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Slovakia 2016 report

General Information
Executive Summary
Please summarize in max 3500 characters the main achievements and challenges in implementing the Convention and the outlook for the future. Please note this is not an introduction to the report or an annotated table of contents.

While elaborating the 2nd periodic report on the measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions that the Slovak Republic is submitting, the Ministry cooperated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Government for Human Rights and National Minorities, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

Due to its limited extent the periodic report contains only the most significant cultural – political measures introduced for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in the phases of the creation, production, distribution, dissemination and participation in culture that were adopted at the national and international levels in the legislative, institutional and financial areas. 

The measures elaborated at the national level include the promotion of art, media and audio-vision, the creative industry, traditional folk art, the promotion of the cultures of national minorities and disadvantaged groups of the population, cultural rights and access to culture, cooperation with churches and religious communities and measures in the area of promoting intercultural dialogue. The content of this report also includes measures aimed at the integration of culture in sustainable development policies. In the area of the protection of the cultural expressions under threat, the report also includes cooperation with the civil society at the national and international levels. The challenges related to the introduction of the Convention and the solutions identified for their implementation also constitute part of this report . Annexes to the Report contain the available statistical data The Slovak Republic submits the 1st periodic report on measures for the protection and promotion of the diversity in cultural expressions in two UNESCO working languages – English and French.

Technical Information
Party:
Eslovaquia
Date of ratification:
18/12/2006
Organization(s) or entity(es) responsible for the preparation of the report:
  • Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
Officially designated Point of Contact
Title:
Ms
First Name:
Jana
Family Name:
Kňažková
Organization:
Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
Mailing Address:
Nám. SNP 33, 813 31 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
Telephone:
+ 421 2 20482 326
Fax:
+ 421 2 54 415 534
E-mail:
jana.knazkova@culture.gov.sk
Name of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, involved in the preparation of the report:
Describe the multi-stakeholder consultation process established for the preparation of this report

In preparing the second periodic report on measures for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic has cooperated with the Office of the deputy prime minister of the Slovak Republic for human rights and national minorities, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

While elaborating the 2nd periodic report on the measures to protect and promote the diversity of cultural expressions that the Slovak Republic is submitting, the Ministry cooperated with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Government for Human Rights and National Minorities, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic.

Due to its limited extent the periodic report contains only the most significant cultural – political measures introduced for the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in the phases of the creation, production, distribution, dissemination and participation in culture that were adopted at the national and international levels in the legislative, institutional and financial areas. 

The measures elaborated at the national level include the promotion of art, media and audio-vision, the creative industry, traditional folk art, the promotion of the cultures of national minorities and disadvantaged groups of the population, cultural rights and access to culture, cooperation with churches and religious communities and measures in the area of promoting intercultural dialogue. The content of this report also includes measures aimed at the integration of culture in sustainable development policies. In the area of the protection of the cultural expressions under threat, the report also includes cooperation with the civil society at the national and international levels. The challenges related to the introduction of the Convention and the solutions identified for their implementation also constitute part of this report . Annexes to the Report contai

Overview of Cultural Policy Context
Parties shall describe the key objectives and priorities of their current cultural policy and the impact the Convention has had in their formulation or reformulation. They will also report on the opportunities and challenges to promote the diversity of cultural expressions in a digital environment.:

In accordance with the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law and generally accepted instruments on human rights, the Slovak Republic affirms its sovereign right to formulate and implement cultural policy and to adopt measures for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression and to strengthen international cooperation with a view to achieving the objectives of the Convention.

Implementation of the Convention in the Slovak Republic is managed by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter the “Ministry”). Under Act No 403/2010 amending and supplementing Act No 575/2001 on the organization of the of activities of the government and the organization of the central state administration (also known as the competence act), the Ministry is the central state administration body for the state language, the protection of cultural heritage monuments, cultural heritage and libraries, art, copyright and rights related to copyright, public cultural awareness and folk art production, the promotion of Slovak culture abroad, relations with churches and religious societies, media and audio-visual services.

The Convention was one of the reference points in the preparation of Act No 189/2015 on public cultural awareness activities, which entered into force on 01 September 2015. This law defines public cultural awareness activities as covering activities which contribute to respect for human rights and diversity of cultural expression, to the formation of a cultured way of life, to achieving a higher level of culture and education in the Slovak Republic and to the development of creativity as the foundation of culture in society (Section 2(1)), and establishes arrangements for such activities including the development of cultural identity and inter-cultural dialogue on the national, regional and local levels (Section 2(2)(a)). The Conception of Care for Traditional Folk Culture (two consecutive documents covering the period from 2007 to 2020) is the implementing instrument for the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Slovak Republic, but also relates closely to the Convention and makes explicit reference to its principles. It is based on the principle of democratic citizenship and considers traditional folk culture as a component of intangible cultural heritage in the territory of the Slovak Republic, with the awareness that its bearers are members of the Slovak nation, national minorities and ethnic groups, people of different beliefs, living in different environmental and economic conditions. The conception also states that this cultural diversity is a value that gives rise to important cultural benefits, satisfies aesthetic needs and creates a feeling of belonging, which contributes to an improvement in quality of life for society as a whole.

a) It is (or has been) the basis for changing one or more policies?:
Yes
How?

In accordance with the United Nations Charter, the principles of international law and generally accepted instruments on human rights, the Slovak Republic affirms its sovereign right to formulate and implement cultural policy and to adopt measures for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression and to strengthen international cooperation with a view to achieving the objectives of the Convention.

 

Implementation of the Convention in the Slovak Republic is managed by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter the “Ministry”). Under Act No 403/2010 amending and supplementing Act No 575/2001 on the organization of the of activities of the government and the organization of the central state administration (also known as the competence act), the Ministry is the central state administration body for the state language, the protection of cultural heritage monuments, cultural heritage and libraries, art, copyright and rights related to copyright, public cultural awareness and folk art production, the promotion of Slovak culture abroad, relations with churches and religious societies, media and audio-visual services.

 

The Convention was one of the reference points in the preparation of Act No 189/2015 on public cultural awareness activities, which entered into force on 01 September 2015. This law defines public cultural awareness activities as covering activities which contribute to respect for human rights and diversity of cultural expression, to the formation of a cultured way of life, to achieving a higher level of culture and education in the Slovak Republic and to the development of creativity as the foundation of culture in society (Section 2(1)), and establishes arrangements for such activities including the development of cultural identity and inter-cultural dialogue on the national, regional and local levels (Section 2(2)(a)). The Conception of Care for Traditional Folk Culture (two consecutive documents covering the period from 2007 to 2020) is the implementing instrument for the Conven

b) It is (or has been) a tool to promote policy discussion?
Yes
How?

descriptions are under POLICIES AND MEASURES section

c) It is (or has been) a reference for ongoing policy development?
Yes
How?

description is in part POLICIES AND MEASURES

Policies and Measures
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
Name of the measure Alcance de la medida Nature
Support for Art National institutional
Act on Public Cultural Awareness Activities National legislative
Strategy for the Development of the Creative Industries National regulatory
Act No 185/2015: The Copyright Act National legislative
Care for Traditional Folk Culture National institutional
Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population National institutional
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
Name of the measure Alcance de la medida Nature
Integration of culture in sustainable developement policies International regulatory
Contract on the provision of public services in radio and television broadcast (The "Contract with the State") National financial
Promotion and Development of audi-visual culture and industries National financial
Strategy for the Digitalization fo Cinemas in the Slovak Republic National financial
CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY
Name of the measure Alcance de la medida Nature
COOPERATION WITH CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES National legislative
Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population National regulatory
YOUTH
Name of the measure Alcance de la medida Nature
Support for art National institutional
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Act No 185/2015: The Copyright Act

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The new copyright act is intended to be modern and flexible legislation that enables authors and other right holders to enforce their rights more effectively within the framework laid down by European and international law.

The act responds to the need to adapt the current legal framework to changes resulting from the development of the information society, especially the use of works and other subject matter on the internet. There was a need in practice for legislation taking into account requirements related to the protection and use of copyright works and subject matter on the internet, which would allow authors and other right holders to exercise their rights effectively while at the same time allowing users to have access to protected content under appropriate conditions. The new act is intended to be a foundation for the spreading of culture, education and research and for the development of creative industries and the internet economy and for support of creativity. Another aim of the act is to indirectly contribute to increased competitiveness in Slovakia through the creation of a vital framework for supporting innovation and investment in creative industries with high added value.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
legislative
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The Copyright Act provides a modern and flexible legal framework and foundation for culture, which strikes a balance between the protection of right holders and reasonable access to protected content for users.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 
  • authors, performing artists, the makers of audio recordings, the makers of audio-visual recordings, broadcasters
  • users of protected contentLegislation reasonably performing the function of the copyright act as the basic (substantive) legislative framework for culture and striking a balance between the interests of right holders, users and the general public. 
f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
In view of the nature of the measure, this question cannot be answered
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

Administration of the ownership rights of authors, performing artists, the makers of audio recordings, the makers of audio-visual recordings and broadcasters, including the collective exercise and protection of the ownerships rights of these right holders and support for making works and other subject-matter available to the public.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Care for Traditional Folk Culture

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The objective of this group of measures is to create conditions for the protection, renewal, development and presentation of traditional folk culture, including traditional crafts, so that it remains within the cultural awareness of the citizens of Slovakia and so that it is institutionally protected and made available for current and future generations.The set of measures that make up state cultural policy on care for traditional folk culture includes not only strategic and conceptual documents (e.g. the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 and 2015) and the construction of institutional architecture, but also financial support and the implementation of specific programmes and projects which both increase the degree of protection for this cultural heritage and raise awareness of it.All measures are based on the principle of democratic citizenship and the status of traditional folk culture as a component of intangible cultural heritage in the territory of the Slovak Republic, with the awareness that its bearers are members of the Slovak nation, national minorities and ethnic groups, people of different beliefs, living in different environmental and economic conditions. The Conception of care for traditional folk culture to 2020 also states that this cultural diversity is a value that gives rise to important cultural benefits, satisfies aesthetic needs and creates a feeling of belonging, which contributes to an improvement in quality of life for society as a whole.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
institutional
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The implementation of the Conception of care for traditional folk culture since 2008 has achieved the following specific results: Initially, in 2007, an advisory body of the minister of culture was established – the Council for the safeguarding of cultural heritage and in 2010 the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre was established; since 2010 the Slovak Republic has been building the Representative list of intangible cultural heritage and in 2015 this was joined by the List of best practices in the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Slovakia. During the period under review, the Committee for public cultural awareness activities and the Committee for cultural heritage were added to the system of advisory bodies of the government of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Culture as subordinate bodies of the Government Council for Culture. These advisory bodies provide a coordination and communication platform for the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, other central state administration bodies, territorial self-government bodies, and professionals and academics working in the relevant fields. Since the school year 2009/2010 the state education programme has included a cross-cutting topic Regional education and traditional folk culture, for which supporting literature has been published.

 

Implementation of the conception includes the activity of the Centre for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV), which includes technical, methodological, documentation and research activities, the operation of the Museum of Folk Art Production, the management of an on-line database of people who make folk-art products or carry on a tradition of artistic craftsmanship involving the use of natural materials (Register of makers of folk art products, Products of the Centre for Folk Art Production),

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

The implementation of the set of measures described under this point is financed through the approved budgets of budgetary and contributory organizations under the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

projects for the digitization of cultural heritage (in particular the Digital Collection of Traditional Folk Culture, the Digital museum and the Documentation and Information Centre on Roma Culture) were implemented as part of OPIS Priority Axis 2 with financial support from EU structural funds.[1]

The project PRO MONUMENTA – prevention through maintenance received financial support from the EEA financial mechanism in the amount EUR 1,151,735.

 

 

[1] Information on the amount of funds approved and spent and the amount provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic in co-financing for projects supported by EU structural funds is available from the project management department.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
• Slovak State Traditional Dance Company (SĽUK) – Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre • Centre for Folk Art Production • National Cultural Centre • Arts ensemble Lúčnica • Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic • Slovak National Museum • Museum of the Slo
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

Professionals in the field are included as members of the advisory body to the minister of culture, the Council for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, bodies of the Government council for culture (the Committee for public cultural awareness activities and the Committee for cultural heritage) and the Expert committee for the assessment of proposals for registration in the Representative list of the intangible cultural heritage and the List of best practices in the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Slovakia, in the last of which they take part in the evaluation of individual nomination files. Every year professionals in the field take part in the evaluation process for subsidies provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

 

Professionals, academics, experts and representatives of civil society organizations operating in the given area participate as lecturers, consultants and members of assessment panels in specific activities and projects of organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

Tradition bearers, individual craftspeople and producers, folklore groups and ensembles are the target groups of activities carried out by organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic which engage with issues in this area to provide a wide range of opportunities for the target groups to present their work and performances, to get training and to develop professionally.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
No
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

The fulfilment of individual measures is monitored on an ongoing basis according to the arrangements and requirements applying to the specific case (e.g. public reporting for organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, financial and substantive evaluation of projects carried out with financial support from the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic).

Tasks under the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 were evaluated and approved by the government of the Slovak Republic in January 2015. The next evaluation is planned in 2017.

The fulfilment of individual measures is monitored on an ongoing basis according to the arrangements and requirements applying to the specific case (e.g. public reporting for organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, financial and substantive evaluation of projects carried out with financial support from the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic).

Tasks under the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 were evaluated and approved by the government of the Slovak Republic in January 2015. The next evaluation is planned in 2017.

i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

The objectives of measures related to care for traditional folk culture are being implemented successfully. Open questions for the future include how to ensure the autonomy and staffing of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre and the how to preserve traditional crafts in construction.

 

 

 

Evaluation took into consideration the degree of fulfilment of the particular tasks laid down in the Conception of care for traditional folk culture and conceptual and strategic documents that apply to the present area. Projects carried out with financial support from the grant scheme of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic were assessed for respect for the approved budget and conformity of actual activities with the project documentation. Project evaluation may also include the monitoring of particular events during their implementation.

 
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

financial support for projects in the area of intangible cultural heritage and public cultural awareness activities.

The grant scheme Intangible cultural heritage and public cultural awareness activities operated until 2015 as an instrument for providing financial support primarily to the projects of civil society organizations and the organizations of territorial self-government authorities. Funds from this grant scheme were intended to support projects related to festivals, exhibitions, competitions, educational activities, the creation of new works, the presentation of performance skills in traditional folk culture, folklorism, art hobbies and amateur art, and also research and publications on intangible cultural heritage, ethnography, folkloristics, public cultural awareness activities and local and regional culture.

In 2015 the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic was transformed into an independent public institution, the Art Support Fund, whose remit includes support for projects in the area of intangible cultural heritage, traditional folk culture, public cultural awareness activities, local and regional culture, art hobbies and amateur art.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
institutional
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

Every year the grant scheme supported around 700 projects of the organizations of territorial self-government authorities and non-governmental organizations contributing to the development of local and regional culture, the dissemination of information on intangible cultural heritage and traditional folk culture or helping to provide informal education through public cultural awareness activities. Since one of the programming priorities of this measure was to support activities aimed at children and young people, the instrument also contributed to children’s meaningful, safe and creative use of their free time.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

The grant scheme was intended to support projects whose target group was the general public – children, young people, adults and seniors. In the sub-scheme Educational activities, the priority target group was children and young people in the case of projects for public cultural awareness activities promoting meaningful free-time activities helping to prevent and eliminate negative effects on this group.Every year the grant scheme supported around 700 projects of the organizations of territorial self-government authorities and non-governmental organizations contributing to the development of local and regional culture, the dissemination of information on intangible cultural heritage and traditional folk culture or helping to provide informal education through public cultural awareness activities. Since one of the programming priorities of this measure was to support activities aimed at children and young people, the instrument also contributed to children’s meaningful, safe and creative use of their free time.The grant scheme was administered directly by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (the cultural heritage section and the project management department).The grant scheme distributed EUR 1,212,590 in 2012, EUR 1,612,830 in 2013, EUR 1,749,500 in 2014 and EUR 1,890,500 in 2015.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
The grant scheme was administered directly by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (the cultural heritage section and the project management department).
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

The grant scheme distributed EUR 1,212,590 in 2012, EUR 1,612,830 in 2013, EUR 1,749,500 in 2014 and EUR 1,890,500 in 2015.Representatives of the professional community participated in the assessment of grant applications every year. Non-government organizations and private companies did not participate directly in the implementation of this measure because they were its target group and they were excluded from the decision-making process (by law) so as to maintain transparency in the allocation of public funds and eliminate potential conflicts of interest.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
No
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

Implementation of the measure included performance of regular annual evaluations of the projects implemented with the scheme’s support. Financial and substantive evaluation was carried out by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic focussing in particular on respect for the approved budget and the conformity of actual activities with the project documentation. Project evaluation also included occasional monitoring of particular events during their implementation.

i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

The Ministry is responsible for introduction of this measure and since 2008 it has been the independent workplace of the Coordination Centre of Traditional Folk Culture which is delegated by the implementation of individual tasks. In 2008.

The question of resolving the functioning of the workplace fulfilling the tasks, its staffing, financial and material equipment as well as the form of cooperation with the affected subjects remain the main challenge in introducing this measure.

 Based on the adopted measure,numerous activities have been implemented in the area of the publication of support materials, the creation of a database and an electronic encyclopaedia, the implementation of international cooperation, the design of the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia, etc. The fulfilment of tasks is elaborated in the Evaluation Report on the Implementation of the tasks arising from the Concept of Safeguarding of Traditional Folk Culture, which was noted by the Slovak Government.

 
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Support for Art

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The Ministry provides institutional support for professional art and book culture by performing state administration of the arts in accordance with applicable legislation and international treaties and by participating in the creation of conditions for the development and the presentation of culture in all areas of professional art and book culture.

a) The Ministry currently has under its establishing competence a total of 12 contributory and budgetary organisations that operate in the area of professional art and book culture (theatres, music ensembles and information and documentation centres usually on the national level):  BIBIANA – international house of art for children, the Slovak National Theatre, the Nová scéna Theatre, the Košice State Theatre, the State Opera in Banská Bystrica, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the Theatre Institute, the Literary Information Centre, Music Centre Slovakia, the Slovak Design Centre. Each of these institutions has its own specific professional mission and also provides cultural services to a wide range of stakeholders without regard for age, social status, political affiliation or religious belief, not excluding disadvantaged sections of the population (older people, children and young people, people with disabilities).

The grant system was established by internal management acts approved by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic No MK-3026/2008-10/11619 of 26 August 2008 on the provision of grants in the Ministry’s area of competence); since 2011 the Ministry’s provision of grants has been regulated by Act No 434/2010 on the provision of grants in the Ministry’s area of competence, which regulates the purpose, scope, method and conditions for the provision of such grants. The act was amended by Act No 79/2013 and Act No 284/2014. Other changes were implemented through Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic No MK-2580/2013-11

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
institutional
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art. In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

f) An important development was the preparation and approval of the Cultural Development Strategy of the Slovak Republic 2014–2020. The government of the Slovak Republic included this task in its manifesto for the years 2012–2016. The adoption of the material highlights the need to implement policies that recognize the social significance of culture and also provide it with stronger support. Even as the economy grows, the share of spending on culture has long been in decline. Slovakia is far below the average for EU Member States. On the other hand, financial support for culture must be in line with the state’s real economic opportunities and it must be able to satisfy the realistic objectives, priorities and expectations of the cultural community. In 2013, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic established a working party of experts to analyse the current strategies and policies in the field of culture and to select the main topics for the strategy. It elaborated a strategic vision, defined seven areas of strategy and proposed priorities. A website was set up where artists, professionals and the general public could follow the preparation of the draft texts of the strategy and comment on them. Five working meetings were held around Slovakia and a working conference was held in Bratislava in December 2013 where members of the working party of experts made public presentations on the strategic visions and areas and the proposed measures for fulfilling them and discussed them with the artistic community. The material was discussed in detail by the strategy committee of the Government Council for Culture and subsequent

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
No
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Continuous care for the development of all the areas of professional art at the qualitative and quantitative levels was the challenge in introducing the measure.

The 20 to 90 years of existence of the institutions mentioned above continuously operating in the area of professional art and library culture is the measuring stick of the effectiveness of their operations.

The system of subsidies of the Ministry is one of the key means for promoting contemporary art for non-government and non-state organizations operating in various areas of professional art. 

 In its Art Subsidy Programme in terms of the production and dissemination of works of art and their reflections and educational programme in culture, the Ministry supports projects in the sphere of professional art aimed at the public presentation or publication of art reflections, the publishing of periodical and non-periodical publications, theatre and musical productions and presentations, the implementation and public presentation of works of visual art, the release of audio and visual recordings, the implementation of cultural events, festivals, competitions and similar activities of national significance and the payment of membership fees in international organizations for applicants conducting their activities in the area of culture, as well as for the internal development of individual areas of culture and education through culture and art. The Ministry provides subsidies for these purposes within the following sub-programmes: Theatre and dance (professional cultural activities), Music (professional cultural activities), Fine art, applied art, photography, design, architecture (professional cultural activities), Inter-sector professional cultural activities (events that are the summary of activities of several types of art) and Literature and book culture.

The subsidy system was introduced through the modification of internal managing acts approved by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (Decree No. MK-3026/2008-10/11619 of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
Ministry of Culture
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art. In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
Yes
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Act on Public Cultural Awareness Activities

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

Redefinition of the area of public cultural awareness activities within the existing system of public cultural awareness activities on the national, regional and local levels.Act No 189/2015 on public cultural awareness activities, which entered into effect on 01 September 2015 replaced the previous legislation regulating the area and introduced a new definition of public cultural awareness activities. This law defines public cultural awareness activities as covering activities which contribute to respect for human rights and diversity of cultural expression, to the formation of a cultured way of life, to achieving higher cultural and educational standards in the Slovak Republic and to the development of creativity as the foundation of culture in society (Section 2(1)), and establishes arrangements for such activities including the development of cultural identity and inter-cultural dialogue on the national, regional and local levels (Section 2(2)(a)).

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
legislative
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The law is based on the civic principle and it has no specific target group because the public in general is deemed to be the recipient of public cultural awareness activities. One of the act’s provisions on records in the area of public cultural awareness activities relates specifically to collectives and individuals who engage in art as a hobby and amateur arts.

The act clarifies relations between public cultural awareness institutions on the national, higher territorial unit, regional and local levels and also assists the mapping of the activities of civil society (collectives and individuals) who engage in art as a hobby and amateur arts. The act has established structured, systematic relationships in a previously uncoordinated and unstable environment. In the interest of emphasizing the importance of culture in public cultural awareness activities, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic changed the Slovak term for such activities from “osvetová činnosť” to “kultúrno-osvetová činnosť” to expressly refer to culture; the act defines the basic activities of public cultural awareness establishments operating on the national level; it implements the term “intangible cultural heritage” and the Slovak Republic’s obligations under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The act also defines the activities and competences of public cultural awareness institutions, introduces record-keeping for public cultural awareness activities – intended to provide information on the activities of public cultural awareness institutions, collectives or individuals – e.g. folklore (e.g. folklore ensembles, folklore groups, singing groups, folk storytellers), theatre (e.g. amateur theatre groups, puppet theatres, mime), film, photography, etc.

                           

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
No
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 
  • The National Cultural Centre, an organisation under the establishing competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic – a public cultural awareness institution with national coverage and a general orientation (Section 5(2)(a) of the act),
  • Higher territorial units through higher territorial unit and regional public cultural awareness institutions.
f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
The legislative changes had no negative impact on the public administration budget. Implementation of particular measures and obligations laid down by the act is covered by the budgets of the relevant organizations.
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

In view of the number of areas covered by public cultural awareness activities, the act focuses primarily on the organization of public administration on the national, regional and local levels necessary to provide efficient, qualified methodological support for all legal entities and natural persons engaging in public cultural awareness activities. The legislation does not limit the activities of formal and informal civil society organizations or private enterprises in any way.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
No
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

evaluation of the implementation of this measure is not yet available because it entered into force in the second half of 2015

i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

evaluation of the implementation of this measure is not yet available because it enetered into force in the second half of 2015

 
❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

Strategy for the Development of the Creative Industries

Context of the measure: 
CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

As this issue is considered to be of relevance across a large number of areas, the strategy was developed through inter-ministerial cooperation involving the following ministries: the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The strategy was adopted by Government Resolution No 32/2015 of 21/01/2015 and establishes the following priorities:

  • Priority 1 An efficient system for the development of the creative industries,
  • Priority 2 High-quality human resources,
  • Priority 3 Increasing the market’s absorption capacity
  • Priority 4 Supporting instruments for financing

Action plan for implementation of the strategy for the development of the creative industries in the Slovak Republic

The Action plan for the implementation of the strategy for the development of the creative industries in the Slovak Republic, which sets out the implementation plan for existing and new measures under each priority, was adopted on 15 December 2015. Financing for programmes supporting the development of CCIs in the Slovak Republic is designed to provide complementary support for the creative economy value chain. Support for creative production is provided primarily by the Art Support Fund (established in 2015) and the Audio-visual Fund (established in 2009), which operate on the arm’s length principle, supplemented by the Ministry’s grant system, which is oriented towards support for cultural heritage and support for the culture of disadvantaged groups. New financing measures include:

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
regulatory
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 
  • Priority 1 An efficient system for the development of the creative industries,
  • Priority 2 High-quality human resources,
  • Priority 3 Increasing the market’s absorption capacity
  • Priority 4 Supporting instruments for financing
d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
No
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Mobilisation of creative potential in regions

Priority Axis 3 (PA 3) is under the competence of the Ministry of Culture and operates in synergy with the OP Research and Innovation (OP R&I)  The aim of Priority Axis 3 is to support: 

 

  • Business growth,
  • Infrastructure development,
  • Access to tangible and intangible assets for creative SMEs,
  • Monetization of intellectual properties with a view to increasing employment in the CCIs,

 

Increased competitiveness and growth of SMEs,

Development of the competitiveness of SMEs in the Bratislava Region

Operational Programme Research and Innovation

Two relevant priority axes of the OP R&I fall under the competence of the Ministry of Economy. These include measures designed to support:

 

  • Internationalization,
  • Cluster initiatives,
  • Increasing awareness of CCIs
  • SMEs in areas where new business models are emerging.

The division of competences in these two programmes financed from the ERDF is based on the definition framework for the CCIs used by the European Commission, which was published in “The Economy of Culture in Europe” in 2006 (KEA). This divides the area as a whole into the cultural sector and the creative sector. The cultural sector includes the traditional arts (the visual and dramatic arts, cultural heritage) and the cultural industries (film, audio-visual media, television and radio broadcasting, computer games, music, publishing), which fall under the competence of PA 3 of the IROP. The creative sector includes creative industries (design, architecture and advertising) and related areas (such as software development), which fall partly under PA 3 and also under OP R&I.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

In 2012, the AVF provided a total of EUR 5,519,888 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 3,500,000 from the state budget. In 2013, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,404,290 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,200,000 from the state budget. In 2014, the AVF provided a total of EUR 6,458,060 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,000,000 from the state budget. In 2015, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,542,900 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,500,000 from the state budget.  

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
Yes
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

After five years of the AVF’s support activities, it is possible to conclude that the objectives referred to in point (b)(I) have been fulfilled. The AVF operates as a stable and respected public institution. The continuous support activities of the AVF have brought about a demonstrable increase in the basic performance indicators of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries in the international context. In terms of the number of films per million inhabitants, Slovakia achieved an increase of 125% between 2010 and 2014, and public funds for audio-visual culture per capita increased by 45.6% over the same period.

Evaluation of the measure is conducted every year in the form of the AVF’s annual report. The director presents the draft report to the board of the AVF for approval. The report includes a report on the fulfilment of the AVF’s strategic goals and development plans in the period covered. The annual report for 2014 included a comprehensive review of the AVF’s activities after five years of operation. The main conclusions of the evaluation were as follows:

  • The volume of public funds available each year to support audio-visual culture increased by 80%,
  • Available funds were stabilized,
  • The AVF standardized the structure of sources in the European context,
  • It expanded the forms and scope of support activities to various areas of audio-visual culture and industries (stipends, loans, support for cinemas, support for audio-visual industries),
  • The AVF has created more flexible conditions for the efficient use of the provided funds, which has significantly reduced the risk of uncompleted projects in production.
  • It has broadened the range of genres of films made and the variety of topics which they address,
  • The AVF has created conditions for greater competitiveness (a demonstrable increase in the number of production companies and the number of supported applicants),
i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

Evaluation used standard accounting and statistical indicators, and also international indicators of the potential of the audio-visual environment.

 
❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Contract on the provision of public services in radio and television broadcast (The "Contract with the State")

Context of the measure: 
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

This contract has been concluded to establish a framework for the systematic promotion and development of public services in radio and television broadcasting involving:

  •  the making and production of new, original works in the public interest,
  • the public dissemination of such programmes as part of a public broadcasting service,
  •  the modernisation of the technological infrastructure for the production and broadcasting of new, original programmes in the public interest and
  • broadcasting to other countries.

