Informations générales
Informations techniques
In January 2020, the Minister of Culture appointed an inter-institutional working group responsible for the preparation of the Lithuanian periodic report on the implementation of the 2005 Convention. The working group was composed of the representatives of governmental and non-governmental organisations. From January to April 2020, the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO organised a meeting and a few online consultations of the working group chaired by Gintautė Žemaitytė, the Vice Minister of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.
During these consultations, the working group discussed various aspects related to the periodic reporting, such as policies and measures, civil society, sustainable development, preferential treatment, etc.
The working group also launched a wide consultation process addressing the NGOs of the culture sector and asking them to report on their activities related to the areas of the 2005 Convention. The call for information from the NGOs was published on the websites of the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture and the Lithuanian Council for Culture.
Lithuania ratified the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions in 2006. The last quadrennial report on its implementation was presented in 2016. Since then, significant developments in the formation and implementation of the state’s cultural policy have taken place.
A great number of new measures were introduced to support cultural and creative sectors. The Lithuanian Cultural Policy Strategy was adopted in 2019, marking an important shift in cultural policy formation. The Strategy establishes the cultural policy directions for a period of ten years and is the first long-term comprehensive document for the cultural field. It proposes an integrated and balanced policy covering a broad network of cultural institutions and organisations that would create more equal cultural opportunities for the country’s citizens, including Lithuanian communities and artists living abroad. An integrated approach to the cultural development is also promoted by the Inter-Institutional Action Plan “Culture”, which contributes to the implementation of cultural policy objectives through various collaborative programmes and consolidated financial resources of different ministries. The Cultural Passport programme is a leap towards the engagement of young audiences in cultural consumption and assurance of diversity of the cultural supply.
Over the last four years, a variety of measures have been introduced to promote a free, independent and pluralistic media in the country. Strategic Directions for Public Information Policy is the first initiative to define and implement the state’s priorities in the media sector, while the establishment of Information System on Public Information Producers and Disseminators, which contains individual detailed data on the players in the media sector, is expected to ensure a greater transparency of public information providers and therefore greater objectivity of public information. Tax incentives for the press also contribute to objective and diverse public information. One of the state priorities in the media sector – increased accessibility to information – is being implemented by adopting amendments of the Law on the National Radio and Television that oblige the national broadcaster to ensure a better accessibility of its services to people with hearing and visual disabilities.
Partnerships with the civil society are playing an increasingly important role in policy making processes. The Ministry of Culture has developed a network of Advisory Councils composed of experts in different fields that provide their feedback on institutional initiatives and incite discussions on various cultural policy issues. The representatives of each Advisory Council as well as external civil society organisations (Youth Council, Council for People with Disabilities, Council for Non-Governmental Organisations and Association for Culture Self-Governance) are included in the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Art whose goal is to analyse culture and art processes and discuss various questions on cultural policy in a broader cultural context.
International outreach has become a significant dimension of Lithuanian cultural policy. The concept document of the Culture Internationalisation Policy laid down the main objectives in this field and defined the network of players that are implementing integrated coordination of this policy and emphasised the role of cultural attachés. Culture internationalisation objectives are implemented through various measures aimed at increasing mobility of artists and cultural professionals: granting free visas to the participants of cultural events (agreements with Belarus and Russia), organising tailored study visits to foreign artists, curators and organisers as well as introducing specific funding programmes for residencies and international events. These initiatives were complemented by a great number of cultural cooperation agreements with other countries. A continuous cooperation between Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia has resulted in the establishment of the Baltic Culture Fund.
Over the past years, the Government has placed special emphasis on the development of sustainable national policies that could bridge the social, economic and cultural gaps between the country’s major cities and the regions. The Model for Sustainable Regional Cultural Development was designed with the aim to empower regions and enable them to participate in the decision-making process for project financing. Another initiative supporting region-oriented cultural policy – Lithuanian Small Capitals of Culture – contributes to reviving cultural activities in smaller towns and villages.
International cooperation for sustainable development was addressed as one of the Convention’s goals by implementing the cultural projects supporting the civil society in Belarus that were initiated by the Lithuanian Diplomatic Mission and implemented in cooperation with a number of civil society organisations.
The reference period was also marked by significant improvements in the local audio-visual industry. After demonstrating positive results and generating significant inward investments, the new tax incentive scheme for film production was approved for a new period of five years and has already attracted a number of large-scale film productions to the country. The rise of the #metoo movement has sparked heated debates on gender equality and sexual harassment issues in the film industry as well as other cultural sectors. It resulted in institutional initiatives aiming to prevent harassment in the workplace and provoked broader discussions about participation of men and women in culture.
Even though various policies and measures that contribute to the goals of the UNESCO 2005 Convention have been introduced in the past few years, there are many remaining challenges for the cultural sector that will require more attention in the years to come.
