CULTURE POLICY NEWS: LATVIA
People choose libraries instead of bookshops
At the end of 2008 the VAT for books was increased from 5% to 21%. This was followed by a dramatic fall in book sales. The sale results of the 12 biggest bookstores (source: Latvian Booksellers Guild) show that book sales in January 2009 has decreased by 29% in comparison to January 2008, while the decrease in February is – 36,58%, in March – about 40%.
The Minister of Culture Ints Dālderis has promised to advocate for reduction of the VAT on books. However this proposal has not yet been approved by the government.
Meanwhile, there has been observed a significant increase in library attendance. Municipal libraries have been attended by 30% more in 2009, internet libraries – by 100% more if compared to 2008. The number of readers in the National Library of Latvia has grown by 82% in 2009, while there is the increase of 270% of internet users.
The Director of the Library Development Institute Anna Maulina has observed that reader’s habits have changed: there has been a marked increase for literature concerning medical and legal issues. This can be explained by the fact that when economy fails people try to heal themselves and advocate for themselves.
Culture consumption in 2008
A study on culture consumption and participation patterns in 2008 was commissioned by the Culture Capital Foundation and carried out by the Laboratory of Analytic and Strategic Studies (2009). This year the focus was laid on accessibility of culture.
The findings show that a significant part of Latvian population does not have access to cultural events in their neighbourhood. In 2007 about 69% of the respondents were satisfied with the choice of and access to culture events, while in 2008 – only 60% responded positively. 40% of the respondents mentioned that the major obstacle was high prices; 19% considered the location and means to access it may be regarded as a barrier to attend culture events.
Reading of books is the most popular kind of culture consumption (65% of respondents have read a book during the last year); 62% of the population have attended an open-air culture event, while 60% have travelled around Latvia. A great part of the respondents (43%) has visited an exhibition or a museum, while only 20% have visited an art gallery. The same pattern can be observed in the area of music events: 40% have attended popular music concerts, while only 16% – classical or symphony concerts. A visit to cinema is as popular as theatre – 35% have seen a movie and a play at a theatre.
Latvian filmmakers try to reach their audiences
Although visiting cinema is a way to spend one’s leisure time in Latvia, nearly half of those who frequent cinemas (45%) have not seen any locally produced movie during the last three years. The Latvian Film Development Fund has presented the results of a survey acknowledging that Latvian films are neither interesting for audiences (opinion of 33% of respondents), nor sufficiently distributed and promoted (35%).
During the last decade the number of films produced in Latvia has increased, while the number of cinemas – decreased. In 1990 there were 90 cinema houses and all together 1103 screening rooms suitable for film demonstration (including cinemas, cultural centres and other venues with appropriate equipment), while in 2008 – only 15 cinemas and 50 screening rooms.
This is one of the reasons why the National Film Centre of Latvia has developed several projects to support non-commercial distribution of Latvian productions.
In collaboration with the state agency „Cultural Information Systems” Latvian films are made available free of charge in 874 public libraries via 4000 computers all around Latvia. Another project „FilmBus” has been launched in cooperation with corporate sponsors: animated films for children will be shown free of charge in regional arts and culture centers all over Latvia. The bus will visit144 towns and rural municipalities.
The unknown Culture Canon
Developing the Culture Canon covering the fields of architecture and design, film, literature, folk traditions, visual art, music and performing arts has been finalised and published. It represents 12 outstanding art works in each of the fields.
Students and lecturers of the Latvian Academy of Culture have presented the findings of the survey revealing that young people have been insufficiently informed about the art works and cultural representations included in the Culture Canon lists. The young generation is better informed about the traditional and folk art, and literature. However, they have poor knowledge in visual art, film and theatre.
CULTURAL POLICY NEWS: LATVIA
CULTURE AND ECONOMY
Optimization and solidarity
Optimization and solidarity are two key features characterizing developments in Latvia in the last months.
“Optimization plan” of the public administration includes the reform reducing number of the Ministries (from 15 to 10) and public agencies (from 138 to 86). In the cultural sector this could lead to the merge of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Education and Science. Despite the pressure of the International Monetary Fund and the President of Latvia, the government could not proceed with the reorganisation of public administration. Soon after it the Prime Minister resigned.
