International meeting in Oslo focuses on resilient cultural ecosystem and growing partnerships

The Lithuanian Council for Culture took part in the closing event for its bilateral collaboration with Arts and Culture Norway in Oslo. Besides Lithuania and Norway, the event also welcomed representatives from cultural and arts organisations in Bulgaria, Czechia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Slovakia. The participants explored key cultural policy and funding issues and exchanged experiences and best practices. 

The meeting in Norway was attended by Chairwoman of the Lithuanian Council for Culture Asta Pakarklytė, Director of Administration Rūta Stepanovaitė, Advisor at the Division of Monitoring and Analysis Marija Pečiulytė, and Senior Specialist at the Division of Administration of Funding Measures Dovilė Miliukštė. They introduced Lithuania's cultural and arts funding instruments, shared insights on project and grant monitoring and research, and discussed communication with applicants. 

Focus on resilient culture, transparency, and sustainability

The meeting's theme, Unity: Working Together to Build an Independent and Resilient Cultural Sector, encouraged participants to explore funding models for artists and cultural organisations across various countries. They also exchanged experiences on applying the "arms' length" principle in funding artistic initiatives, safeguarding freedom of expression, and focusing on sustainability in cultural policy. 

"I was deeply moved by the stories shared by my colleagues from the Slovak Arts Council. Shortly before our meeting, there were large protests in Slovakia under the slogan ‘Slovakia is Europe’. Tens of thousands of protesters called for Fico's resignation, chanting that he is ‘Russia's agent’. Waves of protests erupted after the Minister of Culture dismissed the leaders of the major cultural organisations and replaced them with government-aligned officials. For instance, in August, the heads of the Slovak National Theatre and the National Gallery were dismissed for ‘progressive liberal political activism’ and a disregard for ‘traditional values’. The Slovak Arts Council underwent a significant restructuring, with the majority of the Council now composed of politically active civil servants with no artistic experience. Calls for funding have been halted, crippling creative practices and cultural activities. It’s hard to comprehend how one election can cause a country to shift towards authoritarianism”, said Asta Pakarklytė. 

The participants were interested in a presentation by Rūta Stepanovaitė, Director of Administration at the Lithuanian Council for Culture, alongside Sverre Fossen, Head of the Art Economy and Innovation Unit at Arts and Culture Norway, on grants for creators and other initiatives in Lithuania and Norway.  

"We have summarised and compared the funding conditions for individual creators in both countries. The systematic review of funding instruments for artists and new initiatives in both Lithuania and Norway began with the founding of the organisations we represent, though the timeline for the establishment of current models differs. The Norwegian organisation, with over fifty years of experience, has a highly developed funding system for creators: artists are often supported for more than one year, addressing the needs of emerging creators, those with low incomes from their creative activities, or those approaching the end of an active creative phase. However, the primary criterion for evaluating funding activities is the quality of the work. It is equally important in Lithuania, but state-funded creators must also commit to sharing their work with the public", says Rūta Stepanovaitė. 

She states that "the differences in funding between countries reflect not only the political and socio-economic context in which the logic behind national investment has evolved but also the strengths and weaknesses of the established models. For instance, the Norwegian system of support for artists, which has remained largely unchanged since the 20th century and is based on quotas, is less flexible than the Lithuanian system. In Lithuania, the Lithuanian Council for Culture can adapt existing measures or create new ones in response to societal challenges as needed. We also discussed how, in times of political turmoil, public funding can become a tool to limit creative freedom. Therefore, it is crucial to diversify creators' sources of income while also emphasising that artistic work is a profession that should be compensated fairly."

Closing event of bilateral collaboration with Arts and Culture Norway in Oslo.

 Tiago Gjesdal photo.

International cooperation – the driving force for change

The event focused heavily on dialogue and cooperation. Representatives from the Lithuanian Council for Culture, along with participants from other countries, discussed cultural sector funding and potential changes: how public investment in culture and the arts can help address societal challenges, and how to effectively organise institutional activities within a context of limited resources.

"It was valuable to learn how cultural institutions in other countries are addressing similar challenges faced by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. The idea that the issues we care about are also significant in other countries, such as Poland, Norway, Bulgaria, and Portugal, has been reaffirmed once again. The discussions also expanded the perspectives towards the activities of the Division of Monitoring and Analysis, offering ideas on how to enhance ongoing analyses and improve communication regarding existing research. I found Culture Action Europe's report on the state of cultural policy in Europe intriguing, as it highlighted common issues that, to be honest, were unexpected", says Advisor at the Division of Monitoring and Analysis Marija Pečiulytė. 

The meeting focused on improving services for applicants and enhancing their experience. Participants discussed ways to improve communication and collaboration with applicants, as well as handling challenging situations, including negative feedback and dissatisfaction with funding decisions. 

"We discussed the pursuit of more transparent and flexible funding models to ensure that public fund distribution mechanisms not only address the needs of the cultural sector but are also founded on mutual trust and respect for the creator. We also addressed shared issues within the cultural sector. It is evident that cultural funding remains insufficient in many European countries, and the work of creators is often underappreciated. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen education from an early age and foster an understanding that creative involvement in society and the state is a vital part of identity, and the creator's remuneration should be dignified and reflective of their contribution", said Senior Specialist at the Division of Administration of Funding Measures Dovilė Miliukštė

The exchange project with Arts and Culture Norway and participation in the closing event with representatives from other countries reinforced international partnerships, offered valuable insights, and provided an opportunity to learn about various best practices across Europe. This will aid in the continued development of the Lithuanian Council for Culture's activities, enhance funding methods and grant allocation for cultural and art projects, and promote international cooperation, particularly in the areas of artist mobility and skill development. 

Bilateral cultural cooperation is funded by the European Economic Area (EEA) Financial Mechanism. The programme’s partner in Lithuania is the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Lithuania.  

Learn more about Arts and Culture Norway: https://www.kulturdirektoratet.no/english.