Type d'organisation | Organisation | Site web | |
---|---|---|---|
Secteur public
| Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO
| lietuva@unesco.lt
| http://www.unesco.lt
|
Secteur public
| Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania
| dmm@lrkm.lt
| http://lrkm.lrv.lt/
|
Secteur public
| Lithuanian Council for Culture
| info@ltkt.lt
| https://www.ltkt.lt/en/
|
Secteur public
| Lithuanian Film Centre
| info@lkc.lt
| http://www.lkc.lt/en/
|
Secteur public
| The Lithuanian Department of Statistics
| statistika@stat.gov.lt
| https://www.stat.gov.lt/
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| Centre for the Protection of Intellectual Property
| info@inac.lt
| https://inac.lt/en/about-us/
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| National Association of Creative and Cultural Industries
| roma@creativeindustries.lt
| http://www.creativeindustries.lt
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| Association „Dizaino forumas“
| info@dizainoforumas.lt
| http://www.dizainoforumas.lt/en/
|
Secteur privé
| MO Museum
| mo@mo.lt
| http://www.mo.lt
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| NGO "Kino pavasaris"
| info@kinopavasaris.lt
| https://kinopavasaris.lt/en
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| NGO „Kaunas 2022"
| info@kaunas2022.eu
| https://kaunas2022.eu/en/
|
Organisation de la société civile (OSC)
| Lithuanian Centre for Human Rights
| info@lchr.lt
| https://nepatoguskinas.lt/2019/en/
|
Secteur public
| The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
| urm@urm.lt
| http://www.urm.lt/default/en/
|
Secteur public
| The Ministry of Education, Science and Sport
| smmin@smm.lt
| https://www.smm.lt/main/web/en/
|
Objectif 1 - Soutenir des systèmes de gouvernance durable de la culture
Secteurs culturels et créatifs
Lithuanian Strategy for Cultural Policy
The Strategy is financed through the state budget appropriations, municipal budgets, EU and other international financial support measures.
Inter-Institutional Action Plan “Culture“
The overall budget for this Plan amounts to USD 562 million, USD 213 million of which is provided by the participating institutions.
Development Guidelines for Cultural and Creative Industries 2015–2020
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
National Programme for Professional Performing Arts
The funding of the Programme amounts to USD 3.2 million annually.
Development of Non-Formal Education Services for Children
A total of USD 11 367 593 was allocated to implement the Project.
The implementation of the Project, which was financed by the Operational Programme for EU Structural Funds Investments for 2014-2020, was successful. Therefore, from 2021 the Project will continue and will be funded from national budgetary resources.
In addition, the decision has been made to expand the scope of application by integrating various domains related to new technologies and natural sciences as well as to prioritise innovative activities which would be financed under the Project.
Cultural Passport Programme
The budget of the programme is negotiated each year. A total of USD 9.4 million was allocated to implement the programme during the period of 2018-2020.
Programme: “Cultural Education”
In 2018, USD 402 413 was allocated to fund the projects in the programme. In 2019, the funding amounted to USD 217 790.
Programme: “Children and Youth Culture”
In 2018, USD 272 322 was allocated to fund the projects in the programme. In 2019, the funding amounted to USD 185 179.
Programme: “Cultural and Creative Industries: Networking”
In 2018, USD 653 459 was allocated to fund the projects in the programme. In 2019, the funding amounted to USD 250 809.
Diversité des médias
Strategic Directions for Public Information Policy 2019–2022
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Amendments to the Article 5 of the Law on the National Radio and Television
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Survey on Media Literacy Level in Lithuania
USD 28 272 was allocated to conduct the survey.
Information System on Public Information Producers and Disseminators
The funding provided for the implementation of the System amounts to USD 236 835
VAT Incentives for Press
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
A study conducted in 2016 on the impact of the reduced VAT rate for the press on public finance and culture suggests that, considering the ongoing changes of reading habits and the ever-increasing role of technologies, VAT incentive for the press should be maintained as a factor contributing to the promotion of reading and therefore should become an integral part of the state's reading promotion strategy. One of the recommendations is to constantly observe and analyse VAT incentive for the press in a broader economic context: observe its cost in relation to other incentives, evaluate its significance in the press support budget, monitor the publishing sector's economic vitality, prices of publications and affordability. It is also recommended to consider applying the VAT incentive to digital publications.
Media Support Foundation
The Foundation distributes USD 3.05 million annually.
Environnement numérique
Programme: “Protection of Copyright and Related Rights”
In 2018, USD 417 000 was allocated to fund the projects in the programme. In 2019, the funding amounted to USD 378 200.
Programme: “Dissemination of Digitised Cultural Products”
USD 216 870 was allocated to implement the measure (USD 108 435 in 2016 and 2017).
Programme: “Cultural and Creative Industries: Cultural Start-ups”
In 2019, USD 75 932 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
Partenariat avec la société civile
Advisory Councils to the Ministry of Culture
Members of the Councils are remunerated for their participation in the meetings from the budget of the Ministry of Culture. The remuneration amount depends on the number of meetings attended each year.
Amendment to the Agreement with the Trade Union of Cultural Workers
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Programme: “Strategic Funding for Art Creator’s Organisations”
In 2018, USD 785 482 was allocated to the programme. In 2019, the funding amounted to USD 849 759.
