Report creation date: 14.10.2008 - 09:48
Countr(y/ies): Azerbaijan
Chapter(s): 1,2,21,22,23,24,241,242,243,244,245,246,3,31,32,33,4,41,42,421,422,423,424,425,426,427,428,429,4210,43,5,51,511,512,513,514,515,516,517,518,519,52,53,531,532,533,534,535,536,537,538,539,5310,6,61,62,63,64,7,71,72,73,8,81,811,812,813,82,821,822,83,831,832,84,841,842,9,91,92
Azerbaijan/ 1. Historical
perspective: cultural policies and instruments
Over the last century, Azerbaijan
experienced a great number of extraordinary events: severe changes in its
political regime, national liberation movements, participation in the Second
World War and local or regional wars. On 28 May 1918, the National Council of
Azerbaijan adopted its Declaration of Independence which proclaimed the
Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). Two years later, however, Azerbaijan fell
under the Communist regime of the Soviet Union, which lasted for more than 70
years. In the first half of the 19th century, official politics, through both
direct and more indirect ideological instruments, aimed to gradually
"sovietise" the country's national identity and skilfully manipulate national
awareness. The alphabet used in Azerbaijan was changed twice during this time:
in 1929 from Arabic to Latin and again in 1939 from Latin to Cyrillic. This
instability made it difficult for younger generations to study their cultural
heritage. On a more positive note, efforts were made to ensure universal
literacy and to broaden participation in the arts and culture. The famous
slogan "art to the masses" was not merely rhetoric, but also a
guideline for action. Culture was financed by the state. As a Soviet Republic,
however, the arts had to be ideologically streamlined. A new state was being
founded on a new ideology and longed for a new culture. The first signs of
individualism and rejection of the principles of "socialist realism"
became visible at the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s. Since
that period, the arts have gradually emancipated themselves from state control.
In some sectors, this process was more intense than in others, but it resulted
in a powerful surge of national awareness around the middle of the 1980s.
Beginning from 1988, Azerbaijan was
faced with unjustified territorial claims by Armenia and forcibly involved into
a military conflict. As a result of the Armenian aggression and military
actions in Nagorno-Garabagh and adjoining districts - Kelbajar, Agdam, Lachin,
Jabrayil, Gubadli, Zangilan and Fizuli - 20% of the national territory had been
occupied, and the number of refugees and displaced persons had reached more
than one million. As it was mentioned in the International Conference on
refugees and displaced people in the South Caucasus (May 2001), organised by
the PACE Committee on refugees, migration and demography, each eighth
inhabitant of Azerbaijan is a refugee or displaced person. During the military
conflict 20 000 people have been killed, 8 500 have become disabled,
more that 100 000 have been injured; and approximately 900 settlements
have been destroyed. As well as dwelling houses, industrial and agricultural
buildings, there were numerous cultural institutions in the conquered zones:
927 libraries, 808 cultural centres, 85 music and art schools, 22 museums, 4
art galleries, 13 architectural and archeological world monuments, 242 of
national and 434 of local importance. There were 6 architectural and 7
archeological monuments of world significance, such as 15-arched Khudaferin
bridges (VII-XII centuries), Ganjasar and Khudavend monasteries (both - XIII
century) in the Kelbajar district, a mausoleum in the Turbatli village of Agdam
district (XIV century) and the ancient city-reserve of Shusha.
On 20 January 1990, without
declaring a state of emergency, troops from the former Soviet Union poured into
Baku and some districts of Azerbaijan. Numerous victims were peaceful
inhabitants; in total, 133 people have been killed and 611 have been injured.
In spite of all these repressive measures, however, the Soviet Union was
doomed. On 18 October 1991, the Constitutional Act was passed, and
Azerbaijan's independence was restored. With many internal and external
problems, the Republic had to pass through a difficult period of state
establishment. Heydar Aliyev was returned to the leadership, as the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan, in accordance with the request of the Azerbaijan
people in 1993. In a very short time, internal political stability was
restored, and the strategy and main directions of further development of the
country have been defined. The next stage in the progress of Azerbaijan started
and Azerbaijan's cultural policy was initiated at this time.
Azerbaijan/ 2. Competence,
decision-making and administration
2.1 Organisational structure
(organigram)
Organigram 2.1.1
Azerbaijan/ 2. Competence,
decisio../web/cultural-divern-making and administration
2.2 Overall description of the
system
Azerbaijan is a democratic,
law-based, secular, unitary republic. The Constitution, approved by general
referendum on 12 November 1995, provides the principle of division of powers:
Milli Mejlis (Parliament) exercises legislative power; executive power belongs
to the President; and law courts exercise judicial power.
Milli Mejlis - one chamber body
comprising 125 deputies, elected by direct elections for a 5 year term. The
Standing Committee on Cultural Issues prepares a legislative basis for culture.
Judicial power in Azerbaijan is
implemented through the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, Courts of Appeal,
ordinary and other specialised law courts.
The President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan is the Head of the Azerbaijanian state. The President is elected for
a 5-year term by way of general, direct and equal elections, with free,
personal and secret ballot. Executive power in the Azerbaijan Republic belongs
to the President. The President appoints the Prime-minister, by consent of the
Parliament. For implementation of executive powers, the President establishes
the Cabinet of Ministers, which is subordinate and reports to the President.
Following the reforms implemented in
state management bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and in order to ensure
the best structural formation, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of
Youth, Sport and Tourism was reformed; the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and
the Ministry of Youth and Sport were established by a Decree of the
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 30 January 2006.
The Ministry of Culture and
Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan is an organ of central executive
power, realizing state policy and adjustments in the fields of culture, arts,
tourism, historical and cultural monuments, publishing and cinematography.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR), city administrations of culture
and tourism in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit, as well as 64 towns and district
departments of culture and tourism, are responsible for local executive
cultural policy issues.
Azerbaijan/ 2. Competence,
decision-making and administration
2.3 Inter-ministerial or
intergovernmental co-operation
Taking into account that there are
many areas where joint efforts of two or more institutions are required, the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism cooperates closely within the government with
other ministries, state committees and relevant executive bodies, while
drafting and putting into practice the national cultural and tourism policy -
see table below.
Table 1:
Inter-ministerial co-operation
|
Field of activity |
Cooperation
with |
|
General administration, local
executive authorities |
The
Office of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Department
of Science, Culture, National Education and Social Problems at the Cabinet of
Ministers |
|
Funding for culture |
Ministry
of Finance and Ministry of Taxes |
|
Legislation on culture, copyright |
Ministry
of Justice, Republican Authors' Rights Agency |
|
Education, training and research
in culture |
Ministry
of Education, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences |
|
Infrastructure provision,
information-communication technologies |
Ministry
of Economic Development Ministry
of Communications and Information Technologies State
Building and Architecture Committee |
|
Social welfare |
Ministry
of Labour and Social Security of the Population Ministry
of Health, State Social Protection Fund |
|
Human resources |
Ministry
of Youth and Sport State
Committee on Family, Women and Children's Issues |
|
Cultural minorities |
State
Committee on Work with Religions |
|
Parks and landscape planning |
Ministry
of Ecology and Natural Resources |
|
Statistics |
State
Statistical Committee |
|
International cooperation |
Ministry
of Foreign Affairs State
Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad |
|
Armenian aggression consequences |
State
Committee on Work with Refugees and IDP |
In a number of cases, the President
of the Republic of Azerbaijan, or the Cabinet of Ministers, sets up specific
state commissions and organizing committees, including representatives from the
respective levels of government, to facilitate inter-ministerial cooperation
and realise long-term state programmes or concrete projects. Examples of the
work they carry out are the "State Programme on Poverty Reduction and
Economic Development" or the "State Programme on Socio-economic
Development of the Regions 2004-2008".
