Ministry of Culture of The Republic of Moldova in partnership with the European Commission had organized in Chișinău, in the period of 5th during 7th of October 2015, the seminars of TAIEX Mission (Technical Assistance Information Exchange from General Department Enlargement of the European Community Commission) of Experts based on Decentralized Cultural Policies.
At the event, there were present representatives of the local administration at level I and II, members of institutions that are subordinated to the Ministry of Culture and civil society.
The workshops were sustained by the TAIEX experts Laura Turlaja, chief of the Strategic Planning Department of the Ministry of Culture from Latvia and Lone Leth Larsen, International consultant of Culture, EU Central Office, Denmark, as well as specialists from the Ministry of Culture of The Republic of Moldova.
Purpose of the Mission has concerned the effectuation of policies analysis from decentralization field, challenges and difficulties in this process; capacity development of public administration representatives concerning the diversification and improving of offer of decentralized cultural services thru exchange of the European experience, presentation of the best practices concerning decentralization, as well as through improving the Cultural Sector Decentralization Program.
Mainly, discussions were focused on the sharing of powers between central and local authorities in the decentralization process, the experience of local authorities in the context of decentralization of cultural sector, problems and opportunities that can be offered to local authorities and civil society. Also it was discussed the subjects concerning the demarcation of responsibilities and means of revitalizing of the national cultural heritage, local libraries, houses of culture. A special discussion was focused on conditions of activity of amateur artistic groups from Moldova, stipulated in the Regulation approved recently by the Ministry of Culture, a document that aims to improve the cultural activity in the territory. In this context, the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, present at these talks, urged representatives of local authorities to advocate for the development of local cultural field and be responsible for everything that means culture in every village from the country.
At the TAIEX seminar, experts shared the best practices at the European level concerning the decentralization, issues that affect the decentralization in culture domain, aspects of improving cooperation between Ministry of Culture and local public administration authorities at level I and II, referring to ways of attracting investment, access insurance and participation of citizens at cultural product creation, budgetary regulations (local, regional, central). Also, the experts have come up with suggestions to improve the legislative and normative framework of the Republic of Moldova country concerning the decentralization in culture field based on European precedents.
Another topic was the cultural sector decentralization Program and ways to improve the action Plan for its implementation. It was noted the action Plan concerning the implementation of the National Strategy of Decentralization, culture is presented as an example of function delegated and shared, alongside with education, health and social assistance, that reinforces the administrative capacity of effective management of public services that are subordinated to local public authorities. The program aims to strengthen financial autonomy, institutional, establishes the powers and responsibilities of the central and local authorities at levels I and II, which have patrimonial competences, planning, development and management of infrastructures necessary for cultural activities.
In the same time, the participants at workshop pointed out that the process of decentralization involves some risks, that involve the reduction of the funding of regional cultural institutions and subjective optimize of these because of lack of a clear funding mechanism. To avoid such situations, it was proposed the elaboration of financing mechanism of cultural activities, which would stipulate the development of culture in territorial-administrative units.
