Culture Minister Open to Merging Museums and Higher Parent Fees for Arts Education

Latvian Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis of the National Alliance party said on Latvian Television's morning show "Rīta panorāma" that budget cuts are possible in the culture sector, and that parents may have to pay more toward arts education. The comments point to potential changes both in how museums operate and in how cultural education is funded.

The sector within state reforms

Puntulis stressed that culture cannot be left outside the government's reform plan and that improvements are needed there too. Asked whether this would mean staff cuts, he said the sector must be ready to review its scale. In his view, broad cultural coverage is important for the nation, but its justification in data and the results achieved must be assessed. Cuts might be needed in some places, he said, though they would not be simple.

Museums and own revenue

One option the minister named is merging museums that perform the same functions. Changes to management should also be considered; he pointed to the Rundāle Palace Museum, which has become a derived public entity. Puntulis argued that cultural institutions should be distinguished by their ability to earn their own income, since the situation of state-owned companies differs from that of museums, libraries and archives. Legal changes may be needed so that such companies can keep a larger share of their revenue.

Arts education and pay

In arts education, one funding solution could be higher parental co-payments. The minister did not say by how much they might rise, noting that analysis is needed first. He supports keeping a broad network of arts education institutions and rejected the idea that culture should be small and efficient. The split of funding between the state, municipalities and parents must also be assessed.

Puntulis acknowledged a crisis in the sector, as salaries have not risen in recent years. On culture workers' planned protest in November and a noticeable funding increase in next year's budget, he gave no concrete promises, citing uncertainty over the composition of the next government and whether he will take part in budget talks. He said naming sums would be improper toward a possible future minister, but promised to do everything possible to strengthen the sector.