Meanwhile cultural operators demonstrate solidarity by expressing protests against all the reforms. Open letters is a daily routine. Cultural operators support the independence and the budget of the State Cultural Capital Foundation, and they protest against the merge of the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Science; writers and publishers demand the reduction of VAT; TV spectators wish to see cultural broadcasts on national TV…
On the one hand, the government is proposing reforms in a rush while ignoring the reasonable process of consultations with the field experts. On the other hand, budget cuts are not perceived as a challenge or chance to enhance the efficiency of the administration of public authorities and cultural organisations. Optimization often is compromised by solidarity. Cultural operators agree to take unpaid holidays or to cut salaries for every employee in their organisation instead of restructuring public cultural sector.
Budget for culture 2009
What is public funding for culture in 2009?
The budget of the Ministry of Culture in 2009 has even increased due to the extra funding for the construction of the National Library of Latvia. Apart from this, the state funding for culture is cut significantly. The main priority is cultural education, which is given more than 1/3 of the overall budget of the Ministry of Culture, thus making other underfunded fields receive even less. In comparison to 2008, the budget line for cultural heritage is reduced by 30.6%, while support for professional art (performing arts and film) is reduced by 22.7%.
Majority of cultural operators are concerned with the critical reduction of the budget for the State Culture Capital Foundation that is grant-giving body to secure the diversity of cultural activities all over Latvia. Its budget is reduced by 39.3% in comparison to 2008; moreover taking in account the need to keep 10% of the budget in reserve, it makes only half of its budget available for operation.
The Ministry of Culture has maintained the support scheme for nongovernmental organisations. This scheme covers operation costs for several contemporary art organisations and artists’ unions. However the total sum (LVL 707 243 or about 1 million EUR in 2009) forms only 0.6% of the total budget of the Ministry of Culture.
How much city authorities will spend on culture in 2009?
Culture is not a priority of the city authorities in 2009 in Latvia. E.g. the budget of the city Rezekne (Rēzekne) is reduced by 24% in comparison to its budget of 2008, while its budget for culture, recreation activities and sport is cut by 43%. Similarly in the city of Cesis (Cēsis): the total expenditure of the city is cut down by 28%, while for culture, recreation activities and religion – by 40%. Valmiera city will spend on culture 28.9% less, Liepaja (Liepāja) – 21% less than in 2008. Only the city of Ventspils has not reduced its expenditure and the mayor has announced that this is a time for new opportunities.
Major cuts affect support for cultural activities like performances, concerts, festivals and other cultural undertakings on a local level; in some cities such expenditures are cut for more than 50%. However the city authorities have prioritised the continuation of reconstruction projects funded from structural funds and co-financed by the city (e.g. Gulbene, Daugavpils and Cesis will reconstruct their cultural centres; Valmiera city will invest in the library and museum).
Reorganization of the municipality administration and public institutions on a local level is encumbered due to the forthcoming local elections in June, 2009.
NEWS FROM THE CITIES AND REGIONS
Regional reform
At the end of 2008 the regional reform finally was adopted by the Parliament. Previously Latvia had numerous small municipalities operating on two territorial levels of local administration. The aim of the reform that had lasted since 1992 was to reduce the number of the administrative levels, and to increase the capacity of the local administrative units.
After the reform there will be 109 amalgamated municipalities and 9 national scale cities instead of more than 500 administrative units.
Although the structure and the functioning of the public cultural institutions on a local level after the reform are not clearly developed, in general one could expect more opportunities for regional co-operation and decentralisation of public cultural institutions that previously was hindered by the unaccomplished reform.
The survey: Development of Regions in Latvia 2007
The annual survey of the State Regional Development Agency “Development of Regions in Latvia 2007” suggests the data and comparisons on regional development in Latvia in 2007; moreover it outlines general tendencies in demography and economical developments over the period of 2002-2007.
Population keeps decreasing in the rural areas of Latvia, but the rates of decrease have become more stable. Parishes and rural counties of Latvia are small in terms of population. At the beginning of 2007 approximately 1 500 persons resided in a single rural local municipality. Rural local municipalities with up to 999 persons residing form almost one half of the total number of rural local municipalities (45%).
Disparities in the quality of life, as well as the quality and quantity of economic and social infrastructure in large cities, their vicinities and in other territories of the county considerably increase.
The provincial and medium sized towns of Latvia mainly serve as local centres of administrative and consumer services and cultural life. Small number of companies mostly oriented towards provision of a narrow range of local services determines the necessity to find additional incentives and resources for developing sustainable business activities, which would create high value added.
The study is available as PDF file in English.
