Culture Minister Puntulis Open to Budget Cuts and Higher Parental Fees in Arts Education
Latvian Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis said on Latvian Television that cuts, museum consolidation and higher parental co-payments in arts education are possible. He did not name any figures.
Budget cuts may be coming to Latvia's culture sector, and parents could be asked to pay more for arts education. Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis of the National Alliance party said this in an interview on Latvian Television's morning programme "Rīta panorāma". He stressed that the culture sector cannot be left outside the state's reform plan.
Reviewing the scale of the sector
Asked whether reforms would mean fewer staff positions, Puntulis said the sector must be ready to review its scale. He argued that broad cultural coverage is vital 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 easy.
One possible solution, the minister said, is consolidating museums that perform the same functions. Changes to museum management should also be considered; as an example he pointed to the Rundāle Palace Museum, which has become a derived public entity. Puntulis said cultural institutions should be distinguished by their ability to earn their own revenue, since the position of commercial companies differs from that of museums, libraries and archives. Changes to legislation may be needed so that such companies can keep a larger share of their income.
Arts education
In arts education, one funding option 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 rejects the idea that the sector should be small and efficient: "I am definitely against a small and efficient culture sector." Funding must also be divided between the state, municipalities and parents, he said.
Pay and next year's budget
Puntulis acknowledged a crisis in the sector, as salaries have not risen in recent years. He said that during his earlier term leading the Culture Ministry, pay was raised regularly. Asked about a protest planned by culture workers for November and the chance of a noticeable funding increase in next year's budget, he gave no concrete promises. He cited uncertainty over the make-up of the next government and whether he would take part in budget talks, adding that naming sums would be improper toward a possible future minister.
