Appendix 6 - International Music Council

Cultural subsidies are given to several fields such as theater, cinema and music etc.; music
is only one of these domains. For the purpose of this report on musical diversity, however,
the budgets explicitly allocated for music are not the only ones relevant. Sometimes general
measures for all the arts apply for music and musical diversity, and sometimes measures
beyond arts in a strict sense, for instance folklore and amateur arts, apply for music and
musical diversity.
Competencies on Different Levels
In the countries of Europe cultural subsidies are not distributed by a single institution of the
state, but by a decentralized system of state institutions. Typically these institutions are
found on a federal level, the level of districts or federal states and the local level
(municipalities etc.). Often all of these levels have separate cultural departments. Although
everywhere in Europe there a decentralized states, the level of decentralization can be very
varying. In Belgium, for example, the expenditures for culture of the federal state are only
2,7% whereas in Eastern Europe central government bodies often spend more than 50% of
all expenditures on culture (Albania 98% in 2000, Bulgaria 74,7% in 2003, Estonia 60% in
2003, Lithuania 56,7 % in 2003, all figures according to the relevant Ericart reports, see
section 4).
EXAMPLE 1: ALBANIA
In 1999, Albania's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports supported over 100 arts projects
amounting to approximately ALL 60 million. Artists' grants for large scale events and
individual projects are decided upon by the Minister following advice from an ad hoc group
which he appoints.
The President of the Republic grants pension supplements to artists who have been
recommended by a body of experts from the Ministry of Culture. In addition to project
grants, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports issues awards for literature.
The Ministry of Culture finances the nation-wide folk festival in Gjirokastra. It takes places
every 4 years. Nowadays minority groups can also participate in it (ericarts Albania, p.19).
EXAMPLE 2: BELGIUM
Belgium has a several measures such as a social security for artists, a reduced VAT rate for
cultural products and tax shelters for audiovisual works that support music and musical
diversity. The new VAT system introduced 1993 has a high rate of 21% and low rate of
6%. The low rate applies to most cultural objects (books, magazines, original works of art,
etc.) and services (tickets for productions, copyright). There are exemptions from VAT e.g.
for the services by performing artists for organisers and companies, leaders of orchestras,
musicians etc. and the organization of theatre, ballet or film productions as well as concerts
or conferences by institutions recognised by the competent authorities, if the income they
gain from these activities is used exclusively to cover the costs.
The Belgium cultural legislative promotes equality. The Cultural Pact Act passed in 1973
prescribes that government aid – in whatever form– must guarantee the equality of rights
between citizens, regardless of their conviction. The Cultural Pact Act also obliges every of
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