Frisian Language and Culture

The Frisian language is recognised as an official language through the Use of Frisian Language Act and under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. European countries may recognize languages other than their official national language. In this way, they protect the cultural wealth of Europe. For example with the offer of the Frisian subject in Fryslân. Or through the government's contribution to the regional broadcaster Omrop Fryslân. In the Netherlands, Frisians are recognized under the Kaderverdrag inzake de bescherming van nationale minderheden (Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities). The government considers it important that Frisians are able to express their language and culture. Language is an important part of the Framework Convention. The central government and the province of Fryslân make arrangements about the use of the Frisian language in, for example, schools and in the media. These agreements can be found in the Bestjoersôfspraak Fryske Taal en Kultuer 2019-2023. The central government and the province want more Frisians to be able to read and write Frisian by 2030. In consultation with the national government, the province of Fryslân has been given the role of De taalskipper Frysk. This means that the province of Fryslân aims to comply with the agreements about the Frisian language in Fryslân. De Taalskipper connects and inspires people and organisations in the province that are working with the Frisian language. The independent body for the Frisian language DINGtiid advises the government and the province of Fryslân about the Frisian language. Within the policy regarding the Frisian culture and language, various measures have been implemented, including: - As part of the Dutch Basic Cultural Infrastructure, the Frisian theatre company Tryater receives funding of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. This professional company uses the Frisian language in its theatre productions and educational activities. - Participation in Frisian language and culture is being encouraged through the funding of the organisation IEPENLOFTSPULLEN. This organisation produces musical theatre productions in the Frisian language and in Frisian local dialect. Their productions take place in the open air, each year in the period from March to October. - “Lân fan Taal” (“Land of Languages”) was an extensive programme in 2018, when Leeuwarden was European Capital of Culture. Within this programme many institutions in Friesland in the fields of literature, minority languages and multilingualism worked together, united in the Language Alliance. It was an extensive programme with activities, shows, artworks, exhibitions and spatial installations in Leeuwarden and in the rest of Fryslân. The starting point was simple: all languages are equal and language is without borders. Organisations, language professionals and visitors were invited to participate. Invited to let languages live, to play with language and to express themselves. In 2019, Leeuwarden has been assigned UNESCO City of Literature. With this title, Leeuwarden and the surrounding province of Fryslân are committed to fostering the development of a professional literary community, building an international network and making literature as accessible as possible (while also addressing low literacy and multilingualism). When we refer to “literature in Fryslân”, of course we primarily think of literature in the Frisian language. But it is so much more than that. Dutch poems, stories and novels also define the history, position and future of our province. And don’t forget the authors and poets who write in Bildts, Stellingwerfs or one of the other regional and minority languages in Fryslân. By emphasizing, in addition to all this, translations of writers from Fryslân and exchanges with other languages and cultures, we underline the open and inclusive character of literature in Fryslân. As a UNESCO City of Literature, Leeuwarden promotes writing and reading in Fryslân in a variety of ways. These efforts centre around a creative writing programme, an international artist-in-residence programme and a project to promote reading. They also contribute substantially to the Triennials, which is part of the agenda “LF2028”, the sequel to the LF2018-agenda when Leeuwarden was European Capital of Culture.