Governmental commissions can also be
established in order to prepare national reports for international
organisations e.g. the Second Periodical Report of the Republic of Azerbaijan
on the "International pact on economic, social and cultural rights",
with the intention to promote intercultural dialogue and the rights of cultural
minorities. This report was prepared by a working group, with the participation
of representatives of foreign, internal, justice, health, culture and tourism,
education and other ministries.
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.1 Overview of main structures
and trends
Since Azerbaijan regained independence,
international cultural ties have become one of the important instruments of the
new foreign policy. The main aims of the policy have been to foster relations
based on mutual understanding and trust with other countries, work with them on
the basis of mutual benefit and equal rights, and to give to the world a clear,
objective picture of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Culture has played a major
part in forming the young state's image, and achieved as much as political and
economic developments in creating a strong and persuasive impression of the
country. Democratisation, decentralisation and participation in many areas of
culture have also been reflected in Azerbaijan's international relations.
Collaborative links have been formed with many countries in Europe, Asia,
America and Africa, at regional and city levels, and between artists'
associations and individual artists, which now operate autonomously. Besides
the traditional forms of bilateral cultural relations e.g. exchanges of theatre
and concert ensembles, days of culture etc., the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism is developing, in a very successful and productive way, multilateral
cultural co-operation with international organisations such as the UN, UNESCO,
Council of Europe, EU, WTO, ICT, ISESCO, TURKSOY, CIS, GUAM, ICCROM, IRCICO,
etc.
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.2 Public actors and cultural
diplomacy
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
drafts and implements bilateral and multilateral foreign cultural policy, in
coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the central
executive body in Azerbaijan that is responsible for realisation of all
international relations and cooperation issues. The Republic of Azerbaijan
regards the development and strengthening of international standard-setting
activity as a matter of high importance and has, accordingly, acceded to a
number of international conventions with a vital bearing on the secure and
extensive cultural interchange with other countries - which demands compliance
with up-to-date standards of international law.
International legal instruments in
the field of culture ratified by Azerbaijan are: the International Pact on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights from 1966 (1992), the Convention on the
Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the
Protocols (1993), the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and
Natural Heritage (1993), the Convention on Cooperation of the States belonging
to the Black Sea Region in the sphere of culture, education, science and
information (1995), the Convention on Recognition of Studies, Diplomas and
Degrees concerning Higher Education in the States belonging to the European
Region (1996), the Universal Copyright Convention (1997), the Convention on Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and
Transfer of Cultural Property (1997), the European Cultural Convention
(1997), the Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works
(1998), the European Convention of 1992 for the Protection of Archeological
Heritage (1999), the European Convention on Joint Film-Making (1999), the
UNIDRUA Convention on Stolen and Illegally Exported Cultural Objects (2000),
the Convention for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2006).
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.3 European / international
actors and programmes
Azerbaijan participates in a series
of multilateral cultural projects. Co-operation with the Council of Europe
(CoE) is one of the key elements of multilateral engagement. The Ministry
started working with the CoE Steering Committee on Culture in 1999 (i.e. before
officially joining the Council of Europe in January 2001). Starting in 2000,
Azerbaijan took part in the CoE / ERICarts project "Cultural policies in
Europe: a compendium of basic facts and trends". The years from 2001 to
2005 were remarkable for Azerbaijan in terms of participation in the Council of
Europe "STAGE" Project ("Support for Transition in the Arts in
Greater Europe"), aimed at establishing new cultural policies, supporting
cultural identity, cultural diversity, creativity and the participation of all
groups of society in the cultural life of the South Caucasus. The main
achievements of this project were to produce, by a joint team of Azerbaijani
and Council of Europe experts, the National Report on Cultural Policy in
Azerbaijan (2002) and to hold a National Debate on Cultural Policy (June, 2003,
Baku). The country's library, museum and city policies were also observed by
European experts and different seminars and training on current importance
issues, such as fundraising, management, etc, were organised in the framework
of the STAGE Project.
The Kyiv Initiative (KI) for
democratic development through culture (in the South Caucasus countries plus
Moldova and Ukraine) was initiated during the 5th (enlarged) Ministerial
Colloquy of the countries participating in the STAGE Project in September 2005.
In response to this initiative and the recommendations stemming from the STAGE
project, the Secretariat of the Council of Europe has, jointly with
participating countries, identified the objectives and defined the conditions
for their realisation. It implements, in the framework of the KI, multilateral
projects such as the "Regional Programme for Cultural and Natural
Heritage", "Creating Cultural Capital", "Wine Routes",
etc.
The Alexander Dumas Project in the
Caucasus, initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of
Azerbaijan and supported methodically by the Luxemburg European Institute of
Cultural Routes, is of particular interest. The project was presented at the
meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Routes, in the middle of 2005,
and was approved as one of the Cultural Routes Programme projects of the CoE.
The first stage of the project, realised with the participation of three
countries of the South Caucasus (Azerbaijan, Georgia and the Russian
Federation), and supported by France, is dedicated to the organisation of
seminars and training for cultural tourism specialists, restorers and students,
the creation of a CD and a web-site of the virtual visit of Alexander Dumas in
the Caucasus, the translation and publishing of the memoirs of A. Dumas in the
languages of the member states of the project, as well as the establishment of
the Supporting Fund "Dumas in the Caucasus".
The second stage of the project will
involve the launch of the real route of Dumas' travels in the Caucasus,
involving tourism agencies in every member state, the organisation of tours to
places visited by Dumas, conducting preliminary measures on the preservation of
monuments, the production of souvenirs and the issuing of booklets and guides
on the tourism route. Restoration, reconstruction and conservation of the
cultural monuments along the route in three countries: Azerbaijan, Russia,
Georgia and the staging of artistic (documentary / animation) films is expected
in the third stage. In accordance with the agreement, a delegation from the
Council of Europe and the Luxemburg European Institute of Cultural Routes
visited Azerbaijan for expert analysis in August of 2006.
Azerbaijan joined UNESCO in 1992.
Since then, special celebrations have been organised at UNESCO headquarters in
Paris to mark the 1300th anniversary of the epic Azerbaijani legend Kitab-i
Dede Qorqud (1998), the 800th anniversary of the birth of Nasir ad-Din Toosi
(2001), the 200th anniversary of the birth of Mirza Kazem-Bey (2002), the 100th
anniversary of the birth of academician Yusif Mammadaliyev (2005), and the
100th anniversary of the birth of carpet-maker artist Latif Kerimov (2006). The
cultural exhibition "Azerbaijan - a crossroad of civilisations and
cultures" was organised in the framework of the jubilee cycle
"Dialogue of civilisations" dedicated to the 60th anniversary of UNESCO
in the UNESCO headquarters, on19 October 2006.
Azerbaijan has active links with
UNESCO's World Heritage Centre, the Cultural Heritage Department and the
International Dialogue Department, regularly sends specialists to UNESCO
conferences, seminars and symposia held in other countries, and hosts various
UNESCO activities at home. The Walled City of Baku, with Shirvanshakhs Palace
and the Maiden Tower, was added to the World Heritage List in 2000 and in 2007,
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape was added to the World Heritage List. A
number of monuments have been submitted to the Tentative List: Surakhany,
Atashgyakh (Fire - worshippers, temple - museum at Surakhany) (1998), The
Mausoleum of Nakhinchevan (1998), Hyrkan
State Reservation (1998), "Binegadi"
4th Period Fauna and Flora Deposit (1998), "Lok-Batan"
Mud Cone (1998), "Baku Stage" Mountain (1998), The
Caspian Shore Defensive Constructions (2001), Susha
historical and architectural reserve (2001), Ordubad
historical and the architectural reserve (2001),and Sheki, the
Khan's Palace (2001).
