Russia’s 2011 state budget will be brought before the State Duma for consideration in October. While it may seem that this event is far off, the draft budget that was circulated a few days ago should concern those working the sphere of culture, where state financing my be cut. We spoke with Duma Deputy Grigory Ivliev, who chairs the Committee on Culture, about the issue of state funding and the 2011 budget.
– Is it true that the draft state budget includes major reductions of financing of culture?
– That threat does exist. A rich cultural life for the county requires state support, including financial support. And the budget for 2011 that is being formulated right now should adequately reflect the needs of society, and its needs for a cultural life. However, the suggested reductions allocations for culture would hinder the development of such.
The reduction of the federal financing of culture by 15 billion rubles [approximately half a billion dollars] is not acceptable. I think that this was a planning mistake and we will do everything we can to fix it. State support of culture is a major element of the country’s domestic and foreign policy. And we will strive to ensure that this element in the budget does not get reduced.
Of course, the recently adopted law on budget organizations creates the opportunity for cultural organizations to receive more stable sources of revenues, but this should not undo what has already been done in the country. The state budget for culture sufficient to guarantee a citizens right to participate in cultural life. And this is impossible with developing the right infrastructure: financial support is needed for the development of a system of children’s art schools, village libraries, provincial museums, etc. Such investment in culture is immeasurable, and it is this type of investment that will set the foundation for the successful development of the country as a whole.
– What is the specific figure set aside for culture in the current draft? And why are such reductions being considered? Are they related to the Finance Ministry’s proposal to focus on a program-targeted principle for state financing?
– Right now the proposed federal budget for the Ministry of Culture for next year is 58.8 billion rubles, which as I said is 15 billion less than for this year. The proposed reduction is related to the new principle for formulating federal budget allocations. This is happening due to a lack of understand that state expenditures on culture cannot and should not be reduced. Expenditures on culture are necessary to help overcome social-economic, political and psychological crises. Presently there are no grounds for reducing expenditures on culture. And this is why we should be seeking expansion of state financing of culture. Even if we maintain financing at the current levels, this will not be enough to facilitate the development of this sphere. Those who suggest reductions in the budget for culture do not understand that culture should be understood and treat as one’s own people.
Of course, successful financing requires clear and appropriate projects, which we intend to propose. They should be related to art education: modernization of the material and technical facilities of children’s art schools and creation of infrastructure for the teaching of arts in middle schools. We will ask the government to reconsidered the proposed indicated figures for state financing and request that the corresponding expenditures be included in the federal budget.
