Insight view

THE COUNTRY: PUBLIC GOODS
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Culture for the privileged
The culture of any country is the question of its identity and the mirror
of its national being. In this sense, Montenegro has good and
renowned artists. A decade after Montenegrin independence, it could be concluded that the cultural
policy of the country was managed in different ways. A certain progress could be noticed in the sense
of referral of citizens to culture through different festivals and cultural events. However, a more significant
step forward is still expected. To begin with, in the previous decade, Montenegro obtained
the name for its own language and the university where this language is studied.
One of the national programs for the development of culture of Montenegro states that the foundations
of the Montenegrin cultural identity are based on are the principles of the European Union. The
European Union most frequently defines the policy in the field of culture as “unity within diversity.”
Mid 2006, Montenegro became the 192 nd member-state of the United Nations and one year later a
full member of the Council of Europe, thus undertaking the commitment to observe the documents
of these institutions. By signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement, our country committed
itself to improve cultural cooperation.
To date, the Ministry of Culture has coordinated two significant EU programs, mainly aimed at the NGO
sector but the institutions of culture as well: “Culture 2007-2013” and “Europe for Citizens 2012.” Within
“Culture 2007-2013,” with the duration of approximately four years, 33 projects in the field of translation,
publication, European cultural festivals were nominated, whereas six projects obtained support. The annual
Montenegrin contribution totaled app. 20,000.00 euros whereas the total support to these projects for four
years totaled 150,000.00 euros. To remind, one of the longest programs of the Ministry of Culture from the
time of regaining independence up to present day is the program “Montenegro, One Cultural Address.” The
project “Program of Culture Development in the Municipalities in the North of Montenegro,” initiated by the
Ministry of Culture, started being implemented in 2009. The Government of Montenegro allocated 5.65
million euros for that purpose, out of which app. one million euros was spent on the program activities.
The promotion of cultural policy in Montenegro was mainly reduced to individual initiatives, not only
during the transition period or during the ten years of independence. It was rarely reduced to the strategically
well-designed program and usable state concept compliant with national interests. As for the
funds from the budget of Montenegro, the allocation for culture was inclined to theatre or, more precisely,
to the Montenegrin National Theatre and summer festivals controlled by the people who are related
to this institution. The majority of other institutions obtained only the leftovers of the overall
budget allocated for culture. In the past ten years since independence, there have been no significant
theatrical events, at least not of greater significance for the rest of Europe or the rest of the world.
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