Communiqué from the 31st Meeting of the Ministers responsible for Culture of the Visegrad Group Countries

 

The meeting of the Ministers was preceded by a working session of ministerial experts, held on 19th April 2021. During the preparation of the Experts’ Report for the meeting of the Ministers the following topics were discussed:

 

1. Progress on the implementation of cultural projects since the 30th Meeting of the Ministers responsible for Culture of the V4 countries organised during the Czech Presidency in the V4 in June 2020:
   1. The Colloquium of Library and Information Workers from the Visegrad Group;
   2. The Working Group for Cultural Heritage in the V4 countries;
   3. Co-operation in the field of performing arts in the V4 countries;
   4. Visegrad Initiative for Audio-visual Cooperation;
   5. Rings in Water – exhibition and competition;
   6. TRANS/MISJE International Festival of Arts;
   7. SEFO Cooperation (The Olomouc Central European Forum);
   8. Active Collections international conference on collection mobility;
   9. International conference on open air museums in Central Europe;
   10. Digitization programme on Circus Arts;
   11. Visegrad Cinema Days;
   12. Visegrad Film Prize within the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival;
   13. Design: Discovering the potential of culture and creative industries.
   
   
2. Nomination for the “International Visegrad Prize”
   

The Ministers’ discussion focused on the topic: The socio-economic status of artists—possibilities to support artists. The activity of artists and performers is a very important part of the creative sector, as it gives the society access to national and world cultural heritage, strengthens our identity and sense of community. Unfortunately, market mechanisms are not sufficient to ensure the adequate financing of creative and performing activities. Artistic activity and the development of creativity require patronage—public or private one. For many years already, Europe has been discussing the legitimacy of the states’ involvement in the direct support to artists, with special regard to context of the free labour market. The Ministers exchanged their experiences in providing adequate instruments and measures that lead to improve the socio-economic situation of the artist in the V4 region.

 

The following conclusions were adopted at the meeting of the Ministers:

1. The Ministers accepted the joint Experts’ Report, received the overview of the current situation concerning the implementation of the individual projects and agreed with the experts’ recommendations.
2. The Ministers acknowledged that the International Visegrad Fund plays a crucial role in the cooperation of the V4 countries in the field of culture and expressed their confidence in its further contribution to the cultural achievements of these countries.
3. The Ministers fully supported the activities of the Working Group for Cultural Heritage in the V4 countries and look forward to the next activities in the framework of The Summer Course on the Management of UNESCO World Heritage Sites—the V4 Heritage Academy and the Heritage Forum of Central Europe.
4. The Ministers appreciated the successful continuation of co-operation in the field of performing arts in the V4 countries (PACE.V4) and the TRANS/MISJE International Festival of Arts.
5. The Ministers supported cooperation in the field of audio-visual issues and film in the projects Visegrad Cinema Day and Visegrad Film Prize within the Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival.
6. The Ministers supported the continuation of the follow-up projects: the Colloquium of Library and Information Workers from the Visegrad Group, Rings in Water - exhibition and competition, SEFO Cooperation, Active Collections international conference on collection mobility and international conference “Open air museums in Central Europe”, “Design: Discovering the potential of culture and creative industries”.
7. The Ministers welcomed information on continuation of the project “Digitization programme for Circus Arts” and supported this idea of cooperation within their competences.
8. The Ministers approved the nomination of National Cultural Centre in Warsaw for the International Visegrad Prize, which will be awarded at the following meeting in 2022.

The Parties agreed that the following meeting of the Ministers will be held in Hungary in 2022.

Signed by