By concluding this contract, the parties (the Slovak Republic represented by the Ministry and Radio and Television Slovakia (hereinafter also “RTVS”)) declared that they consider the promotion of the making, production, broadcasting and preservation of Slovak audio-visual and cinematographic works to be an integral part of public broadcasting services and an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Slovak Republic. RTVS has an essential role in the sustainable development of audio-visual culture in view of its historical, cultural, social and economic status. Provision for such development involving the use of public funds and cooperation with RTVS and other audio-visual organizations will contribute to the public interest in broadcasting and the development of audio-visual culture and industries in Slovakia and advance the values of humanism, ethics and education.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
financial
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The implementation into practice of the “contract with the state” in the Slovak Republic in 2010 was described in the first periodic report. In 2012 the parties concluded a new framework contract for the period 2013 to 2014 (Contract No MK - 138/2012/M on provision for public interest services in radio and television broadcasting in the period 2013–2017). The parties agree on the precise and binding scope and nature of their mutual obligations under this contract for each year by means of addenda to the contract. The addendum is always concluded for a period of one calendar year. Based on the addendum, the Ministry pays RTVS the agreed sum for the given year for the following purposes:

  • the programming obligations of RTVS, the content of which is the making of new, original radio programmes in the public interest and new, original television programmes in the public interest; the programming obligations are always specified in detail in the addendum for the given calendar year.
  • specific investment projects set out in the addendum for the given calendar year and
  • broadcasting by RTVS to foreign countries by the radio channel Radio Slovakia International, which broadcasts via satellite and the internet at least 30 minutes per day in Slovak, English, German, French, Russian and Spanish.

Since 2013, the addendum to the contract with the state includes areas of special interest of state support in the given calendar year and the minimum percentage of the funds provided for implementation of programming obligations that will be used for the making of new, original programmes in the public interest in each area of special state interest. The addendum for 2013 laid down the following areas of special interest for state support:

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
No
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Every year, the financial contribution paid to RTVS under the contract with the state is used to produce television programmes that are mostly not of interest to the commercial sector and but which contribute to the fulfilment of service to the public in radio and television broadcasting. Funds contributed by the state are also used to make radio and television programmes for members of national minorities and religious programmes. The making of new, original programmes in the public interest in areas of special state interest serve the interests of minority viewers and promote the national culture. Quality can be assured in such activities by renovating the technological infrastructure of the public broadcaster. Without state support radio broadcasts to other countries would probably cease. This indicates that the measure clearly contributes to support for access to the national culture and minority culture and promotes the development of cultural diversity in Slovak radio and television broadcasting.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
Radio and Television Slovakia
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

In 2012 RTVS was paid EUR 10,000,000 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting and EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries. The state did not provide any funds to RTVS for specific investment projects this year.

In 2013 RTVS was paid EUR 19,931,932 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 5,000,000 for specific investment projects.  

In 2014 RTVS was paid EUR 19,138,000 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 1,500,000 for specific investment projects.  

In 2015 RTVS was paid EUR 20,933,842 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,300,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 5,000,000 for specific investment projects.  

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

Each addendum for a particular budget year is evaluated separately by means of accounts for provided funds which RTVS is obliged to submit to the Ministry each year and a substantive and financial check of these accounts performed by the Ministry. As part of the evaluation the Ministry checks RTVS’s fulfilment of its obligations under the contract with the state and the addendums for particular budget years.   

i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

Not applicable

 
❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Promotion and Development of audi-visual culture and industries

Context of the measure: 
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The support system for audio-visual culture is designed to meet satisfy the following objectives:

establishment of the Audio-Visual Fund (hereinafter “AVF”) as the main financial instrument focussed exclusively on support for Slovak audio-visual culture and industries,

  • ensuring independent and qualified decision making in the key bodies of the AVF by establishing them in a public institution,
  • defining stable sources of financing for the AVF based on contributions from enterprises that make use of audio-visual content,
  • defining the functions and objectives of the AVF’s support activities and transparent rules for the use of funds,
  • defining the purpose of use of AVF funds and control mechanisms for use.

 

The support system for the audio-visual industry is intended to achieve in particular the following objectives:

  • generating interest of foreign production companies in recording or making audio-visual works in Slovakia,
  • creating impulses for the development of missing infrastructure of the audio-visual industry in Slovakia, especially in connection with modern technology,
  • increasing the international competitiveness of the audio-visual industries in Slovakia,
  • making a positive contribution to public budgets (taxes and contributions), development of services and job opportunities in the audio-visual industries,
  • making a contribution to the promotion and presentation of the Slovak Republic and its regions,
  • increasing opportunities for exercising vocations and acquiring vocational experience, including opportunities for projects whose requirements for financing and implementation significantly exceed the potential of Slovak production conditions.
c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
financial
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

To improve the promotion and development of audio-visual culture and industries, Act No 516/2008 on the Audio-Visual Fund and amending and supplementing certain acts (hereinafter also the “Act on the AVF”) established the AVF with effect from 01 January 2009 as a public institution for the promotion and development of audio-visual culture and industries and it commenced its support activities in 2010. The establishment and system of operation of the AVF were also described in the first periodic report on measures for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression under the 2005 UNESCO Convention (hereinafter only the “first periodic report”), which was submitted in 2012.

 

The AVF defines priorities for the support provided in a particular period. It also creates a special financial reserve for financing projects through which the set priorities are implemented in practice. For example, from 2013 to 2015 the AVF’s priorities included support for the coproduction of cinematographic works with a Slovak minority co-producer and support for film festivals in Slovakia with international participation, through which the AVF made a significant contribution to the promotion and development of cultural diversity.

With effect from 01 January 2014, the scope of the AVF’s support activity was broadened to include support for the audiovisual industries based on an amendment introduced in Act No 374/2013 amending and supplementing Act No 516/2008 on the Audio-Visual Fund and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended, and amending and supplementing certain acts. The AVF’s promotion of the audio-visual industries includes providing funds for the implementation of film projects that satisfy the requirements laid down by law. A film project is defined as an audio-visual work which is a cinematographic drama, documentary or animation or a work primarily intended for television broadcast in the scope defined by decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

After five years of the AVF’s support activities, it is possible to conclude that the objectives referred to in point (b)(I) have been fulfilled. The AVF operates as a stable and respected public institution. The continuous support activities of the AVF have brought about a demonstrable increase in the basic performance indicators of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries in the international context. In terms of the number of films per million inhabitants, Slovakia achieved an increase of 125% between 2010 and 2014, and public funds for audio-visual culture per capita increased by 45.6% over the same period.

 

One of the objectives of the adoption of the amendment of the Act on the AVF regarding support for audio-visual industries was to increase the interest of foreign production companies in recording or making audio-visual works in Slovakia (more detailed information is given in (b)(II)). The expected benefits of the legislative measure include support for international cultural cooperation, mobility of film-makers and other artists and the promotion of cultural diversity.

  • authors of Slovak audio-visual works,
  • makers of Slovak audio-visual works,
  • persons who restore and develop technological infrastructure for the production and circulation of audio-visual works and the organisation of public cultural events related to audio-visual culture,
  • persons who circulate and present audio-visual works,
  • the distributors of audio-visual works.
  • the operators of audio-visual technical facilities,
  • natural persons whose creative activities or research contributes to the development of audio-visual culture and industries in Slovakia,
  • legal entities which are the producers or co-producers of a film project for which the apply for funding from the AVF for the promotion of the audio-visual industries in the Slovak Republic.
f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
Slovak audio-visual fund
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

In 2012, the AVF provided a total of EUR 5,519,888 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 3,500,000 from the state budget. In 2013, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,404,290 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,200,000 from the state budget. In 2014, the AVF provided a total of EUR 6,458,060 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,000,000 from the state budget. In 2015, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,542,900 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,500,000 from the state budget.  

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

Evaluation of the measure is conducted every year in the form of the AVF’s annual report. The director presents the draft report to the board of the AVF for approval. The report includes a report on the fulfilment of the AVF’s strategic goals and development plans in the period covered. The annual report for 2014 included a comprehensive review of the AVF’s activities after five years of operation. The main conclusions of the evaluation were as follows:

  • The volume of public funds available each year to support audio-visual culture increased by 80%,
  • Available funds were stabilized,
  • The AVF standardized the structure of sources in the European context,
  • It expanded the forms and scope of support activities to various areas of audio-visual culture and industries (stipends, loans, support for cinemas, support for audio-visual industries),
  • The AVF has created more flexible conditions for the efficient use of the provided funds, which has significantly reduced the risk of uncompleted projects in production.
  • It has broadened the range of genres of films made and the variety of topics which they address,
  • The AVF has created conditions for greater competitiveness (a demonstrable increase in the number of production companies and the number of supported applicants),
  • It has increased the ability of Slovak enterprises to participate in international projects including countries other than the Czech Republic and it has increased the number of works winning international awards,
  • It has improved the performance against several standard international indicators for the potential of the audio-visual environment,
  • In terms of published information on support activities and the level of transparency, the AVF outperforms the standard of European film funds and other public sector organisations in Slovakia.

The following areas for improvement and opportunities for further development were identified in the AVF’s support activities:

  • Describing the baseline of the strategy for the long-term development of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries,
  • Continuous evaluation of fil
i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

Evaluation used standard accounting and statistical indicators, and also international indicators of the potential of the audio-visual environment.

 
❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Strategy for the Digitalization fo Cinemas in the Slovak Republic

Context of the measure: 
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The aim of the Strategy for the digitalization of cinemas was to support the continuing digitalization of single-screen cinemas in Slovakia and to create conditions for the development of local culture, of which cinemas have been an integral part for over a hundred years. Continuing the digitalization of single-screen cinemas also creates conditions for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression in film, and the effective circulation of Slovak audio-visual works in the cinema distribution system in Slovakia. The strategy’s main aim was to analyse the situation in the digitalization of Slovak cinemas and to find a suitable way to provide for the digitalization of single-screen cinemas. Cinematography, together with its main distribution platform, the cinema, provide one of the most effective ways of communicating cultural values and also one of the sources of cultural diversity. Cinemas are considered to be important cultural institutions and if we look at them in terms of the number of people who visit them each year, they have an indispensable place in the cultural system. In 2012, 88% of the 154 cinemas in Slovakia were single-screen cinemas, mostly under the management of towns and villages and it was such cinemas that were most at risk in the process of cinema digitalization. Evidence of this was the fact that as at 31 October 2012, 108 cinema screens had been digitalized in Slovakia but only 23 of these were in single-screen cinemas. By comparison, at that time the level of digitalization in multiplex cinemas operated by private companies was 97%. The digitalization of single-screen cinemas in Slovakia operated by towns and villages or co-financed by local government was clearly lagging behind. There was a risk that the process of disappearance of single-screen cinemas which had been happening since the foundation of the Slovak Republic would be accelerated by the move to digitalized cinemas, and it was therefore necessary to act quickly, not later than the first half of 2013, because already in 2012 there were significant problem

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
financial
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The AVF has supported digitalization and other measures to modernize cinemas since 2010 and has made this one of its permanent priorities. In order to accelerate the digitalization of cinemas, the government of the Slovak Republic adopted the Strategy for the digitalization of cinemas in the Slovak Republic on 09 January 2013. This strategy seeks a suitable solution and the necessary funding to digitalize single-screen cinemas.

                    

                     After the adoption of the strategy, the digitalization of single-screen cinemas accelerated. While in the years 2009–2012, funds from the AVF supported the digitalization of 32 single-screen cinemas, almost the same number – 28 – were digitalized in 2013 alone, and in 2014 support was provided for the digitalization and modernization of 27 cinemas. Another important change is the increased availability of support including combined grants and loans and support for a wider range of renovation activities including the renovation of other cinema equipment and training. In 2015 the AVF supported the digitalization and modernization of another 13 cinemas.

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

The strategy aimed to achieve the digitalization of 100 out of a total of 115 non-digitalized single-screen cinemas in 2013 and 2014. The aim of the strategy was not only to preserve access to film culture for residents of the Slovak regions, but also to make a significant contribution to the cultural potential of the use of cinemas and the revival of cultural life in the local area. By the end of 2014, support had been provided to a total of 87 cinemas. The objective was achieved in 2015, when the total number of cinemas to which the AVF had provided support for digitalization and modernization reached 100.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
Audio-Visual Fund
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

prime minister of the Slovak Republic which was earmarked for cinema digitalization. In 2014, the AVF’s support in this area amounted to EUR 559,300 and in 2015 it was EUR 315,000.

Name of NGOs and/or private companies engaged in the implementation of the measure

The AVF does not contribute the full cost of a cinema digitalization and modernization project and the applicant for support must always provide co-financing amounting to either 50%, if an AVF grant is sought, or 10%, if the applicant has requested a combined grant and loan. The implementation of the measure therefore also involves:

  •  persons implementing the renovation and improvement of technical infrastructure for the presentation of audio-visual works in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
  • the operators of audio-visual technical infrastructure in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
Yes
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
No
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

Integration of culture in sustainable developement policies

Context of the measure: 
INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The Operational Programme Information Society defines conditions for management of implementation, monitoring, evaluation, information, publicity and auditing in relation to projects under the Operational Programme Information Society. The Slovak Republic has the opportunity to draw on funds of the European Union for this purpose. The strategic document permitting use of these funds was prepared in accordance with the rules laid down by the European Union for the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund and was approved by the government of the Slovak Republic and the European Commission. Funds provided under the European Union’s cohesion policy must support three main objectives: Convergence, Regional competitiveness and employment, and European territorial cooperation.

The main objective is

  1.  to increase the accessibility and quality of civil infrastructure and amenities in the regions. Through its orientation, it helps to stimulate the internal resources of regions and develop related business activities (small and medium enterprises) and also makes regions more attractive for foreign investment. Co-financing from structural funds in areas such as
  2.  The strengthening of the cultural potential of regions, increase in the quality of the services provided by repository institutions (galleries, libraries and museums) on the local and regional level through their reconstruction, enlargement and modernization, including the procurement of equipment and the revitalization of important monuments in connection with the conservation of cultural heritage and its use in cultural tourism.

