7. Financing and support
Armenia
Last update: January, 2015
It is impossible so far to present public cultural expenditure per capita in the cultural sphere, as the data from local self-government bodies is still unavailable. The data from the state budget is shown below.
Last update: January, 2015
Subdivision of spheres
The Ministry of Culture carries out financial transfers directly to cultural institutions. Appropriations to other levels of the government are not carried out.
The total cultural expenditure of the Ministry of Culture amounted to 10 960 746 000 AMD in 2013, which demonstrates a decline compared to 2012 when the figure was 13 506 180 100 AMD (see Table 3). (1 EUR = 518 AMD). In 2010, the total amount allocated for culture significantly fell due to the economic crisis affecting Armenia. Currently, the financing of culture takes up 1% of the state budget.
Total state expenditure for culture, relaxation and religion as fixed in the state budget were, correspondingly, 19 831 794.4 thousand AMD in 2009, 16 349 584 200 AMD in 2010, 17 981 896 500 AMD in 2011, 22 652 559 600 AMD in 2012 and 10 960 746 000 AMD in 2013.
Last update: January, 2015
State support for culture increased significantly in 2012 and 2013 compared to preceding years.
State cultural expenditure: by sector, in thousand AMD, 2009-2013
| Field / Domain / Sub-domain | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libraries | 946 273.8 | 892 037.2 | 821 053.6 | 788 677.2 | 953 457.2 |
| Museums and exhibitions | 1 169 617.9 | 1 166 220.1 | 1 158 366.5 | 1 098 892.6 | 1 303 083.0 |
| Cultural houses, clubs, centers | 28 237.9 | 28 069.4 | 28 069.4 | 25 430.1 | 32 556.7 |
| Other cultural institutions | 31 432.8 | 32 723.3 | 112 314.8 | 103 488.4 | 123 032.6 |
| Art | 4 705 252.9 | 8 968 124.0 | 4 169 333.8 | 3 399 854.7 | 4 009 115.7 |
| Cinematography | 635 194.9 | 630 448.3 | 630 448.3 | 612 753.1 | 725 181.1 |
| Restoration and preservation of monuments and cultural values | 351 678.7 | 351 251.2 | 351 251.2 | 335 153.3 | 598 545.7 |
| TV programmes | 108 971.6 | 99 065.1 | 90 059.2 | 81 872.0 | 81 872.0 |
| Publishing houses, editorial offices | 284 274.6 | 268 699.8 | 249 038.8 | 245 938.8 | 282 038.8 |
| Information | 744 458.3 | 73 904.0 | 73 904.0 | 68 728.0 | 68 985.0 |
| Relaxation, culture, religion | 328 803.3 | 317 014.0 | 301 951.5 | 261 424.7 | 292 946.2 |
| Total | 10 960 746.0 | 13 506 180.1 | 7 360 893.0 | 7 022 212.8 | 8 470 814.0 |
Last update: January, 2015
The Ministry of Culture supports creators by placing orders and purchasing their works. The Department of Art and Works of Folk Art of the Ministry coordinates this activity. Artists from abroad, who have invitations, can receive grants for travelling expenses from the Ministry for participation in professional activities.
A special grant programme of the Ministry for individual artists, institutions and art unions will start in 2008, the budget of which is 15 000 000 AMD (about 31 500 EUR ).
Artists who have been awarded the "People's" honorary title receive monthly payments from the state budget (the annual fund amounts to 35 433.2 AMD) (about 74 EUR).
Last update: January, 2015
The Literary Fund of the Writers' Union of Armenia supports book publication and the organisation of literary activities.
Legal guarantees on pension coverage for artists in the cultural sphere and conditions for pension entitlement, types of state pensions, procedures for awarding pensions and payment methods are determined by the Law on State Pensions (2002). A right to a partial pension is given to some categories of cultural workers upon reaching the age of 55 and having at least 12 years of professional insurance and to some categories of actors of theatrical and theatrical-concert organisations upon reaching the age of 50 and having at least 12-years professional insurance. A list of posts, conferring a right to some category of workers in the education and cultural spheres, to receive partial pensions for long-term service and of types of working activities has also been approved.