"Azerbaijani Mugam" was
proclaimed a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by the
Director General of UNESCO in November, 2003. At present, the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism is implementing, with the support of UNESCO, the National
Action Plan, which has been designed to ensure the safeguarding of the musical
tradition of Mugam and to support the preservation and promotion of this
cultural expression. On 9 September 2004, the Director-General of UNESCO, Koichiro
Matsuura, designated Mrs Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan, President
of the "Heydar Aliyev Foundation" and "Friends of Azerbaijani
Culture Assosiation", as UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Oral and Musical
Traditions.
National Committees have been
established for the following Intergovernmental Programs of UNESCO:
International Council of Museums (ICOM), International Council of Monuments and
Sites (ICOMOS), International Music Council (IMC), International Institute of
Theatre, etc. Azerbaijani representatives regularly take part in conferences,
seminars and other events held within the framework of UNESCO.
Azerbaijan is invited to enter into
intensified political, security, economic and cultural relations with the EU,
regional and cross border co-operation and shared responsibility in conflict
prevention and conflict resolution. The EU-Azerbaijan Action Plan enhances
cultural co-operation, by investigating the possibilities for
co-operation in the framework of EU programmes in the field of culture. It also
involves exchanging views on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and
Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions and promoting the
ratification and implementation of the text.
The Ministers of Culture of the
Turkish-speaking countries (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and
Turkmenistan) founded, on an Azerbaijan initiative, TURKSOY, in July 1993.
Bashkiria, Gagauzia, Khakasia, Tataristan, Tyva and the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus joined as observers. Chaired at present by Azerbaijan, TURKSOY
offers guidance and support in the field of culture and the arts, with a view
to preserving and enriching the historic and cultural heritage of the
Turkish-speaking countries and nations, promoting their intellectual and
spiritual values, and protecting human rights and freedoms.
The International conference
"East-West Inter-cultural dialogue among the states of GUAM: the creation
of a Europe-Caucasus-Asia cultural corridor" took place in Baku on 9-10
June 2003. In May 2005, an International Conference on the Creation of a
Europe-Caucasus-Asia Cultural Policy Observatory was held in Baku. Taking into
consideration the vast cultural heritage of the GUAM states, Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova have signed the Protocol on Cooperation in the Field of
Culture within the Framework of GUAM for 2007-2010.
The Republic of Azerbaijan was
nominated as a member of the Consultative Council for the Implementation of the
Cultural Strategy for the Islamic World for 2005-2008. The Ministry of Culture
and Tourism is rapidly developing collaborative ties with the Islamic
Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO); the Cooperation
Protocol between the Ministry and ISESCO was signed during the Fifth Session of
the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (September, 2006, Baku).
Chaired by the Minister of Culture
and Tourism of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Council on Cultural Cooperation
of the Commonwealth Independent States (CIS) supports the Youth Delphic Games,
realises different cooperation programmes and projects such as
"CUPOLA" and "Legends of the Commonwealth", focusing on
safeguarding cultural ties between post-soviet countries.
The Government has initiated
procedures to join the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the
Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The main ministries dealing with this issue
are the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as
well as the National Commission on UNESCO.
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.4 Direct professional
co-operation
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
encourages, on a continuing basis, trans-national co-operation between arts and
heritage institutions, professional associations, networks and other NGO actors
in fields such as theatre, dance, film, music, etc. E.g. recently the Ministry
has funded yearly membership fees and supported participation of Azerbaijan
specialists at the "Annual meeting and Conference of the European Music
Council"; the "World Congress of Dance Research"; the
"European Council of Artists (ECA) Annual Conference Right and Wrong?;
and the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of
Cultural Expressions - one year after", etc.
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.5 Cross-border intercultural
dialogue and co-operation
In accordance with the approved
working plans of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the performances of
artists, theatre and music collectives and exhibitions organised abroad during
the Days of Culture, as well as international competitions and festivals are
covered by the Ministry. There is no special system of fellowships and
financial aid, however, at the same time, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism
assists artists and NGOs functioning in the field of culture. Furthermore,
funds, banks and other financial institutions, operating in Azerbaijan, give
considerable sponsorship to assist and promote the mobility of artists and
artworks.
For more information, see our Intercultural Dialogue section.
Azerbaijan/ 2.4 International
cultural co-operation
2.4.6 Other relevant issues
One new, and particularly
significant, priority of Azerbaijan's cultural policy abroad is maintaining
links with cultural centres and associations run by Azerbaijanis living in
other countries. According to the latest data, there are about 100 of these, in
a broad range of countries - Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Kazakhstan,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey,
Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States and Uzbekistan. Many of these associations
/ centres were represented at the First and Second World Congress' of
Azerbaijanis, held in Baku in November 2001 and in April 2006. The State
Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis Living Abroad was formed in accordance with
the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2002.
Azerbaijan/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.1 Main elements of the current
cultural policy model
The cultural policy system in
Azerbaijan is very state-supportive in all respects, with the state taking the
main decisions, providing financial support and coordinating the activities of
the various partners involved in culture, in particular the regional and local
authorities and professional organisations. This approach was necessary in
order to protect culture and the arts, as well as secure artists and cultural
workers, in the transition period.
At the same time, considerable
societal changes during in recent years have led to the development of a new
model of cultural policy. The national cultural policy, following rapid
economic development, and thanks to the progressive "three D"
approach - decentralisation, de-monopolisation and democratisation - has a good
opportunity to flourish in the near future, combining flexible management at
central level with activeness and initiatives at local level, an increase in
the state cultural budget, together with improvements in fundraising and
marketing skills of independent cultural managers, entrepreneurs and producers.
Azerbaijan/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.2 National definition of culture
The understanding of an official
national definition of culture comes from the Law on Culture, Article 2,
which considers cultural activities as creation, collection, exploration,
popularisation, dissemination, demonstration and protection of cultural wealth.
Cultural wealth is defined in Article 33 as: "Spiritual and
aesthetic ideals, norms and behaviour regulations, languages, dialects,
national and ethnic traditional customs, historical toponyms, folklore, traditional
applied arts, works of art and culture, results and methods of scientific
research on cultural activities, objects and buildings of historical and
cultural significance that are unique from a historical and cultural point of
view and cultural objects of the territories."
Azerbaijan/ 3. General objectives
and principles of cultural policy
3.3 Cultural policy objectives
As outlined in the Constitution and
in the Law on Culture, the national cultural policy is based on the
principles of equal opportunities to create and use cultural values and to
preserve the heritage in Azerbaijan. Every person has the right to create, use
and disseminate cultural values, irrespective of their social and material
status, nationality, race, religion and gender. The Law guarantees freedom of
intellectual and creative expression and provides a legal basis for the
development of national culture as a constituent part of world culture. These
principles adequately reflect the Council of Europe principles based on
humanistic positions, considering people as the highest value, advocating their
freedom and overall development, and priorities such as promotion of identity
and cultural diversity (e.g. freedom of expression), encouragement of
creativity and participation in cultural life.
Henceforth, the newly established
Ministry of Culture and Tourism has declared the following cultural objectives:
- preservation and restoration of national tangible and
intangible cultural heritage (historical and cultural monuments, folklore
and traditional applied arts);
- modernisation of library and museum systems with
European standards;
- providing all necessary conditions and supporting
creativity in the theatre, music and fine arts fields; and
- revival of the national cinematography and book publishing
sectors.