Conception for the protection of monuments

The Conception for the protection of monuments includes identification of the most important cultural heritage monuments and the quantification of the number of cultural heritage monuments which are at risk or in a damaged or desolate condition.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
International
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
regulatory
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The main objective of the measure:

  1. is to create conditions for the elimination of negative impacts causing the damage or disappearance of cultural heritage monuments. The conception includes the identification of specific threats to cultural heritage monuments and other elements of cultural heritage, e.g. archaeological cultural heritage (archaeological finds and archaeological sites) and to find alternative proposals for solving these threats.
  2. b) the measure is included in the conception referred to above. The Ministry bears overall responsibility for its implementation; tasks implementing the measures including state administrative procedures in the first and second instance are performed by the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic or the Regional Monuments Boards.
d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

 

Digital library and digital archive

 

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 39,695,796.98

 

Project implementation schedule

 

Name of activity

Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

Activity 1 – Preparation of documents for digitization and their chemical treatment (3)

04/2012

09/2015

Activity 2 – Digitization (4)

04/2012

09/2015

Activity 3 – Archive (Digitization and conservation of documents of the SNA (5)

04/2012

09/2015

Support activities

 

 

Project management

04/2012

09/2015

Publicity and information

06/2012

09/2015

 

 

Digital gallery

 

Beneficiary: Slovak National Gallery

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 13,976,008.00

 

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 26,287,339.11

 

Project implementation schedule

Name of activity

Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

 

 

Activity 1 – Establishment and operation of the Digitization Centre

02/2012

11/2015

Activity 2 – Treatment and conservation of items

02/2012

11/2015

Activity 3 – Preparation of items for digitization

03/2012

11/2015

Activity 4 – Digitization of museum collections

08/2012

11/2015

Activity 5 – Digitization of knowledge of folk-art production

08/2012

07/2015

Support activities

 

 

Project management

01/2011

11/2015

Publicity and information

02/2012

11/2015

 

 

Digitized monuments and historic sites

 

Beneficiary: Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 9,333,051.18

 

Project implementation schedule

Name of activity

Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

Activity 1 – Building modifications to c

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
the ministry
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

 

Digital library and digital archive

Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

 

Digital library and digital archive

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 39,695,796.98

Digital gallery

 

Beneficiary: Slovak National Gallery

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 13,976,008.00

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 26,287,339.11

Digitized monuments and historic sites

 

Beneficiary: Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic

Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 9,333,051.18

 

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
Yes
i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
National
i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

This measure is part of the aforementioned concept. The Ministry is responsible for its implementing; i.e., the state administration at the first and second levels is carried out by the Monument Board of the Slovak Republic or the regional monument boards. State administration organs implement measures continuously or as necessary within the framework of the approved resources from the state budget. legislative barriers were identified in implementing this measure – insufficient competences in performing the state administration, low enforceability of the law, discrepancies between the requirements for monument fund preservation and the possibilities of financial support of the Ministry subsidy system, neglected regular maintenance of cultural monuments, “cultural crime” and illegal merchandizing of cultural heritage.   

i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

Because of the date of adopting the concept, the effect or impact of this measure can not be stated in concrete terms. At the general level, we anticipate the improvement of the status of at least some cultural monuments. The indicators will also include the change of the ratio of monuments in good – satisfactory – damaged - neglected state or the number of monuments under renovation. The data are collected annually and statistically processed by the Monument Board of the Slovak Republic

 
❭ CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY

Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population

Context of the measure: 
CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The objective of the grant scheme is to provide financial support to projects related to the culture of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population.The grant scheme Culture of disadvantaged sections of the population is a stable financial mechanism operated by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic for the promotion and development of the cultural rights of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. The grant scheme has four sub-schemes: Living Culture, Periodicals, Non-periodic Publications and Informal Education in the Area of Culture for People with Disabilities. The scheme is intended to support access to culture for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. It supports cultural activities aimed at breaking down barriers and prejudices in relation to vulnerable groups; it promotes intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of groups at risk of social exclusion; it also supports cultural mechanisms that help to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia and the like. The grant scheme contributes to prevention activities in the area of extremism and human trafficking. The grant scheme is an instrument for the implementation of temporary balancing measures in the area of culture (pursuant to Act No 364/2004 on equal treatment in certain areas and on protection against discrimination and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended).

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
regulatory
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The grant scheme is intended to support projects whose target groups are disadvantaged sections of the population, e.g.:

  • People with disabilities (physical, mental, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and also protection of mental health – under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
  • Children and young people – in particular children in children’s homes, children living in marginalized Roma communities, refugee children and child victims of violence.
  • Women (support for cultural projects contributing to the implementation of gender equality), e.g. non-discrimination of women over the age of 45 years, single mothers, victims of violence, women living in marginalized Roma communities, women at risk of poverty.
  • Seniors, in particular seniors at risk of poverty and support for cultural projects intended to promote active aging.
  • Migrants (support for projects aimed at promoting cultural integration)
  • People at risk of poverty and social exclusion, e.g. people out of work, homeless people, people from socially excluded communities, LGBTI people, victims of human trafficking.

    Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.

    The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.
d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Representatives of the professional community participate in the assessment of grant applications every year. Non-government organizations and private companies do not participate directly in the implementation of this measure because they are its target group and they are excluded from the decision-making process (by law) so as to maintain transparency in the allocation of public funds and eliminate potential conflicts of interest.

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
Implementation of the measure includes performance of regular annual evaluations of the projects implemented with the scheme’s support. Financial and substantive evaluation is performed by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic focussing in parti
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

The grant scheme distributes around EUR 375,000 each year.

Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.

The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
Yes
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
❭ CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY

COOPERATION WITH CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES

Context of the measure: 
CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The Ministry of Culture is the central state administration body for affairs related to churches and religious societies though it has no control of them, does not interfere in their internal affairs and does not provide methodological guidance for their activities. This approach is based on recognition of their social and legal standing as public institutions sui generis. It nevertheless cooperates with them and conducts dialogue with them.

The objective of the measure is to intensify cultural exchanges so as to benefit mutual respect of cultures, facilitate dialogue and stimulate intercultural activity that promotes cultured interaction. At their own initiative, churches and religious societies organise cultural, educational and charitable activities that contribute to the objectives and key principles of the Convention. They are helping to build a society in which people with different opinions from different communities have solidarity and good will for each other. The provide care for every person regardless of their opinions or nationalities, provide assistance for people in need and create conditions for them to develop their own human dignity, their own culture and their own religious heritage.

b) The Ministry is the central state administration body for the affairs of churches and religious societies. Questions of the financial relations between the state and the church are regulated by Act No 218/1949 on financial provision for churches and religious societies by the state, as amended by Act No 16/1990 repealing state supervision of churches, as amended by Act No 522/1992 and Act No 467/2005. The state provides direct subsidies through the budget chapter of the Ministry to finance the payroll and health and social security contributions of clerics of the registered churches and religious societies and to contribute to the operating costs of church administrations (bishop’s offices). In 2012 funds for this purpose from the state budget amounted to EUR 37,555,040; in 2013 they amounted to EUR 37,524,333; in 2014 they amounted t

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
legislative
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

The aim of this measure is to ensure the intensification of cultural exchanges in favour of mutually respectful cultures, to support dialogue and stimulate inter-culturalism for the development of cultural interaction. Churches and religious societies organize public educational and cultural or charity activities on their own which also leads to the fulfilment of the objectives and principles of the Convention. They have created societies of the solidarity and benevolence of people of various opinions and societies. The carry out care for each person regardless their views or nationality, assist people in need and create conditions for the development of human dignity and one’s own cultural and religious heritage.  

b) The Ministry is the central state administrative organ in matters of churches and religious societies. The issues regarding the financial relations of the state and churches are regulated by Act No. 218/1949 (Digest) on State Economic Support for Churches and Religious Societies in the wording of Act No. 16/1990 (Digest) which abolished the state supervision over churches in the wording of Act No. 522/1992 (Digest) and Act No. 467/2005 Coll

d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

Within the framework of cooperation with registered churches and religious societies, a dialogue began on the systematic and lifelong learning of representatives of churches and religious societies which is one of the forms of support and respect for the diversity of cultures. 

 

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
The Ministry of Culture
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

In 2012 funds for this purpose from the state budget amounted to EUR 37,555,040; in 2013 they amounted to EUR 37,524,333; in 2014 they amounted to EUR 38,472,510; and in 2015 they amounted to EUR 38,949,895.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
❭ YOUTH

Support for art

Context of the measure: 
YOUTH
b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

The Ministry provides institutional support for professional art and book culture by performing state administration of the arts in accordance with applicable legislation and international treaties and by participating in the creation of conditions for the development and the presentation of culture in all areas of professional art and book culture.

a) The Ministry currently has under its establishing competence a total of 12 contributory and budgetary organisations that operate in the area of professional art and book culture (theatres, music ensembles and information and documentation centres usually on the national level):  BIBIANA – international house of art for children, the Slovak National Theatre, the Nová scéna Theatre, the Košice State Theatre, the State Opera in Banská Bystrica, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the Theatre Institute, the Literary Information Centre, Music Centre Slovakia, the Slovak Design Centre. Each of these institutions has its own specific professional mission and also provides cultural services to a wide range of stakeholders without regard for age, social status, political affiliation or religious belief, not excluding disadvantaged sections of the population (older people, children and young people, people with disabilities).

The arts institutions were established in accordance with Act No 523/2004 on budgetary rules for public administration and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended, and some were established directly by law (e.g. Act No 385/1997 on the Slovak National Theatre, Act No 114/2000 the Act on the Slovak Philharmonic). Each of them performs its activities in accordance with its foundation deed or its statute in compliance with the law. They are financed under contracts between the organization and the Ministry, which monitors the use of funds from the state budget.

The effect of the measure can be seen in the 20 to 90-year existence of the institutions and their continuous activity in professional art and book culture.

c. What is: 
c.1. the scope of the measure: 
National
c.2. the nature of the measure: 
institutional
c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

Youth

  1. BIBIANA – international house of art for children, is an organisation on the national level which promotes in creative ways theoretical and practical activity related to art for children as a separate type of art aimed at children’s education through art and for art. It coordinates its activities with competent organizations in Slovakia and abroad (UNESCO, UNICEF, IBBY – International Board on Books for Young People, Hands On! Europe etc.). It performs the function of a specialised institution for professional art for children and young people of all religious beliefs, nationalities, levels of talent and education and for both children with disabilities and children without disabilities. Alongside art exhibitions and interactive expositions, it prepares complementary programmes of education and entertainment, creative workshops, original theatre performances and guest performances by Slovak and foreign artists.

All the organizations under the competence of the art and state language section include titles for children and young people in their dramaturgical plans. Some organizations implement projects for teachers in their area of the arts as a form of continuing education which also benefits the overall upbringing of young people.

b) The culture vouchers programme is a long-running programme which aims to promote the development of children’s relation to cultural values and make culture as accessible as possible for them. Its objective is:

c) The culture vouchers programme is a long-running programme which aims to promote the development of children’s relation to cultural values and make culture as accessible as possible for them. Its objective is:

  • to encourage children, young people and their teachers to develop a relationship to cultural values,
  • to create conditions for the active participation of cultural institutions in the upbringing and education of young people in schools,
  • to encourage competition between cultural institutions in order increase the quality of their activities,
  • to improve target
d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
Yes
e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art

f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art.Program for youth is part of the entire financial resoureces allocated to imeplement the measures.

In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
No
h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
Yes
h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
Yes
i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
No

 
Civil Society
Parties
Have you taken initiatives involving civil society in activities to:
Promote the objectives of the convention through awareness raising and other activities:
Yes
Please explain how:
  • Collect data and share and exchange information on measures adopted at local and international level
Collect data and share and exchange information on measures adopted at local and international level
Yes
Please explain how:

Yes

Provide spaces where ideas of civil societies can be heard and discussed while developing policies:
Yes
Please explain how:

YES

Slovak Coalition for Cultural Diversity (SCCD) represents more than 200 societies, associations and groups in many areas of art – music, visual art, theatre, literature, television and film-making etc. It is the most representative and most respected representative of the interests of artists in Slovakia.

The main activities of the SCCD include:

  • support for the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.
  • improving conditions for the development of creativity, culture and art,
  • improving the legal and social status of artists.

 

Implement Operational Guidelines
No
Other
No
Is Civil Society contributing to this report?
Yes
Civil Society
Has the civil society taken initiatives to:
Promote the principle and the objectives of the Convention locally and internationally:
Yes
Please explain how:

Yes

International activities:

The SCCD is the co-founder:

  • Of the European Coalition for Cultural Diversity (ECCD) together with coalitions of professional artists from Germany, Belgium, France and Spain,
  • International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD), Seville, 19 September 2007.
  • It is an active participant not only in these organizations (holding the positions of Member of Board of Directors IFCCD, Vice-President ECCD, organization of the IFCCD and ECCD Congress in Bratislava in October 2012 etc.) but also in the International Association of Art Europe (IAA Europe – from 2008 a member of the committee, secretary, from 2010 operation of the Office of IAA Europe in Bratislava, 2011 to 2015 the position of President), IAA/AIAP (member of the executive committee 2011–2019, from 2015 coordinator for Europe), European Council of Artists (ECA) and others. Position of a member of the UNESCO intergovernmental committee for the protection and promotion of cultural diversity from 2015 (preparation of a proposed UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of the artist, sent to the secretary of the Convention, Danielle Cliché, in November 2015). Initiation of international discussion on the status of the artist, summary of the results in a 150-page English-Slovak publication (see annex).
  • The SCCD and its member organizations have organized and taken part in many international events, workshops and conferences, in particular on issues of the legal and social status of artists, artists’ mobility, the status of the artist, the exchange of knowledge in the arts, issues of financial remuneration to artists (the MU agreement, the status of cultural institutions amongst others (a selection of events is listed in an annex).

Local activities:

    • The SCCD and its member organizations have organized many events, lectures and discussions for the public, in particular on questions such as the importance of culture and art for the development of society, the legal and social status of artists, the mobility of artists, the status of the artist,
    Promote ratification of the Convention and its implementation by governements:
    Yes
    Please explain how:
    • in 2006 but making it an integral part of national life will take much longer. Since its foundation, the SCCD has sought the establishment of permanent advisory bodies, including representatives of civil society, for constructive and systematic cooperation to solve current problems in culture and the preparation of legislation. The SCCD welcomed the establishment of the Government Council for Culture and its committees (the Committee for art, the Committee for public cultural awareness activities, the Committee for the media) and working parties (the Working party on analysis of the remuneration of cultural workers and proposals for improving the level of their remuneration, the Working party on the status of the artist, the Working party on the recodification of copyright in the Slovak Republic), the Government Council for Non-governmental Non-profit Organizations and the Sectoral Council of the Ministry of Culture on Increasing Employment: the SCCD was represented in all of these from 2012 and its representatives reviewed significant documents and proposals for legislation, regarding which they made a number of proposals for improving the situation in culture and increasing culture’s influence on the sustainable development of society.

    • Status of the artist:

    • April 2015: for the first time after nearly a quarter century of more or less intensive discussion, the working party of the Ministry of Culture reached a fundamental consensus on the basic question of who should have the status of an artist.
    • On 11 November parliament approved a draft act on the definition and registration of professional freelance artists in accordance with the conception of the Status of the Artist (which entered into effect on 01/01/2016); in the next period specific measures will be implemented to build upon the initial step and give it real content.
    • Amendment of the Building Act: On 27/05/2015, the government of the Slovak Republic approved an amendment of the Building Act which includes an obligation to include works of art in new buildings and the renovation of existing buildings.
    Bring the concerns of citizens, associations and enterprises to public authorities, including vulnerable groups:
    Yes
    Please explain how:

    Through its representatives in advisory bodies of the government and the Ministry of Culture, the SCCD is able to table critical comments on proposed legislation and other fundamental documents, warn of the negative impact of long unresolved problems in the area of culture and make constructive proposals for their solution. The SCCD and its members also raises concerns in the space they receive in the media, on their websites (the SCCD site has received nearly 320,000 visits) and in their own publications (e.g. the Yearbook of the Slovak Union of Visual Arts, the publications Štatút umelca – Status of the Artist and Biela kniha – the White Book) Some of long-term problems that have been raised include:

    • stopping the decline in the share of GDP spent on culture, which has lasted over 20 years,
    • simplifying the administrative requirements for grants supporting artists’ work,
    • reducing the high tax burden of artists (artists are a unique group within the population in being obliged to pay an additional statutory levy of 2% of gross income),
    • revival of the art market: expenditure on the purchase of works of art cannot be used to reduce the tax base, which harms both artists (by reducing their ability to earn a living from their creative work) and the state (decimating the art market and driving it into the grey market, which not only makes society less cultivated but ultimately also reduces the state’s tax income),
    • adoption of a law on sponsorship that would motivate the private sector to support culture, to solve the possibility of the real exercise of collective bargaining rights by artists.