Study: What makes cities grow? The Baltic Geography of Creativity
In their turn the authors of the study “What makes cities grow? The Baltic Geography of Creativity” analysing the creative potential of the Baltic Sea Region cities Rostock, Kiel, Aarhus, Umeå, Turku, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Gdańsk propose the development scenarios for small and medium size cities. Members of PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Hamburg Institute of International Economics examine the relationship between creativity and urban economic development and the impact of regional policies.
It is stressed that future potential of the cities and their economical development depends on their capacity to take advantage of education and science. In this respect Turku, Umea and Aarhus were appraised. The strength of Tallinn is being the Baltic centre of new technologies. Although Riga, Gdansk and Vilnius demonstrate a high concentration of knowledge and competencies, they are not applied to the industries and business, which is the way to shift from labour consuming production process to the one based on knowledge with a high added value.
Study: Cultural initiatives in the regions of Latvia
The regional development can be also measured by the number of associations of citizens. The study “Fostering cultural diversity and governance: nongovernmental and private cultural initiatives” (Institute of Social and Political Studies, University of Latvia, commissioned by the Ministry of Culture, Latvia, 2008) reveals that in average there is 1,4 cultural associations of citizens in each rural municipality, while in Riga – about 200. About 29% of the cities and the rural municipalities host none of cultural associations of citizens.
The study is available in Latvian.
Cultural strategies of Latvian cities
Though studies on cultural consumption say that amateur art is much more popular than professional art events in Latvia, three cities have developed long-term cultural strategies stressing that art and culture stand for more than amateur choirs and folk dances and could be used as a critical strategy for the city development.
Riga has worked out its cultural development strategy for the years 2008-2025 nominating Riga as a cultural metropolis. Cesis in its cultural strategy 2008-2013 is positioning the city as a creative and cultural centre of Vidzeme region (Central/Eastern part of Latvia). Liepaja city in the first draft of its cultural policy strategy 2009-2014 highlights the creativity.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Publishing and tourism industries anticipate bankruptcies
At the end of 2009 the Parliament endorsed a national macroeconomic stabilisation plan proposing the increase of VAT from 18% to 21%. Earlier reduced VAT rate of 5% was applied to books, press, and tourism industry. Only the press lobbies managed to negotiate about the increase of VAT up to 10% instead of a general rate of 21%, which now implies on books and tourism industry.
Both publishing and tourism industries anticipate large-scale bankruptcies in the field.
Press, literature and polygraph industry were the largest cultural industries. Data on the year 2006 shows that the turnover of the press, literature and polygraph industry reached 37% from the turnover of all the cultural industries. But tourism constitutes significant share of national export (18.1% from the total export of services in Latvia in 2007).
CULTURAL POLICY NEWS: LATVIA
Cultural Canon
The Ministry of Culture of Latvia introduced the idea of cultural Canon at the end of 2007 during the conference on the Cultural Canon. In 2008 expert committees in the fields of architecture and design, film, literature, folk traditions, visual art, music and performing arts gathered to come up with the preliminary list of outstanding art works. This list will be further debated by the society. During the year of 2009, lists including 12 art works in each field will be presented to the society in the format of interactive website, book and CD-Rom.
Denmark and the Netherlands have already completed similar project. Latvian architect Oskars Redbergs answering to the question “Does Latvia Need its Own Cultural Canon?” posed by the magazine “Dizaina Studija” replies: “The Latvian situation is different from both Denmark and the Netherlands. Latvia currently has one of the most liberal economic policies in Europe, an immature democracy, a multinational ethnic composition, nationalistic cultural policy, high criminality, heterogeneous society, unclear national identity, and lack of development strategies and new ideas. (..) I see canon as reference points in different cultural fields.”
Latvian National Library
The construction of the new building of Latvian National Library was started in summer 2008. The project has overcome long lasting public and political debates that has finally resulted in the undertaking that would require 114,6 million LVL (around 163,7 million EUR) investment over the next 5 years. Gunnar Birkerts, who is the most famous architect of Latvian origin in the world, named the project Castle of Light.
The current economical crisis has brought about new concerns and protests. In the recent years support among the society members for the construction of the National Library has been decreasing, opinion polls data tell. Right wing oppositional party Jaunais Laiks tried to stop the project. While the Minister of Culture Helena Demakova brings in economical arguments stating that implementation of the project of Latvian National Library is economically grounded both in short-term and long-term: “In short-term, implementation of the project will help to overcome the approaching crisis in construction sector, one of the driving forces of economy; in long-term, the Castle of Light is a huge step forward in development of knowledge about society and competitive national economy in Latvia.” Up to now construction works of the Latvian National Library go on according to the schedule.