Azerbaijan/ 4. Current issues in
cultural policy development and debate
4.1 Main cultural policy issues and
priorities
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
was established by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,
Ilham Aliyev, on 30 January 2006, in order to improve the management of the
cultural and tourism sectors and to organise these fields according to modern
requirements. This new structural measure brought new optimism to these fields
and called for the need to reconsider the existing national cultural policy.
In this connection, it was decided
that all cultural policy issues and priorities should be developed together,
hand in hand with national tourism and cultural tourism strategies. Azerbaijani
culture, arts and cultural heritage are the main attractions for local and
international tourists, and therefore need to derive as much benefit as
possible from tourism sector development, which is traditionally more
self-sufficient from an economic point of view. At the same time, the national
tourism industry must use all potential advantages from its close links with
the cultural administration, so as to make a real contribution to the nation's
welfare and to assist in its integration with the world community.
Hence, the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism is currently elaborating draft strategies and programmes in different
spheres of state cultural and arts policies such as the "State Concept on
Development in the Cultural Sphere up to 2016", "Development and
Modernisation of the Library-Information Spheres in the 2007-2011
Programme", "Museums' Development State Programme",
"National Cinematography Development Perspectives for 2006-2016",
"State Programme on Tourism Development in 2007-2016", etc. These
strategies will be presented for public consultation.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.1 Cultural minorities, groups
and communities
Inter-regional issues in Azerbaijan,
resulting from its geographical situation, social-political aspirations and
historical-cultural traditions, have contributed historically to the
transmission of this region as being a part of the East and the West, as well
as the South and the North. Over the ages, and because of the historical,
economic and cultural specifics characteristic of Azerbaijan, the population
has operated in conditions of tolerance and respect for the cultures of other
people and national minorities. There are more than 20 different cultural
communities functioning in Baku, including Russian, Ukrainian, Kurdish, Laks,
Lezginian, Slavyan, Tat, Tatar, Georgian, Ingiloy, Talish, Avar, Community of
Akhiska Turks, Jews, Germans, and Greeks etc. Representatives of the three
largest religions - Islam, Christian and Judaism - participate in all
initiatives and events at the state level, on a permanent basis.
Table 2:
Composition of population, Azerbaijan (1999 census)
|
Ethnic group |
Total
number |
%
share of total |
|
Azerbaijanis |
7 205 500 |
90.6 |
|
Lezghins |
178 000 |
2.2 |
|
Russians |
141 700 |
1.8 |
|
Armenians |
120 700 |
1.5 |
|
Talishians |
76 800 |
1.0 |
|
Avars |
50 900 |
0.6 |
|
Akhiska Turks |
43 400 |
0.5 |
|
Tatars |
30 000 |
0.4 |
|
Ukrainians |
29 000 |
0.4 |
|
Tsakhurians |
15 900 |
0.2 |
|
Georgians |
14 900 |
0.2 |
|
Kurds |
13 100 |
0.2 |
|
Tats |
10 900 |
0.13 |
|
Jews |
8 900 |
0.1 |
|
Udins |
4 100 |
0.05 |
|
Others |
9 600 |
0.12 |
|
Total population |
7 953 400 |
100 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee. 2006 Statistical Yearbook of Azerbaijan.
*
In 2006, the population of the Republic of Azerbaijan was 8 532 700
persons.
Supporting and safeguarding cultural
diversity is reflected in the state policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
National policies have their basis in the Constitution of Azerbaijan, which
provides for equality of all citizens, irrespective of their ethnic, religious
or racial background. All forms of discrimination and xenophobia, including
ethnic, national and racial, are not acceptable. Ethnic minorities of Azerbaijan
have equal cultural rights and the same access to cultural heritage of the
country as the titular population of Azerbaijan. Article 8
("the Right to cultural identity") of the Law on Culture
states that "each person has a right to keep their national-cultural
identity and to choose their own moral, aesthetic and other values; the State
promotes the right to their cultural identity". (This article gives an
immediate legal guarantee to protect cultural identities which are independent
of racial, ethnic and national belonging, but are based on personality) There
are a number of other articles of the Law on Culture that provide legal
security for personal rights to cultural identity. In particular, Article 48
on International Cooperation in the Cultural Sphere, Article 49 on
International Exchange in the Cultural Sphere, Article 50 on Cooperation
in the Sphere of Conservation of Cultural Values provide for the
development and progression of international contacts of cultural minorities
with their historical motherlands. This guarantee is ensured also in other laws
of the Republic of Azerbaijan referring to culture.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
carries out a concrete programme of activities connected with safeguarding and
development of cultural values of national minorities and ethnic groups living
in the country, which includes cooperation with cultural communities and
centres of ethnic minorities; organisation of art performances of amateur
collectives in regions where ethnic minorities are concentrated; organisation
of exhibitions reflecting ethnography, art and traditions of the ethnic
minorities; tour trips of the ethnic collectives in the Republic and abroad;
encouraging creation and performance of art compositions, promoting customs and
traditions of ethnic groups; and supplying amateur collectives with traditional
clothes, musical instruments and means, etc.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.2 Language issues and policies
According to the Constitution of the
Republic of Azerbaijan of 1995, "The Azerbaijan language shall be the
state language of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Republic of Azerbaijan shall
ensure the development of the Azerbaijani language. The Republic of Azerbaijan
shall guarantee the free use and development of other languages spoken by the
population (Article 21)." Russian is considered to be the
second most important language and is widely used in most large cities. The
language of instruction for more than 93.2% of (total -
1 620 371) pupils in state secondary schools is Azerbaijani, 6.7%
pupils are instructed in Russian and 0.1% in Georgian, in the 2004-2005 school
year.
On 18 June 2001, the President of
the Republic of Azerbaijan signed a Law on the Improvement of the Use of the
State Language. It points out the need for the development of a
comprehensive Law on the State Language and the General Use of Latin Script.
The Law on the State Language of the Republic of Azerbaijan, which came
into force in January 2003, prescribes using protection and development
measures for the state language. There are no official language quotas in the
mass media.
For more information see also 
chapter
4.2.1,
chapter
4.2.3 and chapter
5.1.9.
Azerbaijan/ 4.3 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.3 Intercultural dialogue:
actors, strategies, programmes
The multinational and
multi-confessional nature of the Azerbaijan population is an important aspect
for intercultural dialogue, being one of the priorities of the national
cultural policy. The basic spirit of the national policy derives from the
Constitution, which proclaims all citizens equal, regardless of ethnic or
racial origin. The Law on Joining the International Convention on
Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (1996) has found its
reflex in the Law on Culture (1998) and other relevant laws. On 16 June
2001, Azerbaijan joined the Framework Convention of the Council of Europe for
the Protection of National Minorities. The main public actor responsible for
implementing the programmes and policies to promote intercultural dialogue in
Azerbaijan, at national and local policy levels, is the Ministry of Culture and
Tourism. It closely cooperates with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of
Youth and Sport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, State
Committee on Work with Religious Formations, State Committee on Family, Women
and Children's Issues, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences and the
Republican Authors Rights Agency, depending on the matter under consideration.
Azerbaijan actively takes part in
all relevant programmes and activities of UNESCO, the Council of Europe and
other international organisations on the promotion of intercultural dialogue.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism continues to implement the project
"Cultural Diversity in Azerbaijan", which is designed to highlight the
country's ethnic and cultural diversity. It involves the cultural associations
of the various national minorities, and helps to realise one of its chief
strategic aims - to develop and support intercultural dialogue. A Declaration,
adopted at the scientific conference "Cultural Diversity in
Azerbaijan" (June 2002), states the necessity to have constant interaction
and partnership between the state sector, private sector and civil society; to
hold periodical monitoring on the situation in the sphere of preservation and
support for cultural diversity. Another significant event - the festival
"Arts of national minorities" was organised in November 2006. In the
framework of the festival, a scientific conference was held - "Cultural
heritage of national minorities and modernity", along with a corresponding
photo-exhibition. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is also planning to
establish the Coordinating Council on Cultural Diversity, which will consider
the work with ethnic cultural communities as one of its aspects; as well as to
work out a special programme on the preservation and development of
cultural diversity on the basis of existing traditions. For more information
see also chapter
4.2.1.
For more information, see:
Database of Good Practice on Intercultural Dialogue and our
Intercultural Dialogue section.
Azerbaijan/ 4.3 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.4 Social cohesion and cultural
policies
Social cohesion, aimed at ensuring
the welfare of all citizens and avoiding economic polarisation, is a national
socio-economic and cultural policy issue in Azerbaijan. The Government of
Azerbaijan prepared a State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Economic
Development (SPPRED), which was approved by the World Bank Group and the
International Monetary Fund in July 2001. Work on Azerbaijan's final SPPRED
programme was coordinated by a dedicated Secretariat, based at the Ministry of
Economic Development. 15 Sector Working Groups and all of the government
bodies, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, contributed to the
strategy. Once the review was completed and full government ownership ensured,
the final document was circulated more widely in both the Azeri and English
languages. Presentation of the final document took place in October 2002, at
the National Conference for the Presentation of the Poverty Reduction and
Economic Development Programme, attended by over 560 participants from
government and nongovernmental organisations, as well as international
organisations and diplomatic representations. SPPRED was approved by a Decree
of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in February 2003. Cultural
policy issues within the SPPRED programme was concentrated on 3 main areas:
- stimulating cultural workers, increasing their
professionalism and information provision;
- improvement of the capacities of cultural and arts
institutions and objects in order to provide equitable use by all of the
population; and
- preserving cultural heritage and establishing new
cultural tourism roots in order to open new workplaces.
Besides the achievements in economic
growth, there still remain unsolved problems in the socio-economic life of the
country, especially in the areas of development and employment in the regions.
The main directions of state support and policy, regarding factors accelerating
economic development of different regions in the years of 2004-2008, have been determined
within the State Programme on the Socio-economic Development of the Regions of
the Republic of Azerbaijan. Social policy in the regions consists of meeting
the social needs of the population, improving their living conditions,
regularly increasing pensions, paying special attention to disabled people, war
veterans, young families and vulnerable sections of the population.
The strategic objectives of the
measures in the cultural sector consist of protection and development of
cultural potential, resources and traditions of the country, a systematic
increase of budgetary financing of culture, and the development of the
physical, technical and information infrastructure in the cultural sector.
Development of the regions, in the directions mentioned above, and
implementation of measures considered in the State Programme, is an important
stage in the socio-economic development and improvement of the well-being of
the population (it is expected that overall 600 thousand new jobs will be
created in the 5 years; average monthly wages in the non-state sector will
increase 3.1 times).
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.5 Media pluralism and content
diversity
At present there are 1 830
registered mass communication media, 1 750 of which are newspapers and 80
are services in TV and radio broadcasting. Only 15% of newspapers and magazines
were founded by government structures, and more than 65% of newspapers belong
to oppositional political and social organisations, private structures and legal
entities. Anti-trust measures, to prevent media concentration, are foreseen by
the Law on Anti-monopoly Activity (1993), which gives a legal basis for
protecting all officials and subjects of the market economy including
mass-media from state, area, local, financial-credit, patent-license,
spontaneous and other types of monopoly. There is no limitation in obtaining
official information from government structures; it is the responsibility of
the relevant press services to supply the public with official news.
There are no special arts and
culture TV channels, but operating channels, depending on their broadcasting
policy, offer a variety of regular programme series with cultural and artistic
content, ranging from popular pop-shows to programmes on classical heritage.
The international non-profit organisation "Internews Azerbaijan" has
specific training programmes for journalists. It offers regular seminars,
technical training (more than 50 seminars since 1997, attended by more than 500
professionals) and targeted consultations, aimed at strengthening the
professional skills of Azeri journalists and editors.
The National TV-Radio Broadcasting
Council was established by a Decree of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan and in accordance with the standards of the Council of Europe in
January 2003. The Council's responsibilities are to realise state policy in the
TV and radio broadcasting fields, issue licences to broadcasting channels and
monitor their activities according to the Law on TV and Radio Broadcasting (2004).
The Press Council was established in
March, 2003, at the time of the first congress of Azerbaijani journalists. The
main functions of this independent council, which functions without any
interference from the state and is directed by journalists, are regulation
relationships between the press and individuals, as well as private companies,
monitoring newspapers, and implementation of the Ethic Code regulations
developed by the Council of Journalists. The Second Congress of Press Council
was held in March 2004.
The Law on Public Television and
Radio Broadcasting, which is based on the principles of transparency,
impartiality and public interest, was adopted in 11 September 2004. In order to
provide society with fair and impartial information and express the interests
of different social groups, each of the following nominated two candidates to
the Parliament to form the Broadcasting Council, which was established in March
2005: the Azerbaijan Trade Union Confederation, the National Academy of Sciences,
the Press Council, youth organisations, woman's societies, sports federations,
religious groups and creative organisations. The opening ceremony of the Public
Television and Radio Broadcasting Company took place on 29 August 2005.
See also chapter
5.3.8.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.6 Culture industries: policies
and programmes
The cultural industries in
Azerbaijan are considered to include cinema, television and radio broadcasting,
publishing, press, audiovisual and phonogram production, new technologies,
leisure and high technology. With the exception of cinema and book publishing,
whose development is state-supported and whose administration was taken over by
the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, all other fields are independent and not
financed by the state. The overall tendencies follow those of the industrial
market, namely that the private sector is growing. In the cultural sphere, this
refers mainly to the production of audiocassettes and compact discs, book
production, periodicals and the press, TV and radio broadcasting. The situation
in the film industry is different, as it requires considerable financial
investment.
It is very hard to define this
market, study copyright problems and carry out sociological research in this
area, because it is clear that many significant figures were being carefully
concealed by private businessmen, and no in-depth research is needed to show
that there are serious problems with copyright and tax law in the audio, video
and computer sectors. Despite these issues, the cultural industries have
enormous potential for the future and, if well managed and an adequate advocacy
exists for partnerships with the cultural world, this can create a mutually
beneficial relationship in the short term.
Due to the lack of data, it is
difficult to characterise the market for cultural products in Azerbaijan.
According to observation and estimates, there seems to be a "pyramid of
demand":
Figure 1: Pyramid
of demand
The greatest demand is for audio and videocassettes, followed by participation
in pop music concerts and discotheques; visits to theatre performances and
cinemas are in the middle, whereas the demand for concerts of classical music
and works of fine arts and decorative or applied arts is considerably smaller.
For more information see also chapter
4.2.5.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.7 Employment policies for the
cultural sector
There are estimated 50 000
people to be working in the cultural sector of the Republic of Azerbaijan
today. The Table below presents a number of employees in some areas of the
cultural sector over the last decade.