    The SCCD and its members also express their critical opinion on other issues, such as the issue of support for international cooperation and the not always equal rights of specialists working in the public interest (see Yearbook of the Slovak Union of Visual Arts 2015/2016). During professional discussion of the government’s manifesto for the period 2016–2020 in the Government Council for Non-governmental Non-profit Organization.

    Contribute to the achievement of greater transparency and accountability and accountability in the cultural governance:
    Yes
    Please explain how:

    the fundamental factors that would increase effectiveness in dealing with issues in culture, including transparency and responsibility include, in our view, the following:

    • systematic efforts for more effective cooperation between artists themselves on the national and international level (sharing information and positive solutions, achieving agreement on priorities, mutual assistance in promoting them) so that artists could be constructive and respected partners for national governments: the SCCD is having a large degree of success in this,
    •  efforts to change the public’s perception of art and culture: it is unrealistic to expect to achieve any particularly fundamental change in the status of culture if a large part of the public consider art to be nothing but a luxury and entertainment, even something unnecessary, without which everything could go on as normal; the SCCD and its members therefore try to take every opportunity to explain the meaning and nature of art, and the important contribution that the cultural sector makes to GDP and job creation (in the advisory bodies of the government and the Ministry of Culture, in lectures and discussions with the public, in publications and the Yearbooks of the Slovak Union of Visual Arts),
    • efforts to establish substantive, correct and constructive cooperation between the representatives of artists and the state in the interest of both parties: artists are very familiar with the problems facing culture and the state has the possibility to make a real change here; the SCCD sees itself as having a duty to point out deficiencies but it must also support constructive proposals of the Ministry of Culture and propose realistic solutions, including application of the experience of the coalition’s foreign partners.
    Monitor policy and programme implementation on measures to protect and promote diversity of cultural expression:
    Yes
    Please explain how:

    The coalition closely monitors fulfilment of the government’s manifesto and the implementation of measures under other approved strategic documents. There are some slight optimistic signals in these issues compared to the recent past.

    Build capacities in domains linked to the Convention and carrying out data collection:
    Yes
    Please explain how:

    In order to collect data supporting the adoption of legislation on the status of the artist, the SCCD initiated an international discussion of this issue and based on cooperation with 5–6 international organizations for artists it collected data and made an analysis of the status of artists in 22 states on several continents; the results were published as a 160-page book in Slovak and English, Status of the Artist, in 2014.

    Create innovative partnerships with the public and private sectors and with civil society of other regions of the worlds:
    Yes
    Please explain how:

    With the aim of increasing the efficiency of international cooperation, the SCCD has for a number of years sought to involve its partners who represent civil society abroad in the solution of a specific issue: Status of the artist. 

    The first step was the personal presentation of the idea at plenary sessions of the partner organisations and requesting members to respond to a questionnaire that had been prepared.

    This step was followed by several working seminars and conferences on the topic (2012)

     

    • Istanbul, Turkey; 2013 - Oslo, Norway; 2015 - Plzen, Czech Republic). It was impossible to complain of a lack of interest: the last conference had delegates from 32 countries on four countries and the fifth continent sent at least a written contribution.

     

    The first stage was concluded in 2014 with the publication of a publication in Slovak and English, Status of the artist. Answers continued to be received after the book was completed (e.g. from Romania, Australia, personal consultation with artists’ representatives from Japan, Cuba and other countries). The publication includes statements from Slovakia and the following international organizations:

     

    International Association of Art Europe (IAA Europe): France, Norway

    IAA/AIAP: Chile, South Africa, Mexico

    International Federation of Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD):

    Australia, Morocco, Canada (a particularly help­ful source was Charles Vallerand, the secretary general of the IFCCD, who com­municated many answers that were not only positive, but highly intelligent and comprehensive), Austria 

    International Federation of Arts Council and Cultural Agencies (IFACCA): Australia

    European Council of Artists (ECA): Malta, Denmark, Finland, Lithuania

    Ericarts: Germany

    Challenges encountered or foreseen to implement the Convention:
    • • Challenge 1: Acquiring broader public support (the problem is a lack of information on the UNESCO Convention and more generally on the meaning and importance of culture and art for the sustainable development of society) – the education system and the m
    Solutions found or envisaged:
    • • Solution 1: The legislative solution of the first stage in accordance with the conception of the status of the artist in Slovakia (11 November 2015 – definition of who should have the status of an artists, which opens the way to a more focussed solution
    Activities planned for next 4 years to implement the Convention:
    1/ list of selected international events in which representatives of the SCCD have participated since 2012 2015, December – Intergovernmental Committee meeting, UNESCO, Paris, France 2015, November – Conference The Significance of Institution in the Proce, 1/ list of selected international events in which representatives of the SCCD have participated since 2012 2015, December – Intergovernmental Committee meeting, UNESCO, Paris, France 2015, November – Conference The Significance of Institution in the Proce
    Achievements and Challenges
    Describe main results achieved in implementing the Convention:
    • To integrate references to the 2005 Convention into strategic policies on support for creative environments (the creation and distribution of culture, and also in other materials for the support of art, media, the audio-visual industries and the creative industries) during their preparation, having regard for the implementation of the Convention.
    • to promote international cooperation in the implementation of the Conventions, to continue regular participation in relevant sessions of the committee of parties.
    • to create synergies in the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions and the protection of cultural heritage through the Slovak Republic’s active participation not only in UNESCO but also in the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Visegrad Group, the EUROMED organization and the Anna Lindh Foundation
    • to support the presentation of original domestic works abroad
    • to ensure a fair share is given to domestic original cultural production in the mass media, especially by public broadcasters
    • to adopt measures to ensure that foreign audio-visual works entering the Slovak market, including works of world cinematography, have a Slovak language mutation (name of the work, subtitles, dubbing)
    • to establish a comprehensive solution for the legal and social status of artists in society:
    • to take account of the special status of artists in law on collective bargaining, social security and taxation.
    • to continue the activities of the point of contact, which has existed in the ministry since 2009. The function of the point of contact is to provide information on the Convention in cooperation with civil society
    • to make a voluntary contribution to the IFCD
    • to consider organizing an international event for exchanging experience in the implementation of the Convention
    • to promote a balance between the preservation of cultural identity and social integration through intercultural and interfaith dialogue having regard for local cultural and religious characteristics
    • to contribute to harmonious interactions between cultures and peoples in order to spread the ideals
    Challenges encountered or foreseen to implement the Convention :

    The Slovak Republic ratified the Convention in 2006 but making it an integral part of national life takes much longer

    • to integrate references to the 2005 Convention into strategic policies on support for creative environments (the creation and distribution of culture, and also in other materials for the support of art, media, the audio-visual industries and the creative industries) during their preparation, having regard for the implementation of the Convention.
    Solutions found or envisaged to overcome those challenges:

    to establish a Working group for addressing the status of artists in society or a working sub-group under the Council for Art

    • to comprehensively resolve the legal and social status – statute – of artists in society;
    • to promote a balance between the preservation of cultural identity and social integration through intercultural and interfaith dialogue having regard for local cultural and religious characteristics
    • to contribute to harmonious interactions between cultures and peoples in order to spread the ideals of peace and non-violence, support for dialogue between religions, the protection of cultural diversity and the cultivation of tolerance through the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013–2022)
    Steps planned for the next 4 years:
    • Preparation of the Strategy for the development of the creative industries
    • to comprehensively resolve the legal and social status – statute – of artists in society;
    • o integrate references to the 2005 Convention into strategic policies on support for creative environments (the creation and distribution of culture, and also in other materials for the support of art, media, the audio-visual industries and the creative industries) during their preparation, having regard for the implementation of the Convention.
    • to promote international cooperation in the implementation of the Conventions, to continue regular participation in relevant sessions of the committee of parties.
    • to create synergies in the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions and the protection of cultural heritage through the Slovak Republic’s active participation not only in UNESCO but also in the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Visegrad Group, the EUROMED organization and the Anna Lindh Foundation
    • to support the presentation of original domestic works abroad
    • to ensure a fair share is given to domestic original cultural production in the mass media, especially by public broadcasters
    • to adopt measures to ensure that foreign audio-visual works entering the Slovak market, including works of world cinematography, have a Slovak language mutation (name of the work, subtitles, dubbing)
    • to establish a comprehensive solution for the legal and social status of artists in society:
    • to take account of the special status of artists in law on collective bargaining, social security and taxation.
    • to continue the activities of the point of contact, which has existed in the ministry since 2009. The function of the point of contact is to provide information on the Convention in cooperation with civil society
    • to make a voluntary contribution to the IFCD
    • to consider organizing an international event for exchanging experience in the implementation of the Convention
    • to promote a balance between the preservation of cultural identity and social integration through intercultural and interfa
    Name of the designated official signing the report
    Title:
    Ms
    Family Name:
    Krížiková
    Nombre:
    Bozena
    Position:
    Director general, International cooperation section
    Organization:
    Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Act No 185/2015: The Copyright Act

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The new copyright act is intended to be modern and flexible legislation that enables authors and other right holders to enforce their rights more effectively within the framework laid down by European and international law.

    The act responds to the need to adapt the current legal framework to changes resulting from the development of the information society, especially the use of works and other subject matter on the internet. There was a need in practice for legislation taking into account requirements related to the protection and use of copyright works and subject matter on the internet, which would allow authors and other right holders to exercise their rights effectively while at the same time allowing users to have access to protected content under appropriate conditions. The new act is intended to be a foundation for the spreading of culture, education and research and for the development of creative industries and the internet economy and for support of creativity. Another aim of the act is to indirectly contribute to increased competitiveness in Slovakia through the creation of a vital framework for supporting innovation and investment in creative industries with high added value.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    legislative
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The Copyright Act provides a modern and flexible legal framework and foundation for culture, which strikes a balance between the protection of right holders and reasonable access to protected content for users.

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 
    • authors, performing artists, the makers of audio recordings, the makers of audio-visual recordings, broadcasters
    • users of protected contentLegislation reasonably performing the function of the copyright act as the basic (substantive) legislative framework for culture and striking a balance between the interests of right holders, users and the general public. 
    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    In view of the nature of the measure, this question cannot be answered
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    Administration of the ownership rights of authors, performing artists, the makers of audio recordings, the makers of audio-visual recordings and broadcasters, including the collective exercise and protection of the ownerships rights of these right holders and support for making works and other subject-matter available to the public.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Care for Traditional Folk Culture

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The objective of this group of measures is to create conditions for the protection, renewal, development and presentation of traditional folk culture, including traditional crafts, so that it remains within the cultural awareness of the citizens of Slovakia and so that it is institutionally protected and made available for current and future generations.The set of measures that make up state cultural policy on care for traditional folk culture includes not only strategic and conceptual documents (e.g. the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 and 2015) and the construction of institutional architecture, but also financial support and the implementation of specific programmes and projects which both increase the degree of protection for this cultural heritage and raise awareness of it.All measures are based on the principle of democratic citizenship and the status of traditional folk culture as a component of intangible cultural heritage in the territory of the Slovak Republic, with the awareness that its bearers are members of the Slovak nation, national minorities and ethnic groups, people of different beliefs, living in different environmental and economic conditions. The Conception of care for traditional folk culture to 2020 also states that this cultural diversity is a value that gives rise to important cultural benefits, satisfies aesthetic needs and creates a feeling of belonging, which contributes to an improvement in quality of life for society as a whole.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    institutional
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The implementation of the Conception of care for traditional folk culture since 2008 has achieved the following specific results: Initially, in 2007, an advisory body of the minister of culture was established – the Council for the safeguarding of cultural heritage and in 2010 the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre was established; since 2010 the Slovak Republic has been building the Representative list of intangible cultural heritage and in 2015 this was joined by the List of best practices in the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Slovakia. During the period under review, the Committee for public cultural awareness activities and the Committee for cultural heritage were added to the system of advisory bodies of the government of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Culture as subordinate bodies of the Government Council for Culture. These advisory bodies provide a coordination and communication platform for the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, other central state administration bodies, territorial self-government bodies, and professionals and academics working in the relevant fields. Since the school year 2009/2010 the state education programme has included a cross-cutting topic Regional education and traditional folk culture, for which supporting literature has been published.

     

    Implementation of the conception includes the activity of the Centre for Folk Art Production (ÚĽUV), which includes technical, methodological, documentation and research activities, the operation of the Museum of Folk Art Production, the management of an on-line database of people who make folk-art products or carry on a tradition of artistic craftsmanship involving the use of natural materials (Register of makers of folk art products, Products of the Centre for Folk Art Production),

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    The implementation of the set of measures described under this point is financed through the approved budgets of budgetary and contributory organizations under the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

    projects for the digitization of cultural heritage (in particular the Digital Collection of Traditional Folk Culture, the Digital museum and the Documentation and Information Centre on Roma Culture) were implemented as part of OPIS Priority Axis 2 with financial support from EU structural funds.[1]

    The project PRO MONUMENTA – prevention through maintenance received financial support from the EEA financial mechanism in the amount EUR 1,151,735.

     

     

    [1] Information on the amount of funds approved and spent and the amount provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic in co-financing for projects supported by EU structural funds is available from the project management department.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    • Slovak State Traditional Dance Company (SĽUK) – Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre • Centre for Folk Art Production • National Cultural Centre • Arts ensemble Lúčnica • Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic • Slovak National Museum • Museum of the Slo
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    Professionals in the field are included as members of the advisory body to the minister of culture, the Council for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, bodies of the Government council for culture (the Committee for public cultural awareness activities and the Committee for cultural heritage) and the Expert committee for the assessment of proposals for registration in the Representative list of the intangible cultural heritage and the List of best practices in the protection of intangible cultural heritage in Slovakia, in the last of which they take part in the evaluation of individual nomination files. Every year professionals in the field take part in the evaluation process for subsidies provided by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

     

    Professionals, academics, experts and representatives of civil society organizations operating in the given area participate as lecturers, consultants and members of assessment panels in specific activities and projects of organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic.