Along with the new building for the National library, there are several other investment projects under development: construction of the Contemporary Art Museum, concert halls in Rīga and Liepāja, as well as reconstruction plans for regional cultural centres and concert halls (the latter would be significantly supported by structural funds).
NEWS FROM THE CITIES NAD THE REGIONS
Karosta K@2
One of the most innovative regional cultural organisations – Culture and Information Centre K@2 – situated in Karosta, Liepāja city is experiencing period of severe changes. As one can notice in their website, many of their activities are marked as “Paused”. Internal organisational transformation goes along with their dispute with the city authority over the ownership and privatisation of property.
The K@2 Centre was established in 2000 and acted as a frame for many cultural activities by local and foreign artists who came to Karosta to make their projects and get inspiration from the unique feeling that Karosta only had – its nature, buildings, ruins, and people.
Karosta (‘Military Port’) is a coastal neighbourhood to the north of Liepāja in the western Latvia. Karosta was constructed in 1890-1906 as a naval base for the Russian Tsar Alexander III, and later served as a base for the Soviet Baltic Fleet. Now it is a very popular place for tourists and artists, since it offers unique sights and interesting places – like the scenic seascapes with partially blasted fortresses on the Baltic shore.
Thanks to K@2 projects and regeneration activities, this place was transformed into an attractive environment hosting many social, educational and cultural activities, appealing to the tourists both locally and internationally, initiating the idea of using regeneration approach to city planning and development.
Four cities competing to become European Cultural Capital 2014
Four cities – Rīga, Jūrmala, Cēsis and Liepāja – have applied for the competition to become European Cultural Capital 2014. Two cities aim to involve the whole region in the cultural programme. Cēsis has drafted proposal together with the cities of the Vidzeme region, while Liepāja involves Kurzeme region.
The process is kept rather secret, cities have not published their applications as it is done by the Swedish cities of Lund, Umeå, Gävle, Uppsala, the latter also competing for the name of European Cultural Capital of 2014. No open public debate on the endorsement of regional development or concerning the idea of Rīga as the cultural metropolis of the Baltics has taken place yet. International jury will make its decision at the end of 2008.
Study: Socio-economical Development Tendencies in Latvian Cities
Study “Socio-economical Development Tendencies of Latvian Cities” was commissioned by The State Regional Development Agency and carried out by the Laboratory of Analytic and Strategic Studies (2008). Study comprised 38 cities in Latvia analysing potential growth of the cities, their competitiveness and polycentric development possibilities.
For the first time analysis of creativity was included in the study, estimating the index of creativity and concentration of creative class. Latvian capital Rīga is the largest development centre in the country with the highest index of creativity. It is a creative metropolis, measured by taking into account the concentration of talent and technology.
Findings show that Rīga hosts 83% of scientific institutions, 83% of high-tech enterprises, and 70% of TOP 500 enterprises calculated from the total number of enterprises in 38 cities. Besides, 58% of the creative class reside in Rīga. Authors of the study indicate that Rīga has to choose between its future as an industrial city and the creative centre. Study is available in Latvian.
Cultural consumption patterns in Liepāja city
Meanwhile Laboratory of Analytic and Strategic Studies has presented another study on cultural consumption in Liepāja city commissioned by Cultural Department of Liepāja City Authority (2008). Liepāja is one of the main cities in Kurzeme region (Western part of Latvia).
About 46% of Liepāja inhabitants take active part in leisure time activities, though particularly in cultural activities – not more than 10%.
During the last year the majority of city inhabitants have visited neither classical music concerts, nor ballet and opera — which is a challenge for administrators of the concert hall that is planned to be built in the coming years. However inhabitants of Liepāja are very positive about the future prospects of having a new concert hall (68% of them plan to attend concerts organised there). Study is available in Latvian.
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Centre for Creative Industries
In 2008, the State Culture Education Centre changed its name for the Centre of Culture and Creative Industries Education (state administration institution) thus enlarging scope of its responsibilities and establishing a body that is responsible for culture industries.
Policy for creative industries
As creative industries are among top priorities of the state’s cultural policy, Ministry of Culture takes an active role in developing policy framework for creative industries. Though economically most successful sectors are publishing (literature and media) & polygraph industry (37% of the turnover from the total turnover of all creative industries in 2006) and advertisement (27%) Ministry of Culture are prioritising design and audiovisual media & multimedia because of their export potential. Cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science is planned in order to develop new educational curriculum for design, as well as innovative gastronomy. New College of Design is planned in the city of Liepāja.
Newsletter supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia.