Table 3:
Total employment in the different cultural sectors, in thousand, 1995 and
2000-2005
|
|
1995 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
In public libraries |
8.6 |
8.2 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
8.1 |
7.8 |
7.8 |
|
In clubs |
11.1 |
10.2 |
9.1 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
8.9 |
8.5 |
|
In museums |
1.9 |
2.2 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.3 |
2.5 |
|
In culture and recreation parks |
0.5 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.3 |
|
In children's music, art and
painting schools |
... |
13.1 |
13.5 |
13.9 |
14.4 |
14.8 |
14.8 |
Source:
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
There is no special programme to
stimulate employment in the cultural sector at present. This is due to the fact
that there is much less unemployment in culture than in other fields. The
problem is not so much unemployment as low earnings and the matter of social
status for cultural workers, as well as a decrease in consumer demand for
cultural products. The average salary of employees working in public cultural
institutions is 53.3 AZN per month, which is considerably less than the salary
of teachers (99 AZN) in the specialised secondary education system, for
example.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.8 New technologies and cultural
policies
Implementation of new information
and communication technologies in the cultural field is one of the main
priorities of the national cultural policy in Azerbaijan. The "State
Programme for 2004-2008 on the Development of Communication and Information
Technologies in the Republic of Azerbaijan (Electron Azerbaijan)" is
currently being implemented by the government. Special attention in the
Electron Azerbaijan State Programme is paid to the development and
establishment of regional information-training centres and Internet stations,
in local libraries, post-offices and schools, so as to widen access to
informational resources. A special plan of activities is underway to
digitalise, preserve and propagate the national cultural heritage and
literature, by creating corresponding databases and web-sites and by
modernising the library-information system. Overall, the state provides all
necessary measures for rapidly providing all cultural spheres with new
technologies. These include measures for permanent training and support
measures for artists working with new technologies.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.9 Heritage issues and policies
The government adopted a list of
state-protected monuments in August 2001, which covers architecture, archaeology,
formal gardens and parks, and which ranks monuments according to their
importance - world, national or local. Buildings of world or national value may
not be privatised. Residential buildings of local value, or apartments located
in such buildings, may be privatised only with the consent of the Ministry of
Culture and Tourism. Where such buildings or apartments are already in private
hands, protection contracts, prohibiting any alteration from the original
monument, are concluded with the owners.
Table 4:
List of state-protected monuments, 2001
|
Type of monument |
Importance |
Total |
||
|
World |
National |
Local |
||
|
Architectural |
21 |
359 |
3 480 |
3 860 |
|
Archaeological |
44 |
1 616 |
384 |
2 044 |
|
Formal gardens, parks |
- |
59 |
137 |
196 |
|
Decorative and applied arts
(statues, etc.) |
- |
- |
208 |
208 |
|
Total |
65 |
2 034 |
4 209 |
6 308 |
Source:
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Restoration and conservation works
are conducted generally with financing from the state budget, the budget of
local authorities and donations from individuals, as well as foreign and
international organisations. One such example is the restoration of a small
German church ("Kapelhaus") in Baku, which was fully financed by the
German Government. Archeological works and restoration works on the Christian
temple of the V-VI centuries, in the Kish village near Sheki city, have been
financed by non-governmental organisations in Norway. In 1999, the Government
of Azerbaijan and the World Bank signed a long-term credit agreement, amounting
to 7.5 million USD, which will be used to reconstruct the second floor of the
residence and conservation of Divankhana in the complex of Shirvanshahs Palace
(XIV-XV centuries), conservation of the Mausoleum and two minarets of the XIV
century in the Garabaglar village, conservation of the Mausoleum of
Momina-khatun of the XI century in Nakhchivan and restoration of Shekikhans
Palace of the XVIII century.
The Government pays special
attention to preserving Azeri traditional music, which embraces a wide range of
genres and forms. Historically, it developed in two directions: songs and
dances (solo and group) inspired by everyday life and work, and connected with
folk theatre; and the professional, oral tradition, represented by the ashugs
and singers-khanende, performing Mugams and folk songs. Most of the country's
centuries-old crafts have survived into modern times. They include
carpet-making, stone-carving, silk-weaving, copper-working, jewellery-making,
etc. Industrial development obviously tended to erode these traditional crafts,
but the continuing demand for certain craft items produced in Baku, Sheki,
Gazakh, and other towns and regions, helps to ensure that there are still
plenty of masters to keep the old skills alive.
At present, there are 160 museums
and 33 picture galleries in Azerbaijan, most of which are supervised by the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism. By focusing on all aspects of the country's
cultural heritage and mounting exhibitions which reflect and clarify its
people's collective experience, museums help to forge a sense of community,
encourage the public to get involved, and promote Azerbaijani culture. The
state's museum policy priorities include creating a centralised computer data-base
for optimizing access to information on museum collections and activities;
bringing registration procedures up to modern standards; developing museum
marketing; giving museums a bigger role in cultural tourism development; and
improving protection and security systems in museums etc.
Azerbaijan/ 4.2 Recent policy issues
and debates
4.2.10 Gender equality and cultural
policies
Concerning the gender aspect of
equality in Azerbaijan, culture, as well as education, is traditionally a
"female" sphere. The vast majority of employees of libraries,
museums, archives, music schools, theatres, etc. are women, who also
participate actively in managing culture. 70% of cultural workers in the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism system are women. The representation of women
in key decision-making positions in cultural institutions and in important
cultural policy making positions is also very high. The Deputy Minister of
Culture and Tourism, 2 heads of departments and 6 heads of divisions in the
Ministry apparatus, 14 heads of local administrations and departments of
culture and tourism, and the directors of many cultural institutions and arts
organisations are women.
The State Committee on Family, Women
and Children's Issues was established on the basis of the State Committee of
the Republic of Azerbaijan on Women's Issues, by a Presidential Decree of 6
February 2006.
Recently, there has been a women's
movement growing throughout the Republic. Several specialised organisations
have been established in the cultural sphere, e.g. "Women in Music",
"Association of Creative Women", etc. A whole series of magazines for
women and about women are being published.
Azerbaijan/ 4. Current issues in
cultural policy development and debate
4.3 Other relevant issues and
debates
Information is currently not
available.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.1 Constitution
Following a referendum on 12
November 1995, the new Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted
and entered into force on 5 December 1995. The country's basic law was
developed in line with the fundamental principles and norms of international
law. There are a number of provisions in the Constitution that directly concern
the interests of artists and cultural workers. The most important are:
"Intellectual Property Rights" (chapter III, Article 30);
"Rights on Culture" (chapter III, Article 40);
"Freedom of Thought and Word" (chapter III, Article 47);
"Freedom of Information" (chapter III, Article 50);
"Freedom to Create" (chapter III, Article 51);
"Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments" (chapter IV, Article 77).
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.2 Division of jurisdiction
The legal division of cultural
competence between central and local authorities is provided in the
Constitution of Republic of the Azerbaijan, Article 124 of which,
on Local Executive Power, declares that "Local Executive power shall be
implemented by the Heads of Executive Power. Heads of Executive Power shall be
appointed and removed from holding positions by the President of the Republic
of Azerbaijan. The authority of the Local Executive Power shall be determined
by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan".