    Tradition bearers, individual craftspeople and producers, folklore groups and ensembles are the target groups of activities carried out by organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic which engage with issues in this area to provide a wide range of opportunities for the target groups to present their work and performances, to get training and to develop professionally.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    No
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    The fulfilment of individual measures is monitored on an ongoing basis according to the arrangements and requirements applying to the specific case (e.g. public reporting for organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, financial and substantive evaluation of projects carried out with financial support from the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic).

    Tasks under the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 were evaluated and approved by the government of the Slovak Republic in January 2015. The next evaluation is planned in 2017.

    The fulfilment of individual measures is monitored on an ongoing basis according to the arrangements and requirements applying to the specific case (e.g. public reporting for organizations under the founding competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, financial and substantive evaluation of projects carried out with financial support from the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic).

    Tasks under the Conception of care for traditional folk culture 2007 were evaluated and approved by the government of the Slovak Republic in January 2015. The next evaluation is planned in 2017.

    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    The objectives of measures related to care for traditional folk culture are being implemented successfully. Open questions for the future include how to ensure the autonomy and staffing of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre and the how to preserve traditional crafts in construction.

     

     

     

    Evaluation took into consideration the degree of fulfilment of the particular tasks laid down in the Conception of care for traditional folk culture and conceptual and strategic documents that apply to the present area. Projects carried out with financial support from the grant scheme of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic were assessed for respect for the approved budget and conformity of actual activities with the project documentation. Project evaluation may also include the monitoring of particular events during their implementation.

     
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    financial support for projects in the area of intangible cultural heritage and public cultural awareness activities.

    The grant scheme Intangible cultural heritage and public cultural awareness activities operated until 2015 as an instrument for providing financial support primarily to the projects of civil society organizations and the organizations of territorial self-government authorities. Funds from this grant scheme were intended to support projects related to festivals, exhibitions, competitions, educational activities, the creation of new works, the presentation of performance skills in traditional folk culture, folklorism, art hobbies and amateur art, and also research and publications on intangible cultural heritage, ethnography, folkloristics, public cultural awareness activities and local and regional culture.

    In 2015 the grant system of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic was transformed into an independent public institution, the Art Support Fund, whose remit includes support for projects in the area of intangible cultural heritage, traditional folk culture, public cultural awareness activities, local and regional culture, art hobbies and amateur art.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    institutional
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    Every year the grant scheme supported around 700 projects of the organizations of territorial self-government authorities and non-governmental organizations contributing to the development of local and regional culture, the dissemination of information on intangible cultural heritage and traditional folk culture or helping to provide informal education through public cultural awareness activities. Since one of the programming priorities of this measure was to support activities aimed at children and young people, the instrument also contributed to children’s meaningful, safe and creative use of their free time.

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    The grant scheme was intended to support projects whose target group was the general public – children, young people, adults and seniors. In the sub-scheme Educational activities, the priority target group was children and young people in the case of projects for public cultural awareness activities promoting meaningful free-time activities helping to prevent and eliminate negative effects on this group.Every year the grant scheme supported around 700 projects of the organizations of territorial self-government authorities and non-governmental organizations contributing to the development of local and regional culture, the dissemination of information on intangible cultural heritage and traditional folk culture or helping to provide informal education through public cultural awareness activities. Since one of the programming priorities of this measure was to support activities aimed at children and young people, the instrument also contributed to children’s meaningful, safe and creative use of their free time.The grant scheme was administered directly by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (the cultural heritage section and the project management department).The grant scheme distributed EUR 1,212,590 in 2012, EUR 1,612,830 in 2013, EUR 1,749,500 in 2014 and EUR 1,890,500 in 2015.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    The grant scheme was administered directly by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (the cultural heritage section and the project management department).
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    The grant scheme distributed EUR 1,212,590 in 2012, EUR 1,612,830 in 2013, EUR 1,749,500 in 2014 and EUR 1,890,500 in 2015.Representatives of the professional community participated in the assessment of grant applications every year. Non-government organizations and private companies did not participate directly in the implementation of this measure because they were its target group and they were excluded from the decision-making process (by law) so as to maintain transparency in the allocation of public funds and eliminate potential conflicts of interest.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    No
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    Implementation of the measure included performance of regular annual evaluations of the projects implemented with the scheme’s support. Financial and substantive evaluation was carried out by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic focussing in particular on respect for the approved budget and the conformity of actual activities with the project documentation. Project evaluation also included occasional monitoring of particular events during their implementation.

    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    The Ministry is responsible for introduction of this measure and since 2008 it has been the independent workplace of the Coordination Centre of Traditional Folk Culture which is delegated by the implementation of individual tasks. In 2008.

    The question of resolving the functioning of the workplace fulfilling the tasks, its staffing, financial and material equipment as well as the form of cooperation with the affected subjects remain the main challenge in introducing this measure.

     Based on the adopted measure,numerous activities have been implemented in the area of the publication of support materials, the creation of a database and an electronic encyclopaedia, the implementation of international cooperation, the design of the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Slovakia, etc. The fulfilment of tasks is elaborated in the Evaluation Report on the Implementation of the tasks arising from the Concept of Safeguarding of Traditional Folk Culture, which was noted by the Slovak Government.

     
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Support for Art

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The Ministry provides institutional support for professional art and book culture by performing state administration of the arts in accordance with applicable legislation and international treaties and by participating in the creation of conditions for the development and the presentation of culture in all areas of professional art and book culture.

    a) The Ministry currently has under its establishing competence a total of 12 contributory and budgetary organisations that operate in the area of professional art and book culture (theatres, music ensembles and information and documentation centres usually on the national level):  BIBIANA – international house of art for children, the Slovak National Theatre, the Nová scéna Theatre, the Košice State Theatre, the State Opera in Banská Bystrica, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the Theatre Institute, the Literary Information Centre, Music Centre Slovakia, the Slovak Design Centre. Each of these institutions has its own specific professional mission and also provides cultural services to a wide range of stakeholders without regard for age, social status, political affiliation or religious belief, not excluding disadvantaged sections of the population (older people, children and young people, people with disabilities).

    The grant system was established by internal management acts approved by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic No MK-3026/2008-10/11619 of 26 August 2008 on the provision of grants in the Ministry’s area of competence); since 2011 the Ministry’s provision of grants has been regulated by Act No 434/2010 on the provision of grants in the Ministry’s area of competence, which regulates the purpose, scope, method and conditions for the provision of such grants. The act was amended by Act No 79/2013 and Act No 284/2014. Other changes were implemented through Ordinance of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic No MK-2580/2013-11

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    institutional
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art. In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

    f) An important development was the preparation and approval of the Cultural Development Strategy of the Slovak Republic 2014–2020. The government of the Slovak Republic included this task in its manifesto for the years 2012–2016. The adoption of the material highlights the need to implement policies that recognize the social significance of culture and also provide it with stronger support. Even as the economy grows, the share of spending on culture has long been in decline. Slovakia is far below the average for EU Member States. On the other hand, financial support for culture must be in line with the state’s real economic opportunities and it must be able to satisfy the realistic objectives, priorities and expectations of the cultural community. In 2013, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic established a working party of experts to analyse the current strategies and policies in the field of culture and to select the main topics for the strategy. It elaborated a strategic vision, defined seven areas of strategy and proposed priorities. A website was set up where artists, professionals and the general public could follow the preparation of the draft texts of the strategy and comment on them. Five working meetings were held around Slovakia and a working conference was held in Bratislava in December 2013 where members of the working party of experts made public presentations on the strategic visions and areas and the proposed measures for fulfilling them and discussed them with the artistic community. The material was discussed in detail by the strategy committee of the Government Council for Culture and subsequent

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    No
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Continuous care for the development of all the areas of professional art at the qualitative and quantitative levels was the challenge in introducing the measure.

    The 20 to 90 years of existence of the institutions mentioned above continuously operating in the area of professional art and library culture is the measuring stick of the effectiveness of their operations.

    The system of subsidies of the Ministry is one of the key means for promoting contemporary art for non-government and non-state organizations operating in various areas of professional art. 

     In its Art Subsidy Programme in terms of the production and dissemination of works of art and their reflections and educational programme in culture, the Ministry supports projects in the sphere of professional art aimed at the public presentation or publication of art reflections, the publishing of periodical and non-periodical publications, theatre and musical productions and presentations, the implementation and public presentation of works of visual art, the release of audio and visual recordings, the implementation of cultural events, festivals, competitions and similar activities of national significance and the payment of membership fees in international organizations for applicants conducting their activities in the area of culture, as well as for the internal development of individual areas of culture and education through culture and art. The Ministry provides subsidies for these purposes within the following sub-programmes: Theatre and dance (professional cultural activities), Music (professional cultural activities), Fine art, applied art, photography, design, architecture (professional cultural activities), Inter-sector professional cultural activities (events that are the summary of activities of several types of art) and Literature and book culture.

    The subsidy system was introduced through the modification of internal managing acts approved by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic (Decree No. MK-3026/2008-10/11619 of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    Ministry of Culture
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art. In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Act on Public Cultural Awareness Activities

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    Redefinition of the area of public cultural awareness activities within the existing system of public cultural awareness activities on the national, regional and local levels.Act No 189/2015 on public cultural awareness activities, which entered into effect on 01 September 2015 replaced the previous legislation regulating the area and introduced a new definition of public cultural awareness activities. This law defines public cultural awareness activities as covering activities which contribute to respect for human rights and diversity of cultural expression, to the formation of a cultured way of life, to achieving higher cultural and educational standards in the Slovak Republic and to the development of creativity as the foundation of culture in society (Section 2(1)), and establishes arrangements for such activities including the development of cultural identity and inter-cultural dialogue on the national, regional and local levels (Section 2(2)(a)).

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    legislative
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The law is based on the civic principle and it has no specific target group because the public in general is deemed to be the recipient of public cultural awareness activities. One of the act’s provisions on records in the area of public cultural awareness activities relates specifically to collectives and individuals who engage in art as a hobby and amateur arts.

    The act clarifies relations between public cultural awareness institutions on the national, higher territorial unit, regional and local levels and also assists the mapping of the activities of civil society (collectives and individuals) who engage in art as a hobby and amateur arts. The act has established structured, systematic relationships in a previously uncoordinated and unstable environment. In the interest of emphasizing the importance of culture in public cultural awareness activities, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic changed the Slovak term for such activities from “osvetová činnosť” to “kultúrno-osvetová činnosť” to expressly refer to culture; the act defines the basic activities of public cultural awareness establishments operating on the national level; it implements the term “intangible cultural heritage” and the Slovak Republic’s obligations under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The act also defines the activities and competences of public cultural awareness institutions, introduces record-keeping for public cultural awareness activities – intended to provide information on the activities of public cultural awareness institutions, collectives or individuals – e.g. folklore (e.g. folklore ensembles, folklore groups, singing groups, folk storytellers), theatre (e.g. amateur theatre groups, puppet theatres, mime), film, photography, etc.

                               

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    No
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 
    • The National Cultural Centre, an organisation under the establishing competence of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic – a public cultural awareness institution with national coverage and a general orientation (Section 5(2)(a) of the act),
    • Higher territorial units through higher territorial unit and regional public cultural awareness institutions.
    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    The legislative changes had no negative impact on the public administration budget. Implementation of particular measures and obligations laid down by the act is covered by the budgets of the relevant organizations.
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    In view of the number of areas covered by public cultural awareness activities, the act focuses primarily on the organization of public administration on the national, regional and local levels necessary to provide efficient, qualified methodological support for all legal entities and natural persons engaging in public cultural awareness activities. The legislation does not limit the activities of formal and informal civil society organizations or private enterprises in any way.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    No
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    evaluation of the implementation of this measure is not yet available because it entered into force in the second half of 2015

    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    evaluation of the implementation of this measure is not yet available because it enetered into force in the second half of 2015

     
    ❭ CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES

    Strategy for the Development of the Creative Industries

    Context of the measure: 
    CULTURAL POLICIES AND MEASURES
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    As this issue is considered to be of relevance across a large number of areas, the strategy was developed through inter-ministerial cooperation involving the following ministries: the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic. The strategy was adopted by Government Resolution No 32/2015 of 21/01/2015 and establishes the following priorities:

    • Priority 1 An efficient system for the development of the creative industries,
    • Priority 2 High-quality human resources,
    • Priority 3 Increasing the market’s absorption capacity
    • Priority 4 Supporting instruments for financing

    Action plan for implementation of the strategy for the development of the creative industries in the Slovak Republic

    The Action plan for the implementation of the strategy for the development of the creative industries in the Slovak Republic, which sets out the implementation plan for existing and new measures under each priority, was adopted on 15 December 2015. Financing for programmes supporting the development of CCIs in the Slovak Republic is designed to provide complementary support for the creative economy value chain. Support for creative production is provided primarily by the Art Support Fund (established in 2015) and the Audio-visual Fund (established in 2009), which operate on the arm’s length principle, supplemented by the Ministry’s grant system, which is oriented towards support for cultural heritage and support for the culture of disadvantaged groups. New financing measures include:

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    regulatory
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 
    • Priority 1 An efficient system for the development of the creative industries,
    • Priority 2 High-quality human resources,
    • Priority 3 Increasing the market’s absorption capacity
    • Priority 4 Supporting instruments for financing
    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    No
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Mobilisation of creative potential in regions

    Priority Axis 3 (PA 3) is under the competence of the Ministry of Culture and operates in synergy with the OP Research and Innovation (OP R&I)  The aim of Priority Axis 3 is to support: 

     

    • Business growth,
    • Infrastructure development,
    • Access to tangible and intangible assets for creative SMEs,
    • Monetization of intellectual properties with a view to increasing employment in the CCIs,

     

    Increased competitiveness and growth of SMEs,

    Development of the competitiveness of SMEs in the Bratislava Region

    Operational Programme Research and Innovation

    Two relevant priority axes of the OP R&I fall under the competence of the Ministry of Economy. These include measures designed to support:

     

    • Internationalization,
    • Cluster initiatives,
    • Increasing awareness of CCIs
    • SMEs in areas where new business models are emerging.

    The division of competences in these two programmes financed from the ERDF is based on the definition framework for the CCIs used by the European Commission, which was published in “The Economy of Culture in Europe” in 2006 (KEA). This divides the area as a whole into the cultural sector and the creative sector. The cultural sector includes the traditional arts (the visual and dramatic arts, cultural heritage) and the cultural industries (film, audio-visual media, television and radio broadcasting, computer games, music, publishing), which fall under the competence of PA 3 of the IROP. The creative sector includes creative industries (design, architecture and advertising) and related areas (such as software development), which fall partly under PA 3 and also under OP R&I.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    In 2012, the AVF provided a total of EUR 5,519,888 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 3,500,000 from the state budget. In 2013, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,404,290 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,200,000 from the state budget. In 2014, the AVF provided a total of EUR 6,458,060 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,000,000 from the state budget. In 2015, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,542,900 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,500,000 from the state budget.  

