Culture and Information Committee Chairperson Vesna Marjanovic thanked the representatives of artists’ associations and the National Council for Culture for their initiative to meet and the amendment proposals they forwarded to the Committee and the parliamentary groups.

The President of the National Council for Culture Mileta Prodanovic said that the members had submitted eight amendment proposals to the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Culture, and, speaking about the status of artists, emphasised the importance of preserving the state recognition for exceptional contribution to national culture for outstanding artists and the designation of cultural institution of national importance. Discussing the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Culture, the members of the National Council for Culture also stressed that the National Council for Culture should keep its active role in the drafting of the proposal of Cultural Development Strategy and assess its execution.

Smiljana Stokic of the Association of Ballet Artists of Serbia, spoke about the four amendment proposals submitted by the Serbian artists’ associations, stressing that there should be a single interpretation of the legislation regulating social welfare contributions for freelance artists that would enable them to progress in their work.

In the course of the discussion, the members of the Culture and Information Committee expressed full support for the initiatives launched by the artists’ associations.

The meeting was attended by Culture and Information Committee membersMilorad Cvetanovic, Mira Popovic, Milena Bicanin, Nenad Milosavljevic, Srdjan Dragojevic and Zoran Zivkovic.