Article 4 of the Law on Culture, on "Credentials of institutions of local government
in the cultural sphere" defines that "institutions of local
government create conditions for free realisation of all rights and freedoms
subsequent from this Law". Principles of division of cultural competence
between central and local authorities, also worded in the Statute of the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Statute of Local Executive Powers of
the Republic of Azerbaijan, are affirmed by relevant Decrees of the President.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.3 Allocation of public funds
All cultural institutions should be
jointly financed by the state and local cultural budgets, as well as by their
own resources, according to the Law on Culture. Allocations made by the
state should increase yearly, a condition fixed by law. Additional resources
are collected via national funds for culture, which have been set up by
executive bodies of the various cultural institutions. Self-governing local
bodies, public unions, legal and physical entities can also create funds to
support their cultural activities.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.4 Social security frameworks
According to the Constitution, all
citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan have the right to social protection
(chapter III, Article 37). Social welfare (health insurance, occupational
accidents, disability, unemployment and pensions) issues are described in laws
such as the Law on Employment (July, 2001), Law on Social Insurance
(February, 1997), Law on Medical Insurance (October, 1999), Law on
Pension Guarantees for Citizens (September 1992), Law on Prevention of
Disability, Rehabilitation and Social Protection of Disabled People (August,
1995), Law on Healthcare of the People (June, 1997); the Presidential
decrees, such as the Decree on Additional Measures on Social Aid (1992), Decree
on Realisation of the Complex Programme on the Issues of Disabled People (the
Cabinet of Ministers Decree, 1994), Decree on Financing the Measures of
Social Security, Pensions and Allocations for Disabled, Unemployed People
(2002), Decree on the Measures Towards Improving the State Pension System
(2003), Decree on Increasing Pensions (2003), Decree on the Wage
Augmentation for 50% of Artists (2003). The Law on Culture also
provides social security measures for cultural workers. This applies to creative
workers and includes provisions to improve the working conditions of artists
and scientists e.g. artists and sculptors receive working space under
favourable conditions (e.g. low rents). Salaries for cultural institutions with
national status are well above those that do not enjoy this status. Workers who
were actively involved in the country's cultural development, and have long
service, may receive special pensions after retirement.
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.5 Tax laws
The tax policy holds one of the main
keys to attracting funds and investment into culture. The new Tax Code,
the most progressive element of which is the application of simplified tax
rates, took effect on 1 January 2001. Article 219.2 of the new code
states that: "Firms paying taxes under the simplified system shall not be
liable for VAT, income tax, land tax or property tax". This applies to
firms with a quarterly (three-monthly) turnover of less than 20 000 AZN.
They pay tax at 2% of total turnover.
Similar to all countries with an
economy in transition, the tax legislature of Azerbaijan is in a period of
establishment. Approximately 100 changes and additions to the Code took effect
on 1 January 2002. One of the results of the changes is that the number of
cultural institutions liable for VAT and income tax has increased, with
significantly negative effects for their operation.
However, due to the Decree of the
President on Additional Measures in the Sphere of State Provision of the
Development of Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Azerbaijan (September,
2002) the following steps took place from the 1 January 2003:
- a reduction of the taxes by types;
- a differentiation of taxes for spheres and regions;
- enlargement of the sphere of application of the
simplified tax system; and
- a reduction of the social provision taxes.
All these measures provide the basis
for future development of tax policies in the field of culture.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.6 Labour laws
Employment in the cultural field is
regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1995), the Labour
Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (February 1999), the Law on Employment of
the Republic of Azerbaijan (July 2001), and the Law on Culture of the
Republic of Azerbaijan (April 1998). A unified system of salaries is in
place for those working in the different spheres of the public sector. Relationships
between employers and workers are based on a contract system, (which are
usually concluded on a permanent or short term basis). The collective contract
is signed between the employer on the one side and the trade union on the
other. In the event of the trade union's absence, the working collective signs
the contract. The trade union, working collective, employer, corresponding
executive and representative body of employers can initiate signing the
contract. The negotiating, related to the contract signing, can be promoted by
the trade union, or in the event of its absence, the working collective can
establish a commission for that purpose. Employment of state employees, of all
levels, is regulated by the Law on State Service (September, 2001).
See also chapter
5.1.4.
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.7 Copyright provisions
The main principles of the Copyright
and Related Rights Act, which came into force on 8 October 1996, are those
current in European countries. First of all, it follows the
"continental" conception of copyright as a personal right, preferring
this to the Anglo-Saxon vision, which stresses the commercial side of
copyright. Secondly, the term "author" is interpreted broadly, as it
is in other countries with high standards of copyright protection. In the
audiovisual field, authorship is not restricted to directors, scriptwriters and
composers, but extends to cameramen and set-designers too.
The Act also recognises related
rights, performers' rights, and the rights of phonogram producers and
broadcasting bodies (TV and radio). Inherited rights are also acknowledged, for
a period of 50 years after an author's death. Proportional payment, which is
more profitable for authors and other rights-holders, is the only type
expressly provided for. Only the minimum rate of payment is fixed by the state,
and methods of payment are to be negotiated between rights-holders and the
users of their works.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.8 Data protection laws
Translations, anthologies and
collective works are all protected, as are computer programmes and databases,
by the Copyright and Related Rights Act (8 October 1996). The Law of
the Republic of Azerbaijan on Information, Information Provision and Protection
of Information, which came into force in June 1998, defines state policy on
information systems, types, ways and forms of collecting and use of information
data. The Law of Azerbaijan Republic on the National Archives (June, 1999)
also regulates this field of activity.
Azerbaijan/ 5.1 General legislation
5.1.9 Language laws
After regaining independence, the
Azerbaijani language was recognised as the state language in the 1995
Constitution, and conditions for its widespread use in all areas of the
nation's life have been created. The Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan on
Mass Media (February, 2000) states: "No language limitations are
applied to the mass media in the territory of the Azerbaijan Republic" (Article 6).
The Law on the State Language of the Republic of Azerbaijan was passed and
came into force in January 2003. The Law on Advertising (October, 1997)
determines that advertising in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan must
be in the state language, with the use of other languages when it necessary.
See also chapter
4.2.2.
Azerbaijan/ 5.2 Legislation on
culture
Azerbaijani society is typified at
present by cultural diversity, and so all laws on culture are geared to
satisfying a broad range of cultural requirements. Some laws are general (e.g.