Last update: January, 2015
An institute for awarding titles to honoured and people's artists of the Republic is still in operation. In 2002, а title of "Honoured Worker of Culture of the Republic of Armenia" was approved. The Republic of Armenia President's Award, which is financed by Diaspora benefactors each year, is awarded also to individuals distinguished in the cultural sphere.
Separate cultural funds announce competitions for the most prominent works of art in a given year (e.g. Tekeyan Cultural Union or the Armenian Fund for Art Development).
Programmes for loans and travel grants do not function in Armenia; however the Ministry of Culture often provides travelling expenses for individual artists to ensure their participation at international events.
Last update: January, 2015
he government supports and promotes music and theatre arts through the purchase of works of art and social-creative orders (started in 2001), which mainly pursues two aims: the first aim is to include works by modern artists in the repertoire of theatrical-concert organisations and the second aim is to improve the social conditions of the workers. However, these funds are not sufficient yet to implement the above mentioned goals and there is a need to expand the framework of the state purchase of works involving other fields of art, such as fine arts, choreography and photography.
Indices of the social-creative orders, 2006-2009 state support
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | ||
| Music works | 2 | 2 000 000 | 4 | 6 300 000 | 13 147 000 | 10 855 000 | |||
| Drama works | 16 | 39 200 000 | 18 | 3 720 000 | 81 910 000 | 73 529 500 | |||
| Total | 18 | 41 200 000 | 22 | 43 500 000 | 95 057 000 | 84 384 500 | |||
Source: Ministry of Culture of RA.
Indices on purchase of musical and dramatic works, 2006-2009
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | N. | Price (AMD) | ||
| Purchase of dramatic works | 2 | 500 000 | 2 | 500 000 | 2 | 600 000 | 14 | 1 684 003 | |
| Purchase of musical works | 11 | 3 000 000 | 10 | 5 000 000 | 17 | 5 900 000 | 12 | 3 000 000 | |
| Total | 13 | 3 500 000 | 12 | 5 500 000 | 19 | 6 500 000 | 26 | 4 684 003 | |
Source: Ministry of Culture of RA.
Taking into account the significant number of artists involved in the creative unions (Union of Composers and Musicologists - 125 members, Theatrical Workers' Union - 708 members, Artists' Union - 1 092 members, Choreographers' Union - 50 members, Cinematographers' Union - 171 members), as well as those working in the 40 state theatrical-concert organisations, the present number of social-creative orders are not adequate yet to fulfil their mission.
At present, the following creative unions operate in the Republic of Armenia:
- Writers' Union of Armenia;
- Artists' Union of Armenia;
- Composers' Union of Armenia;
- Architects' Union of Armenia;
- Theatre Workers' Union of Armenia;
- Cinematographers' Union of Armenia;
- Designers' Union of Armenia; and the
- Journalists' Union of Armenia.
The total number of members in the unions is more than 4 750.
The Ministry of Culture does not subsidise these unions annually; instead, state support is carried out only by full or partial financing of applications.
The Ministry of Culture also funds the replenishment of museum and library collections. In 2010, libraries in Armenia received about 67 502 books, and museum collections received 34 797 objects.
Last update: January, 2015
The volume of private funding of culture in Armenia has significantly increased within the last decade. Though it is not possible to list all players in the field, some major companies and foundations are notable:
AGBU (the Armenian General Benevolent Union) sponsors cultural programmes in Armenia and the Diaspora in the sphere of dance, music, and theatre. It has a number of cultural committees covering different spheres.
Cafesjian Family Foundation operates in Armenia through the Cafesjian Centre for the Arts and implements various cultural and art development programmes, including exhibitions, concerts, etc.
Viva-Cell-MTS, one of the most successful private communication companies in Armenia, which is very active in supporting various social and cultural programmes on arts, education, cultural heritage, etc. In 2010, its funding of cultural events and developments amounted to about 1.86 billion AMD. "Orange", another private mobile and Internet company that launched its activities in Armenia in 2009, is also actively involved in cultural projects such as sponsoring cultural and educational events, literary competitions, etc.
Eurasia Partnership Foundation supports a number of media projects and projects on Armenia-Turkey cross-border cooperation that also includes cultural initiatives.
Information on the exact financial contributions of the private sector in the field of culture is not available yet.