On the 10th and 11th of May 2001 the 6th Meeting of Ministers of Culture and Cultural Heritage of the Visegrad Group Countries took place in Český Krumlov.
The following topics were discussed:
- Intangible cultural heritage and current possibilities of its protection—Traditional folk culture (national systems, legislation, important projects). The support of local cultural traditions and promotion of awareness of local cultural history according to priorities of individual countries
- Media policy in relation to future EU integration—Current situation of legislation concerning integration process.
The Ministers have agreed that traditional folk culture of V4 countries is intertwined and interconnected because it is based on common history and traditions. The discussions resulted in identifying the need for protecting and preserving this idea of cultural heritage especially at present when some parts of intangible cultural heritage are in danger of extinction. Here the role of the state is irreplacable, even though in the future the main responsibility should lie with regional authorities, municipalities and civic associations. The state should help identify specific features of traditional folk culture, creating legal instruments for their protection, collection and promotion with the use of new technologies.
Futhermore, the discussion stressed the need for enhancing local cultural history and tradition awareness. Part of the care for intangible cultural heritage, its identity and an effort to keep it alive in the living memory of the civic society is the commemoration of anniversaries of outstanding artists and scientists and events linked to personalities declared by UNESCO and the Council of Europe. Intangible cultural heritage protection cannot be separated from material evidence of conditions under which it emerged and evolved. In this respect, the role of museum ethnographic collection is essential.
Special attention should be paid to the folklore tradition of the minorities living in the four countries.
The Ministers of V4 countries also exchanged information on the current state of legislation in the audiovisual policy in relation to the EU integration process.
As a result of their deliberations, the Ministers of culture and cultural heritage of V4 countries have agreed on the following:
- To promote information exchange and participation in the events in the area of intangible cultural heritage among relevant departments and institutions, to appoint national coordinators from each of the Visegrad Group countries to act in this field of cooperation.
- To support traditional folk culture festivals by setting up grant programmes, with an emphasis on those internationally recognized (e.g. CIOFF). To provide support for cultural activities of ethnographic museums, especially presentation of folk literature, customes, traditions and traditional crafts.
- In line with the UNESCO "Living Human Treasures" appeal, to give appreciation and attention to the best tradition bearers so that knowledge of these traditions can be passed on to future generations. The V4 countries will support exchange of experts with a view of deepening scientific cooperation in this field.
- In connection with the V4 countries integration process to support joint projects within community programme "Culture 2000".
- To pay special attention to the liberalized cultural trade negotiation process. They also agreed that the Declaration on Cultural Diversity issued by the Council of Europe—especially with an attached explanation of key phenomena—might serve as a useful instrument during the forthcoming OECD and WTO negotiations.
- The Ministers considered as an important task to continue the exchange of mutual information on the progress of the integration process in the audiovisual field.
- Ministers of Culture and cultural heritage of V4 countries address the Council of ambassadors of the International Visegrad Fund with appeal to support the projects especially promoting intangible cultural heritage of this countries.T
- The 7th meeting of Ministers of culture of Visegrad Group countries will be held in Wroclaw, Poland, from 22 to 23 June 2001. The subject will be common promotion of the cultural region of the V4 countries in EU and general problems of the promotion of culture abroad.
In Český Krumlov on the 11th of May 2001.
Pavel Dostál, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic; Zoltán Rockenbauer, Minister of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Hungary; Kazimierz Ujazdowski, Minister of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland; Milan Kňažko, Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic