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    After five years of the AVF’s support activities, it is possible to conclude that the objectives referred to in point (b)(I) have been fulfilled. The AVF operates as a stable and respected public institution. The continuous support activities of the AVF have brought about a demonstrable increase in the basic performance indicators of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries in the international context. In terms of the number of films per million inhabitants, Slovakia achieved an increase of 125% between 2010 and 2014, and public funds for audio-visual culture per capita increased by 45.6% over the same period.

    Evaluation of the measure is conducted every year in the form of the AVF’s annual report. The director presents the draft report to the board of the AVF for approval. The report includes a report on the fulfilment of the AVF’s strategic goals and development plans in the period covered. The annual report for 2014 included a comprehensive review of the AVF’s activities after five years of operation. The main conclusions of the evaluation were as follows:

    • The volume of public funds available each year to support audio-visual culture increased by 80%,
    • Available funds were stabilized,
    • The AVF standardized the structure of sources in the European context,
    • It expanded the forms and scope of support activities to various areas of audio-visual culture and industries (stipends, loans, support for cinemas, support for audio-visual industries),
    • The AVF has created more flexible conditions for the efficient use of the provided funds, which has significantly reduced the risk of uncompleted projects in production.
    • It has broadened the range of genres of films made and the variety of topics which they address,
    • The AVF has created conditions for greater competitiveness (a demonstrable increase in the number of production companies and the number of supported applicants),
    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    Evaluation used standard accounting and statistical indicators, and also international indicators of the potential of the audio-visual environment.

     
    ❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

    Contract on the provision of public services in radio and television broadcast (The "Contract with the State")

    Context of the measure: 
    INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    This contract has been concluded to establish a framework for the systematic promotion and development of public services in radio and television broadcasting involving:

    •  the making and production of new, original works in the public interest,
    • the public dissemination of such programmes as part of a public broadcasting service,
    •  the modernisation of the technological infrastructure for the production and broadcasting of new, original programmes in the public interest and
    • broadcasting to other countries.

    By concluding this contract, the parties (the Slovak Republic represented by the Ministry and Radio and Television Slovakia (hereinafter also “RTVS”)) declared that they consider the promotion of the making, production, broadcasting and preservation of Slovak audio-visual and cinematographic works to be an integral part of public broadcasting services and an integral part of the cultural heritage of the Slovak Republic. RTVS has an essential role in the sustainable development of audio-visual culture in view of its historical, cultural, social and economic status. Provision for such development involving the use of public funds and cooperation with RTVS and other audio-visual organizations will contribute to the public interest in broadcasting and the development of audio-visual culture and industries in Slovakia and advance the values of humanism, ethics and education.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    financial
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The implementation into practice of the “contract with the state” in the Slovak Republic in 2010 was described in the first periodic report. In 2012 the parties concluded a new framework contract for the period 2013 to 2014 (Contract No MK - 138/2012/M on provision for public interest services in radio and television broadcasting in the period 2013–2017). The parties agree on the precise and binding scope and nature of their mutual obligations under this contract for each year by means of addenda to the contract. The addendum is always concluded for a period of one calendar year. Based on the addendum, the Ministry pays RTVS the agreed sum for the given year for the following purposes:

    • the programming obligations of RTVS, the content of which is the making of new, original radio programmes in the public interest and new, original television programmes in the public interest; the programming obligations are always specified in detail in the addendum for the given calendar year.
    • specific investment projects set out in the addendum for the given calendar year and
    • broadcasting by RTVS to foreign countries by the radio channel Radio Slovakia International, which broadcasts via satellite and the internet at least 30 minutes per day in Slovak, English, German, French, Russian and Spanish.

    Since 2013, the addendum to the contract with the state includes areas of special interest of state support in the given calendar year and the minimum percentage of the funds provided for implementation of programming obligations that will be used for the making of new, original programmes in the public interest in each area of special state interest. The addendum for 2013 laid down the following areas of special interest for state support:

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    No
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Every year, the financial contribution paid to RTVS under the contract with the state is used to produce television programmes that are mostly not of interest to the commercial sector and but which contribute to the fulfilment of service to the public in radio and television broadcasting. Funds contributed by the state are also used to make radio and television programmes for members of national minorities and religious programmes. The making of new, original programmes in the public interest in areas of special state interest serve the interests of minority viewers and promote the national culture. Quality can be assured in such activities by renovating the technological infrastructure of the public broadcaster. Without state support radio broadcasts to other countries would probably cease. This indicates that the measure clearly contributes to support for access to the national culture and minority culture and promotes the development of cultural diversity in Slovak radio and television broadcasting.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    Radio and Television Slovakia
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    In 2012 RTVS was paid EUR 10,000,000 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting and EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries. The state did not provide any funds to RTVS for specific investment projects this year.

    In 2013 RTVS was paid EUR 19,931,932 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 5,000,000 for specific investment projects.  

    In 2014 RTVS was paid EUR 19,138,000 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,000,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 1,500,000 for specific investment projects.  

    In 2015 RTVS was paid EUR 20,933,842 under the contract with the state to implement programming obligations in television broadcasting, EUR 3,300,000 to implement programming obligations in radio broadcasting, EUR 1,000,000 for radio broadcasting to other countries and EUR 5,000,000 for specific investment projects.  

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    Each addendum for a particular budget year is evaluated separately by means of accounts for provided funds which RTVS is obliged to submit to the Ministry each year and a substantive and financial check of these accounts performed by the Ministry. As part of the evaluation the Ministry checks RTVS’s fulfilment of its obligations under the contract with the state and the addendums for particular budget years.   

    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    Not applicable

     
    ❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

    Promotion and Development of audi-visual culture and industries

    Context of the measure: 
    INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The support system for audio-visual culture is designed to meet satisfy the following objectives:

    establishment of the Audio-Visual Fund (hereinafter “AVF”) as the main financial instrument focussed exclusively on support for Slovak audio-visual culture and industries,

    • ensuring independent and qualified decision making in the key bodies of the AVF by establishing them in a public institution,
    • defining stable sources of financing for the AVF based on contributions from enterprises that make use of audio-visual content,
    • defining the functions and objectives of the AVF’s support activities and transparent rules for the use of funds,
    • defining the purpose of use of AVF funds and control mechanisms for use.

     

    The support system for the audio-visual industry is intended to achieve in particular the following objectives:

    • generating interest of foreign production companies in recording or making audio-visual works in Slovakia,
    • creating impulses for the development of missing infrastructure of the audio-visual industry in Slovakia, especially in connection with modern technology,
    • increasing the international competitiveness of the audio-visual industries in Slovakia,
    • making a positive contribution to public budgets (taxes and contributions), development of services and job opportunities in the audio-visual industries,
    • making a contribution to the promotion and presentation of the Slovak Republic and its regions,
    • increasing opportunities for exercising vocations and acquiring vocational experience, including opportunities for projects whose requirements for financing and implementation significantly exceed the potential of Slovak production conditions.
    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    financial
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    To improve the promotion and development of audio-visual culture and industries, Act No 516/2008 on the Audio-Visual Fund and amending and supplementing certain acts (hereinafter also the “Act on the AVF”) established the AVF with effect from 01 January 2009 as a public institution for the promotion and development of audio-visual culture and industries and it commenced its support activities in 2010. The establishment and system of operation of the AVF were also described in the first periodic report on measures for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression under the 2005 UNESCO Convention (hereinafter only the “first periodic report”), which was submitted in 2012.

     

    The AVF defines priorities for the support provided in a particular period. It also creates a special financial reserve for financing projects through which the set priorities are implemented in practice. For example, from 2013 to 2015 the AVF’s priorities included support for the coproduction of cinematographic works with a Slovak minority co-producer and support for film festivals in Slovakia with international participation, through which the AVF made a significant contribution to the promotion and development of cultural diversity.

    With effect from 01 January 2014, the scope of the AVF’s support activity was broadened to include support for the audiovisual industries based on an amendment introduced in Act No 374/2013 amending and supplementing Act No 516/2008 on the Audio-Visual Fund and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended, and amending and supplementing certain acts. The AVF’s promotion of the audio-visual industries includes providing funds for the implementation of film projects that satisfy the requirements laid down by law. A film project is defined as an audio-visual work which is a cinematographic drama, documentary or animation or a work primarily intended for television broadcast in the scope defined by decree of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    After five years of the AVF’s support activities, it is possible to conclude that the objectives referred to in point (b)(I) have been fulfilled. The AVF operates as a stable and respected public institution. The continuous support activities of the AVF have brought about a demonstrable increase in the basic performance indicators of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries in the international context. In terms of the number of films per million inhabitants, Slovakia achieved an increase of 125% between 2010 and 2014, and public funds for audio-visual culture per capita increased by 45.6% over the same period.

     

    One of the objectives of the adoption of the amendment of the Act on the AVF regarding support for audio-visual industries was to increase the interest of foreign production companies in recording or making audio-visual works in Slovakia (more detailed information is given in (b)(II)). The expected benefits of the legislative measure include support for international cultural cooperation, mobility of film-makers and other artists and the promotion of cultural diversity.

    • authors of Slovak audio-visual works,
    • makers of Slovak audio-visual works,
    • persons who restore and develop technological infrastructure for the production and circulation of audio-visual works and the organisation of public cultural events related to audio-visual culture,
    • persons who circulate and present audio-visual works,
    • the distributors of audio-visual works.
    • the operators of audio-visual technical facilities,
    • natural persons whose creative activities or research contributes to the development of audio-visual culture and industries in Slovakia,
    • legal entities which are the producers or co-producers of a film project for which the apply for funding from the AVF for the promotion of the audio-visual industries in the Slovak Republic.
    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    Slovak audio-visual fund
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    In 2012, the AVF provided a total of EUR 5,519,888 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 3,500,000 from the state budget. In 2013, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,404,290 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,200,000 from the state budget. In 2014, the AVF provided a total of EUR 6,458,060 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,000,000 from the state budget. In 2015, the AVF paid out a total of EUR 6,542,900 in support and it received a contribution of EUR 4,500,000 from the state budget.  

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    Evaluation of the measure is conducted every year in the form of the AVF’s annual report. The director presents the draft report to the board of the AVF for approval. The report includes a report on the fulfilment of the AVF’s strategic goals and development plans in the period covered. The annual report for 2014 included a comprehensive review of the AVF’s activities after five years of operation. The main conclusions of the evaluation were as follows:

    • The volume of public funds available each year to support audio-visual culture increased by 80%,
    • Available funds were stabilized,
    • The AVF standardized the structure of sources in the European context,
    • It expanded the forms and scope of support activities to various areas of audio-visual culture and industries (stipends, loans, support for cinemas, support for audio-visual industries),
    • The AVF has created more flexible conditions for the efficient use of the provided funds, which has significantly reduced the risk of uncompleted projects in production.
    • It has broadened the range of genres of films made and the variety of topics which they address,
    • The AVF has created conditions for greater competitiveness (a demonstrable increase in the number of production companies and the number of supported applicants),
    • It has increased the ability of Slovak enterprises to participate in international projects including countries other than the Czech Republic and it has increased the number of works winning international awards,
    • It has improved the performance against several standard international indicators for the potential of the audio-visual environment,
    • In terms of published information on support activities and the level of transparency, the AVF outperforms the standard of European film funds and other public sector organisations in Slovakia.

    The following areas for improvement and opportunities for further development were identified in the AVF’s support activities:

    • Describing the baseline of the strategy for the long-term development of Slovak audio-visual culture and industries,
    • Continuous evaluation of fil
    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    Evaluation used standard accounting and statistical indicators, and also international indicators of the potential of the audio-visual environment.

     
    ❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

    Strategy for the Digitalization fo Cinemas in the Slovak Republic

    Context of the measure: 
    INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The aim of the Strategy for the digitalization of cinemas was to support the continuing digitalization of single-screen cinemas in Slovakia and to create conditions for the development of local culture, of which cinemas have been an integral part for over a hundred years. Continuing the digitalization of single-screen cinemas also creates conditions for the protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expression in film, and the effective circulation of Slovak audio-visual works in the cinema distribution system in Slovakia. The strategy’s main aim was to analyse the situation in the digitalization of Slovak cinemas and to find a suitable way to provide for the digitalization of single-screen cinemas. Cinematography, together with its main distribution platform, the cinema, provide one of the most effective ways of communicating cultural values and also one of the sources of cultural diversity. Cinemas are considered to be important cultural institutions and if we look at them in terms of the number of people who visit them each year, they have an indispensable place in the cultural system. In 2012, 88% of the 154 cinemas in Slovakia were single-screen cinemas, mostly under the management of towns and villages and it was such cinemas that were most at risk in the process of cinema digitalization. Evidence of this was the fact that as at 31 October 2012, 108 cinema screens had been digitalized in Slovakia but only 23 of these were in single-screen cinemas. By comparison, at that time the level of digitalization in multiplex cinemas operated by private companies was 97%. The digitalization of single-screen cinemas in Slovakia operated by towns and villages or co-financed by local government was clearly lagging behind. There was a risk that the process of disappearance of single-screen cinemas which had been happening since the foundation of the Slovak Republic would be accelerated by the move to digitalized cinemas, and it was therefore necessary to act quickly, not later than the first half of 2013, because already in 2012 there were significant problem

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    financial
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The AVF has supported digitalization and other measures to modernize cinemas since 2010 and has made this one of its permanent priorities. In order to accelerate the digitalization of cinemas, the government of the Slovak Republic adopted the Strategy for the digitalization of cinemas in the Slovak Republic on 09 January 2013. This strategy seeks a suitable solution and the necessary funding to digitalize single-screen cinemas.

                        

                         After the adoption of the strategy, the digitalization of single-screen cinemas accelerated. While in the years 2009–2012, funds from the AVF supported the digitalization of 32 single-screen cinemas, almost the same number – 28 – were digitalized in 2013 alone, and in 2014 support was provided for the digitalization and modernization of 27 cinemas. Another important change is the increased availability of support including combined grants and loans and support for a wider range of renovation activities including the renovation of other cinema equipment and training. In 2015 the AVF supported the digitalization and modernization of another 13 cinemas.

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    The strategy aimed to achieve the digitalization of 100 out of a total of 115 non-digitalized single-screen cinemas in 2013 and 2014. The aim of the strategy was not only to preserve access to film culture for residents of the Slovak regions, but also to make a significant contribution to the cultural potential of the use of cinemas and the revival of cultural life in the local area. By the end of 2014, support had been provided to a total of 87 cinemas. The objective was achieved in 2015, when the total number of cinemas to which the AVF had provided support for digitalization and modernization reached 100.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    Audio-Visual Fund
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    prime minister of the Slovak Republic which was earmarked for cinema digitalization. In 2014, the AVF’s support in this area amounted to EUR 559,300 and in 2015 it was EUR 315,000.