Objectif 2 - Parvenir à un échange équilibré de biens et services culturels et accroïtre la mobilité des artistes et des professionnels de la culture
Mobilité des artistes et des professionnels de la culture
Culture Internationalisation Policy
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Free Visas for the Participants of Cultural Events
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Programme: “Residencies for Artists and Cultural Creators in Lithuania”
In 2018, USD 163 470 and in 2019, USD 76 286 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
Programme: “Strategic Funding for International Events”
In 2018 and 2019 respectively, USD 136 200 and USD 130 744 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
Study Visit Programme
Financial resources allocated to implement the Programme vary each year. For 2020, a total of USD 65 000 is allocated for the Programme.
Échange des biens et services culturels
Lithuanian Film Tax Incentive
Investments through this measure cannot exceed USD 54.7 million per year.
The evaluation of the tax incentive was conducted for the period of 2014-2017 in preparation for the adoption of a revisited scheme of 30 percent. The main recommendations:
The tax scheme needs to be adapted to remain competitive and attractive to would-be investors. With a view to reach its full potential as a driver of audio-visual growth, complementary policy measures should be adopted to strengthen local creative ecosystem and for the scheme to impact the entire audio-visual value chain beyond cinema production. Such policy measures include:
1. Increasing the flexibility of the tax scheme and the intensity of the benefit for producers;
2. Increasing the international visibility of the scheme and its usage;
3. Addressing the risk of labour shortage and skill gaps in the sector;
4. Expanding the scope of the tax scheme to include other digital audio-visual productions;
5. Further improving the regulatory ecosystem for the local film industry by implementing the amended AVMS Directive in a way that encourages distributors and broadcasters to invest in production, by lowering the VAT rate in relation to cinema admissions, as well as discouraging online piracy.
Translation Grant Programme
A total of USD 109 000 is allocated for the implementation of the Programme in 2020. The funding of the Programme varies each year.
Traités et accords
Baltic Culture Fund
Each Baltic country allocates USD 108 547 to the Fund annually. The Fund also accepts donations. In 2019, the Nordic Council of Ministers donated USD 108 547 for organising cultural events in the Nordic countries.
Objectif 3 - Inclure la culture dans les cadres de développement durable
Politiques et plans nationaux de développement durable
Model for Sustainable Regional Cultural Development
In 2019, a total of USD 3 242 250 was allocated to finance 487 regional cultural initiatives.
National Concept for Museums Based on Sustainable Development Goals
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Free Museum Visiting Programme
In 2018, USD 428 783 was allocated for the implementation of the programme. A total of USD 1 582 040 was allocated for the renewed programme in 2019.
According to the surveys conducted by the museums, more than 50 percent of the respondents indicated that a possibility to visit museums for free was the main reason for their visit. 95 percent of the visitors were satisfied with their museum experience and 98 percent of the visitors emphasised their plans to visit museums in the future.
Reading Promotion Programme
The Ministry of Culture allocates USD 77 818 to Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania and USD 14 050 to the public libraries each year to implement the activities in the action plan approved for a period of three years. The total annual financing of the programme amounts to USD 91 868.
Lithuanian Small Capitals of Culture
Since 2018, the Lithuanian Council for Culture allocates USD 54 040 annually to the implementation of the projects through this programme.
Development of Cultural Routes in Lithuania
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Programme: “Creative Community Initiatives”
USD 217 995 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
Programme: “Art for Well-being”
In 2018, USD 141 289 and in 2019, USD 76 254 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
1. There is no single database for cooperation between institutions involved in the implementation of the programme.
2. The funds of the programme are sufficient to respond to the supply of projects corresponding to the activities of the programme.
3. The main project promoters are from Vilnius; they also ensure the dissemination of the activities of this programme in Lithuania.
4. The involvement of professional actors (both in the management and creative parts) is important for collaboration and a targeted impact on segmented audiences.
5. The main results of the program are personal well-being (positive emotions) and access to art.
Three directions for the development of activities of the programme:
1. The model of promotion of access to professional art;
2. The model of strategic financing of art for human well-being;
3. The model of inter-institutional cooperation.
Coopération internationale pour le développement durable
Support for the Civil Society in Belarus
A total of USD 61 079 was allocated for the implementation of the projects.
Strengthening Gender Equality in Belarus
A total of USD 11 717 was allocated for the implementation of the projects.
Objectif 4 - Promouvoir les droits de l’homme et les libertés fondamentales
Égalité des genres
Working Environment Without Sexual Harassment
USD 5800 was allocated for the implementation of the measure.
Liberté artistique
Grants for Artists Receiving Significant International Awards
The amount of grant is USD 21 900.
Memorandum of Cooperation Aiming to Increase the Pay for Artistic and Cultural Employees in Municipal Cultural Institutions
There is no fixed financing allocated to the implementation of this measure. The financing of the measure is negotiated each year.
1,2 Percent for Artists from Personal Income Tax
There is no dedicated budget for this measure.
Measures and Initiatives reported by Civil Society Organizations
CULTURE FORUM
MO Museum
Vilnius International Film Festival (Vilnius IFF) Kino Pavasaris
Design Week
Cultural Accessibility Guide “Kaunas for All”
International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival INCONVENIENT FILMS
Questions tranversales émergentes
Challenges and Achievements
Annexes
Soumission
