Opening the public hearing, the Chairperson of the Culture and Information Committee, Vesna Marjanovic, stressed that the goal of the public hearing is to find constructive solutions for the problem of culture funding. She pointed out that, in the course of the public hearing, the participants will learn about different experiences and models of culture funding and stimulating creativity in the society.

Addressing the assembly, Minister of Culture and Information Bratislav Petkovic opined that the public hearing would contribute toward the solution of the culture funding problems in Serbia.

Film Director Srdan Golubovic emphasised the importance of culture as the most basic element of a nation’s identity. He said that investment into culture is necessary so that we may live in a rich country and a better society.

In the course of the public hearing the panelists presented the different European funding models for culture as well as campaigns, projects and programmes implemented in European countries.

Ognjen Miric, Republic of Serbia European Integration Office European Union Fund Coordinator, gave an overview of the European financial instruments employed to fund culture. He presented the non-profit and development projects realised in Serbia from the European Union pre-accession IPA funds.

The representative of the Polish Institute Adam Mickiewicz, Anna Hieropolitanska, informed the participants of the results and effects of the Polish campaign titled “1% for Culture”, while Eva Zakova explained the Czech perspectives of culture financing on the behalf of the Czech Culture Programme Office.

MA Vesna Coric Eric of the Institute of Comparative Law presented the comparative analysis of tax benefits in the cultural sector. She listed the standard tax measures implemented in different countries, as well as innovative measures such as funding culture from the state lottery.

The representative of the Croatian Ministry of Culture, Mladen Spehar, spoke of the subsidizing of the independent cultural sector in Croatia through the Kultura Nova foundation and the programme “Entrepreneurial impulse for creative industries”.

The representative of the Cultural Contact Point Serbia office of the Ministry of Culture and Information, Lola Joksimovic, presented the European Union programme for the cultural and creative sector titled Creative Europe (2014-2020) for which the Ministry of Culture and Information has to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Commission so as to enable the participation of Serbian cultural institutions.

The Public hearing was attended by MPs, ministry representatives, representatives of embassies, cultural institutions and the independent cultural sector. In the course of the ensuing debate the participants stressed that not enough budget funds are allocated for culture and that a list of funding priorities should be compiled. They spoke of the need to recognise public interest in culture, develop the citizens’ cultural needs and cultivate artistic taste. The participants of the public hearing also spoke about how certain legislation affect the work of cultural institutions and pointed out the need to wave taxes for cultural donors and sponsors.

Closing the public hearing, the Chairperson of the Culture and Information Committee, Vesna Marjanovic said that, based on the debate, the Committee would establish measures and recommendations at one of the upcoming sittings and forward them to the Ministry of Culture and Information and Ministry of Finance and Economy so as to address the cultural funding problems in Serbia.

The public hearing was organised with the support of UNDP and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).