų įstatymas) that aims “to establish the general principles of cultural policy, the competence of the main cultural policy making and implementing institutions, the principles of cultural financing, the system of state cultural institutions, the status of national cultural institutions and centres of excellence, the status of artists and cultural workers, the principles of awarding of state cultural and artistic prizes, and the relationship between state and municipal institutions in implementation of cultural policy”. The draft law is currently under consideration in the Seimas.
Until the adoption of the above-mentioned strategy, the main strategic documents of Lithuanian cultural policy were the Lithuanian Cultural Policy Change Guidelines adopted in 2010 by the Lithuanian Parliament and Provisions on Lithuanian Cultural Policy (Lietuvos kultūros politikos nuostatos) adopted in 2001 by the Lithuanian Government (see chapter 1.1 for more information).
Laws establishing the scope, operation(s), governing structure(s) and procedures for funding cultural institutions
The Law on the Council for Lithuanian Culture (2012) (last edited in 2021) establishes the status, goals and functions of the Council and its general operating principles. The Law defines the Council as being a budget-financed institution under the Ministry of Culture and its main function is to finance culture and art programmes, distribute grants and other types of support to culture and for professionals, and monitor culture and art projects that are under implementation. The law was changed in 2021, as the Government decided to abolish the Culture Support Fund that had been administered by the Lithuanian Council for Culture (see chapter 2.1).
TheLaw on Cinema (2002) (last edited in 2019) establishes the principles of state governance and funding of film, the procedures of the distribution, screening and presentation of movies through electronic communications channels and the regulation of the protection of cinematic heritage. In 2011, the amendments to the Law on Cinema included an article on the establishment of the Film Centre, a budget organisation under the Ministry of Culture. Since 2013, this institution implements Lithuanian film policy and provides funding for development and production of national films.
Laws relating to broadcasting and its regulation
TheLaw on the Provision of Information to the Public (1996) (last edition in 2021) sets up the procedures for collecting, preparing, publishing and disseminating of public information and establishes the rights, obligations and responsibilities of producers, the media, journalists and institutions that regulate their activity, as well as the operating principles of the Press, Radio and Television Support Foundation.
The Law on the Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information (2002) (last edition in 2021) establishes the criteria of the public information that has a detrimental effect on the physical, mental and moral development of minors, the procedure of its publication and dissemination, and the rights, duties and liability of the producers, disseminators and owners of such information, as well as journalists and the institutions which regulate their activities.
The Law on National Radio and Television (1996) (last edition in 2021) establishes the procedures of governance, operation, funding, reorganisation and liquidation of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television broadcasting company as well as its duties, rights, and responsibilities. Article 19 of the law also establishes the principles of LRT financing by fixing its share from certain sources: “the amount of funds allocated to the LRT from the state budget each year is 1 per cent of the state budget and municipal budget revenue from personal income tax and 1.3 per cent from excise revenue actually received in the year before last”.
Laws referring to the “status of the artists” (employed or independent artists, media freelancers etc.)
The Law on the Status of Artists and Artists’ Organisations (1996) (last edition in 2018) establishes the basis and procedure for granting and abolishing the status of artist and artists’ organisations.
The Law on Professional Performing Arts (2004) (last edition in 2021) regulates the governance of professional performing arts, the system and operation of professional performing arts institutions, the financing of these institutions, the employment relations and social guarantees of employees of these institutions, as well as the management and use of the property of institutions.
Table 27: International legal instruments implemented by Lithuania in the cultural field
Title of the act | Year of adoption |
UNESCO Conventions, ratified by Lithuania | |
Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage | Acceptance: 31/03/1992 |
Convention on Technical and Vocational Education | Accession: 28/01/1993 |
Convention concerning the Exchange of Official Publications and Government Documents between States | Acceptance: 10/03/1993 |
Protocol to amend articles 6 and 7 of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat | Ratification: 20/08/1993 |
Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat | Accession: 20/08/1993 |
Convention on the Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the Europe Region | Accession: 16/11/1994 |
Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict with Regulations for the Execution of the Convention | Accession: 27/07/1998 |
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict | Accession: 27/07/1998 |
Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property | Ratification: 27/07/1998 |
Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials, with Annexes A to E and Protocol annexed | Accession: 21/08/1998 |
Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials, with Annexes A to H | Accession: 21/08/1998 |
Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region | Ratification: 17/12/1998 |
International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations | Accession: 22/04/1999 |
Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms against Unauthorized Duplication of their Phonograms | Accession: 27/10/1999 |
Second Protocol to the Hague Convention of 1954 for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict | Accession: 13/03/2002 |
Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage | Ratification: 21/01/2005 |
Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage | Ratification: 12/06/2006 |
International Convention against Doping in Sport | Ratification: 02/08/2006 |
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions | Accession: 18/12/2006 |
WIPO treaties signed by Lithuania | |
Berne Convention | Accession: 14/09/1994 |
Budapest Treaty | Accession: 9/02/1998 |
Hague Agreement | Accession: 26/06/2008 |
Madrid Protocol | Accession: 15/08/1997 |
Nairobi Treaty | Accession: February 9, 2021 |
Nice Agreement | Accession: 22/11/1996 |
Paris Convention | Accession: 21/02/1994 |
Patent Cooperation Treaty | Accession: 5/04/1994 |
Patent Law Treaty | Accession: 3/11/2011 |
Phonograms Convention | Accession: 27/10/1999 |
Rome Convention | Accession: 22/04/1999 |
Singapore Treaty | Ratification: 14/05/2013 |
Trademark Law Treaty | Ratification: 27/01/1998 |
UPOV Convention | Accession: 10/11/2003 |
WIPO Convention | Accession: 30/01/1992 |
WIPO Copyright Treaty | Accession: 18/06/2001 |
WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty | Accession: 26/01/2001 |
Council of Europe Treaties in the area of culture, signed and ratified by Lithuania | |
European Cultural Convention | Entered into force: 7/5/1992 |
Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe | Entered into force: 1/4/2000 |
European Convention on Transfrontier Television | Entered into force: 1/1/2001 |
European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (Revised) | Entered into force: 8/6/2000 |
European Convention on Cinematographic Co-Production | Entered into force: 1/10/1999 |
Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities | Entered into force: 1/7/2000 |
European Landscape Convention | Entered into force: 1/3/2004 |
European Convention for the Protection of the Audiovisual Heritage | Entered into force: 1/1/2008 |
Protocol to the European Convention for the Protection of the Audiovisual Heritage, on the Protection of Television Productions | Entered into force: 1/4/2014 |
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