    Name of NGOs and/or private companies engaged in the implementation of the measure

    The AVF does not contribute the full cost of a cinema digitalization and modernization project and the applicant for support must always provide co-financing amounting to either 50%, if an AVF grant is sought, or 10%, if the applicant has requested a combined grant and loan. The implementation of the measure therefore also involves:

    •  persons implementing the renovation and improvement of technical infrastructure for the presentation of audio-visual works in the territory of the Slovak Republic,
    • the operators of audio-visual technical infrastructure in the territory of the Slovak Republic.
    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    No
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
    ❭ INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL

    Integration of culture in sustainable developement policies

    Context of the measure: 
    INTEGRATION OF CULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - AT NATIONAL LEVEL
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The Operational Programme Information Society defines conditions for management of implementation, monitoring, evaluation, information, publicity and auditing in relation to projects under the Operational Programme Information Society. The Slovak Republic has the opportunity to draw on funds of the European Union for this purpose. The strategic document permitting use of these funds was prepared in accordance with the rules laid down by the European Union for the structural funds and the Cohesion Fund and was approved by the government of the Slovak Republic and the European Commission. Funds provided under the European Union’s cohesion policy must support three main objectives: Convergence, Regional competitiveness and employment, and European territorial cooperation.

    The main objective is

    1.  to increase the accessibility and quality of civil infrastructure and amenities in the regions. Through its orientation, it helps to stimulate the internal resources of regions and develop related business activities (small and medium enterprises) and also makes regions more attractive for foreign investment. Co-financing from structural funds in areas such as
    2.  The strengthening of the cultural potential of regions, increase in the quality of the services provided by repository institutions (galleries, libraries and museums) on the local and regional level through their reconstruction, enlargement and modernization, including the procurement of equipment and the revitalization of important monuments in connection with the conservation of cultural heritage and its use in cultural tourism.

    Conception for the protection of monuments

    The Conception for the protection of monuments includes identification of the most important cultural heritage monuments and the quantification of the number of cultural heritage monuments which are at risk or in a damaged or desolate condition.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    International
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    regulatory
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The main objective of the measure:

    1. is to create conditions for the elimination of negative impacts causing the damage or disappearance of cultural heritage monuments. The conception includes the identification of specific threats to cultural heritage monuments and other elements of cultural heritage, e.g. archaeological cultural heritage (archaeological finds and archaeological sites) and to find alternative proposals for solving these threats.
    2. b) the measure is included in the conception referred to above. The Ministry bears overall responsibility for its implementation; tasks implementing the measures including state administrative procedures in the first and second instance are performed by the Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic or the Regional Monuments Boards.
    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

     

    Digital library and digital archive

     

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 39,695,796.98

     

    Project implementation schedule

     

    Name of activity

    Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

    Activity 1 – Preparation of documents for digitization and their chemical treatment (3)

    04/2012

    09/2015

    Activity 2 – Digitization (4)

    04/2012

    09/2015

    Activity 3 – Archive (Digitization and conservation of documents of the SNA (5)

    04/2012

    09/2015

    Support activities

     

     

    Project management

    04/2012

    09/2015

    Publicity and information

    06/2012

    09/2015

     

     

    Digital gallery

     

    Beneficiary: Slovak National Gallery

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 13,976,008.00

     

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 26,287,339.11

     

    Project implementation schedule

    Name of activity

    Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

     

     

    Activity 1 – Establishment and operation of the Digitization Centre

    02/2012

    11/2015

    Activity 2 – Treatment and conservation of items

    02/2012

    11/2015

    Activity 3 – Preparation of items for digitization

    03/2012

    11/2015

    Activity 4 – Digitization of museum collections

    08/2012

    11/2015

    Activity 5 – Digitization of knowledge of folk-art production

    08/2012

    07/2015

    Support activities

     

     

    Project management

    01/2011

    11/2015

    Publicity and information

    02/2012

    11/2015

     

     

    Digitized monuments and historic sites

     

    Beneficiary: Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 9,333,051.18

     

    Project implementation schedule

    Name of activity

    Start of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    End of implementation activity (MM/YYYY)

    Main activities (max. 100 characters for each activity)

    Activity 1 – Building modifications to c

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    the ministry
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

     

    Digital library and digital archive

    Examples of projects carried out under the Operational Programme Information Society and overview of measurable indicators.

     

    Digital library and digital archive

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 39,695,796.98

    Digital gallery

     

    Beneficiary: Slovak National Gallery

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 13,976,008.00

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 26,287,339.11

    Digitized monuments and historic sites

     

    Beneficiary: Monuments Board of the Slovak Republic

    Non-refundable financial contribution: EUR 9,333,051.18

     

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    Yes
    i.1 At what level the evaluation was conducted?: 
    National
    i.2 What were the main conclusions?: 

    This measure is part of the aforementioned concept. The Ministry is responsible for its implementing; i.e., the state administration at the first and second levels is carried out by the Monument Board of the Slovak Republic or the regional monument boards. State administration organs implement measures continuously or as necessary within the framework of the approved resources from the state budget. legislative barriers were identified in implementing this measure – insufficient competences in performing the state administration, low enforceability of the law, discrepancies between the requirements for monument fund preservation and the possibilities of financial support of the Ministry subsidy system, neglected regular maintenance of cultural monuments, “cultural crime” and illegal merchandizing of cultural heritage.   

    i.3 Which indicators were used to determine impact?: 

    Because of the date of adopting the concept, the effect or impact of this measure can not be stated in concrete terms. At the general level, we anticipate the improvement of the status of at least some cultural monuments. The indicators will also include the change of the ratio of monuments in good – satisfactory – damaged - neglected state or the number of monuments under renovation. The data are collected annually and statistically processed by the Monument Board of the Slovak Republic

     
    ❭ CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY

    Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population

    Context of the measure: 
    CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The objective of the grant scheme is to provide financial support to projects related to the culture of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population.The grant scheme Culture of disadvantaged sections of the population is a stable financial mechanism operated by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic for the promotion and development of the cultural rights of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. The grant scheme has four sub-schemes: Living Culture, Periodicals, Non-periodic Publications and Informal Education in the Area of Culture for People with Disabilities. The scheme is intended to support access to culture for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. It supports cultural activities aimed at breaking down barriers and prejudices in relation to vulnerable groups; it promotes intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of groups at risk of social exclusion; it also supports cultural mechanisms that help to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia and the like. The grant scheme contributes to prevention activities in the area of extremism and human trafficking. The grant scheme is an instrument for the implementation of temporary balancing measures in the area of culture (pursuant to Act No 364/2004 on equal treatment in certain areas and on protection against discrimination and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended).

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    regulatory
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The grant scheme is intended to support projects whose target groups are disadvantaged sections of the population, e.g.:

    • People with disabilities (physical, mental, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and also protection of mental health – under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
    • Children and young people – in particular children in children’s homes, children living in marginalized Roma communities, refugee children and child victims of violence.
    • Women (support for cultural projects contributing to the implementation of gender equality), e.g. non-discrimination of women over the age of 45 years, single mothers, victims of violence, women living in marginalized Roma communities, women at risk of poverty.
    • Seniors, in particular seniors at risk of poverty and support for cultural projects intended to promote active aging.
    • Migrants (support for projects aimed at promoting cultural integration)
    • People at risk of poverty and social exclusion, e.g. people out of work, homeless people, people from socially excluded communities, LGBTI people, victims of human trafficking.

      Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.

      The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.
    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Representatives of the professional community participate in the assessment of grant applications every year. Non-government organizations and private companies do not participate directly in the implementation of this measure because they are its target group and they are excluded from the decision-making process (by law) so as to maintain transparency in the allocation of public funds and eliminate potential conflicts of interest.

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    Implementation of the measure includes performance of regular annual evaluations of the projects implemented with the scheme’s support. Financial and substantive evaluation is performed by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic focussing in parti
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    The grant scheme distributes around EUR 375,000 each year.

    Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.

    The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
    ❭ CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY

    COOPERATION WITH CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES

    Context of the measure: 
    CURRENT UNESCO GLOBAL PRIORITY: GENDER EQUALITY
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The Ministry of Culture is the central state administration body for affairs related to churches and religious societies though it has no control of them, does not interfere in their internal affairs and does not provide methodological guidance for their activities. This approach is based on recognition of their social and legal standing as public institutions sui generis. It nevertheless cooperates with them and conducts dialogue with them.

    The objective of the measure is to intensify cultural exchanges so as to benefit mutual respect of cultures, facilitate dialogue and stimulate intercultural activity that promotes cultured interaction. At their own initiative, churches and religious societies organise cultural, educational and charitable activities that contribute to the objectives and key principles of the Convention. They are helping to build a society in which people with different opinions from different communities have solidarity and good will for each other. The provide care for every person regardless of their opinions or nationalities, provide assistance for people in need and create conditions for them to develop their own human dignity, their own culture and their own religious heritage.

    b) The Ministry is the central state administration body for the affairs of churches and religious societies. Questions of the financial relations between the state and the church are regulated by Act No 218/1949 on financial provision for churches and religious societies by the state, as amended by Act No 16/1990 repealing state supervision of churches, as amended by Act No 522/1992 and Act No 467/2005. The state provides direct subsidies through the budget chapter of the Ministry to finance the payroll and health and social security contributions of clerics of the registered churches and religious societies and to contribute to the operating costs of church administrations (bishop’s offices). In 2012 funds for this purpose from the state budget amounted to EUR 37,555,040; in 2013 they amounted to EUR 37,524,333; in 2014 they amounted t

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    legislative
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    The aim of this measure is to ensure the intensification of cultural exchanges in favour of mutually respectful cultures, to support dialogue and stimulate inter-culturalism for the development of cultural interaction. Churches and religious societies organize public educational and cultural or charity activities on their own which also leads to the fulfilment of the objectives and principles of the Convention. They have created societies of the solidarity and benevolence of people of various opinions and societies. The carry out care for each person regardless their views or nationality, assist people in need and create conditions for the development of human dignity and one’s own cultural and religious heritage.  

    b) The Ministry is the central state administrative organ in matters of churches and religious societies. The issues regarding the financial relations of the state and churches are regulated by Act No. 218/1949 (Digest) on State Economic Support for Churches and Religious Societies in the wording of Act No. 16/1990 (Digest) which abolished the state supervision over churches in the wording of Act No. 522/1992 (Digest) and Act No. 467/2005 Coll

    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    Within the framework of cooperation with registered churches and religious societies, a dialogue began on the systematic and lifelong learning of representatives of churches and religious societies which is one of the forms of support and respect for the diversity of cultures. 

     

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    The Ministry of Culture
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    In 2012 funds for this purpose from the state budget amounted to EUR 37,555,040; in 2013 they amounted to EUR 37,524,333; in 2014 they amounted to EUR 38,472,510; and in 2015 they amounted to EUR 38,949,895.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
    ❭ YOUTH

    Support for art

    Context of the measure: 
    YOUTH
    b. Objetivos clave de la medida: 

    The Ministry provides institutional support for professional art and book culture by performing state administration of the arts in accordance with applicable legislation and international treaties and by participating in the creation of conditions for the development and the presentation of culture in all areas of professional art and book culture.

    a) The Ministry currently has under its establishing competence a total of 12 contributory and budgetary organisations that operate in the area of professional art and book culture (theatres, music ensembles and information and documentation centres usually on the national level):  BIBIANA – international house of art for children, the Slovak National Theatre, the Nová scéna Theatre, the Košice State Theatre, the State Opera in Banská Bystrica, the Slovak Philharmonic, the Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, the Theatre Institute, the Literary Information Centre, Music Centre Slovakia, the Slovak Design Centre. Each of these institutions has its own specific professional mission and also provides cultural services to a wide range of stakeholders without regard for age, social status, political affiliation or religious belief, not excluding disadvantaged sections of the population (older people, children and young people, people with disabilities).

    The arts institutions were established in accordance with Act No 523/2004 on budgetary rules for public administration and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended, and some were established directly by law (e.g. Act No 385/1997 on the Slovak National Theatre, Act No 114/2000 the Act on the Slovak Philharmonic). Each of them performs its activities in accordance with its foundation deed or its statute in compliance with the law. They are financed under contracts between the organization and the Ministry, which monitors the use of funds from the state budget.

    The effect of the measure can be seen in the 20 to 90-year existence of the institutions and their continuous activity in professional art and book culture.

    c. What is: 
    c.1. the scope of the measure: 
    National
    c.2. the nature of the measure: 
    institutional
    c.3. Característica principal de la medida: 

    Youth

    1. BIBIANA – international house of art for children, is an organisation on the national level which promotes in creative ways theoretical and practical activity related to art for children as a separate type of art aimed at children’s education through art and for art. It coordinates its activities with competent organizations in Slovakia and abroad (UNESCO, UNICEF, IBBY – International Board on Books for Young People, Hands On! Europe etc.). It performs the function of a specialised institution for professional art for children and young people of all religious beliefs, nationalities, levels of talent and education and for both children with disabilities and children without disabilities. Alongside art exhibitions and interactive expositions, it prepares complementary programmes of education and entertainment, creative workshops, original theatre performances and guest performances by Slovak and foreign artists.

    All the organizations under the competence of the art and state language section include titles for children and young people in their dramaturgical plans. Some organizations implement projects for teachers in their area of the arts as a form of continuing education which also benefits the overall upbringing of young people.

    b) The culture vouchers programme is a long-running programme which aims to promote the development of children’s relation to cultural values and make culture as accessible as possible for them. Its objective is:

    c) The culture vouchers programme is a long-running programme which aims to promote the development of children’s relation to cultural values and make culture as accessible as possible for them. Its objective is:

    • to encourage children, young people and their teachers to develop a relationship to cultural values,
    • to create conditions for the active participation of cultural institutions in the upbringing and education of young people in schools,
    • to encourage competition between cultural institutions in order increase the quality of their activities,
    • to improve target
    d. Does it specifically target individuals and/or social groups as defined in Article 7 of the Convention?: 
    Yes
    e. What are the results expected through the implementation of the measure?: 

    A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art

    f.1 Name of agency responsible for the implementation of the measure: 
    the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic
    f.2. Recursos financieros asignados para implementar la medida: 

    A measurable indicator of the effect of the measure can be seen in the numbers for the support provided to professional art.Program for youth is part of the entire financial resoureces allocated to imeplement the measures.

    In 2012 the Art scheme supported 898 projects total grants of EUR 4,973,650; in 2013 it supported 947 projects with total grants of EUR 5,156,150; in 2014 it supported 1,077 with total grants of EUR 5,325,992; and in 2015 it supported 1,079 projects with total grants of EUR 5,475,400.

    h. Was this measure introduced or revised in order to: 
    h.1. Implement the provisions of the Convention?: 
    No
    h.2. Support/nurture policy discussion inspired by the Convention?: 
    Yes
    h.3. Other reasons unrelated to the Convention?: 
    Yes
    i. Has the implementation of the measure been evaluated?: 
    No

     
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