the Culture Act of 1998), others more specific (e.g. the laws on
cinematography, town planning, museums and publishing). The Culture Act
spells out the principles and aims of the state policy, and lays down the
duties of government and local authorities in this area. It guarantees the
right of individuals to engage in creative activity, promotes international
contacts and co-operation, prevents the state from monopolising culture, and
covers preservation and development of the cultural identity and heritage of
Azerbaijan and ethnic minorities, historically resident in its territory. It
also provides measures to promote creativity and the activities of public
agencies and organisations working in the cultural sphere. State interference
is limited to prohibiting any material that is pornographic or which encourages
violence, racial, national or religious intolerance, or drug addiction. These
prohibitions are backed by effective legal sanctions. All other forms of state
interference in cultural activity are prohibited. Many aspects of the
functioning, funding and development of culture and cultural institutions are
also regulated by this law.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.1 Visual and applied arts
The very important Law of the
Republic of Azerbaijan on Protection and Development of Azerbaijan Carpet Art
was signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in December 2004. The
Law regulates relationships emerging during the preservation, research, and
promotion of carpets created in the historical territory of Azerbaijan and in
the manual weaving by craftsmen, applied arts masters and artists.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.2 Performing arts and music
The Law on Theatres and Theatre
Activities, initiated by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and adopted
by Milli Mejlis (National Parliament) in December 2006, establishes an
institution of theatre producers and brings new impetus to the development and
infrastructural reforms of Azerbaijani theatre, which has a rich history dating
back 135 years.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.3 Cultural heritage
The Law on the Protection of
Historical and Cultural Monuments (1998)
defines the issues, specifies the responsibilities of state and local authorities,
and lays down principles for the use, study, conservation, restoration,
reconstruction, renovation and safety of monuments. The law declares that
cultural objects with national status: historical and cultural monuments,
cultural goods stored in state museums, archives, libraries, as well as the
territories where they are situated, are not subject to privatisation. The Law
on Museums (2000) regulates relations between museums and the state,
defines the duties, functions, privileges and powers of both sides, lays down
detailed rules on museum activity, promotes the protection, conservation,
development and enrichment of museum collections, and improves the social
security position of museum workers. New requirements concerning the keeping
and use of national archives, the need to determine the ownership status of
state and non-state archives and documents, and the absence of any legal basis
for management and use of this immense intellectual resource, were the main
inspiration for the National Archives Fund Act (1999). The Law on
Legal Protection of the Samples of Azerbaijani Folklore (2003) protects the
national intangible heritage.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.4 Literature and libraries
The Libraries Act (1998) aims to improve the organisation of libraries, make
libraries more effective and useful, and extend library and information
services to people living in rural areas. More generally, it sets out to
develop the community's intellectual potential, and contribute to the progress
of knowledge. It provides the legal basis that libraries require to do their
job effectively and to improve and up-date their working methods. The aim is
not to tinker with principles, but to re-address them radically in terms of the
new economic and political situation. The Act formulates the principles of
state policy on libraries, provides a common basis for the library system,
regulates the founding and running of libraries, and covers funding, the
public's rights regarding use of libraries, and the principles of international
co-operation in this area.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.5 Architecture and environment
Negative building trends in the
early years of independence had serious effects on the architectural and aesthetic
quality of Azerbaijan's cities, towns and settlements. This was the background
to the Architecture Act (1998) and the Town Planning Act (1999),
both of which set out to stop the downward slide caused by a lack of proper
control, to restore architectural harmony, and to preserve for future
generations the architectural heritage which, over the centuries, has given
Azerbaijani cities their unique character. To ensure that this character is
enhanced and preserved, the Act allows foreigners or foreign legal entities to
realise architectural projects only in co-operation with Azerbaijani nationals
or legal entities. The Town Planning Act aims at optimum population
distribution, lays down standards for building and for territorial and urban
planning, and regulates the conservation of historic, cultural and natural
monuments. Both texts make for consistent and harmonious architectural
development and for effective solutions to the problems of city management.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.6 Film, video and photography
The Law of the Republic of
Azerbaijan on Cinematography (1998) provides a legal basis for
cinematography as a special form of art. State supply, rights and
responsibilities of the legal and natural entities are defined by this law. It
provides a solid basis for the national film industry, regulates state funding,
and covers measures to promote the distribution of Azerbaijani films and
participation in international festivals. It also offers legal solutions to the
issues of regulating the organisation of the film industry. In October 1999,
the Law on Joining the European Convention on Joint Film-Production was
adopted by the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This document provides
vast opportunities for co-operation with European countries in the field of
cinematography and is a fine example of new initiatives.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.7 Culture industries
There are no overarching laws
covering the entire field of the cultural industries in the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The Publishing Act (2000) is designed to remedy shortcomings
in the publishing and printing industry, and to supply the lack of
comprehensive legislation in this sector. Its central aim is to revive the
country's ailing publishing industry. The Act lays down the main principles of
state policy, specifies the state's duties, defines optimum approaches to the
organisation and running of publishing and printing activities, and formulates
principles to govern relations between operatives in this area. Geared to the
economic realities of the country's situation, and practical in its whole
approach, it holds promise for the future of publishing and printing in
Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.8 Mass media
The new Law on Mass Media dates
from 2000 and states that government and non-government TV and radio
organisations have equal rights and responsibilities to carry out programming,
irrespective of their form of property, organisational and legal status. There
are no language limitations for media in the territory of Azerbaijan. Besides
the state language, any other languages spoken by the population of Azerbaijan
may be used, as well as other languages. The Azerbaijani television stations
broadcast programmes in Azerbaijani, Russian and English. The radio stations in
Azerbaijan also produce programmes in Georgian, Lezghin, Talish and Kurdish.
The President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan signed two orders during 2001: "On increasing state support to
the mass media" (July) and "On additional measures relating to
increased state aid for the mass media" (December). The measures envisaged
include: the abolition of import duties on newsprint, long-term loans and
preferential credit facilities for development of the mass media, measures to
promote the extension of independent TV and radio broadcasting, regulation of
broadcasting by foreign TV companies in the national territory, a review of
taxes levied on press concerns and private TV and radio companies, and printing
facilities for private newspapers in state printing houses.
In June 2002, a new Law on TV and
Radio Broadcasting was introduced, which describes the principles and
organisation of these spheres, as well as the legal relations between the State
and TV and radio company owners.
See also chapter
4.2.5.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.9 Legislation for self-employed
artists
On becoming independent, Azerbaijan
opted for a market economy. Free enterprise is a central element in this, and a
national privatisation programme was implemented in two stages. The
establishment of a market economy in Azerbaijan made it necessary to rethink
social security and introduce a whole new welfare strategy. Within a short
space of time, over ten laws were passed, extending social security to broad
sections of the population. Although there are no special legal provisions for
cultural workers as a separate professional group in Azerbaijan, and their
activities are regulated in general by legislation for private
entrepreneurship, there are a number of provisions in the Constitution and the Law
on Culture that directly concern and defend their interests.
See also chapter
5.1.5.
For more information, see our Status
of Artists section.
Azerbaijan/ 5.3 Sector specific
legislation
5.3.10 Other areas of relevant
legislation
The Law on Tourism (1999) is of renewed interest to the cultural sector, given the
recent structural reforms within the Cabinet of Ministers and the joining of
the cultural sphere with tourism within the newly established Ministry of
Culture and Tourism. The main goal is to bring the tourism sector, being
potentially self-sufficient from an economic point of view, closer to culture
and cultural heritage and to help the two sectors to develop together in a
framework of joint cultural tourism programmes and projects.
Azerbaijan/ 6. Financing of culture
6.1 Short overview
A boom in economic development in
recent years, and new oil finds in Azerbaijan, has led to considerable growth
in the State budget and correspondingly to levels of expenditure and public
financing of culture.
Expenditure on culture in 2006
accounts for approximately 2% of the total budget (4 024 767 300
AZN, exchange rates: 1 AZN (Azeri New Manat) = 0.9 euro). Specific expenditure
on culture, arts, cinema, monuments restoration, excluding mass media, comes
however, to approximately 1%. In other words, two figures can be given: one for
total expenditure on culture, and one for expenditure directly covered by the
Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
It should be noted that, as a result
of decentralisation of budgetary expenditure on culture, 60% of funds are now
distributed locally. Local authorities and the regions' cultural departments
are now determining the patterns of cultural expenditure in the regions
(districts) of the Republic. It should also be noted that subjective factors
are very significant at local and regional level, where a great deal depends on
the people in charge and - as monitoring shows - attitudes to culture vary
widely.
Centralised expenditure on culture
is largely focused on the capital, Baku. With culture permanently short of
funding, preference also goes to organisations of national importance, most of
which operate from Baku.
Average household spending, on
cultural activities and goods, amounts to not more than 3% of the total
household budget.
Azerbaijan/ 6. Financing of culture
6.2 Public cultural expenditure per
capita
Rapid economic development in Azerbaijan
influences a continuous yearly increase in the level of public culture
expenditure. In 2005, cultural expenditure per capita amounted to AZM 13, which
corresponded to 3% of overall expenditure per capita.
Azerbaijan/ 6. Financing of culture
6.3 Public cultural expenditure
broken down by level of government
Table 5:
Public cultural expenditure: by level of government, in AZN, 2005-2006*
|
|
2005 |
2006 |
||
|
Level of government |
Total
expenditure |
%
share |
Total
expenditure |
%
share |
|
Republic |
10 245 000 |
40% |
12 968 100 |
40% |
|
Local |
15 500 000 |
60% |
20 572 000 |
60% |
|
Total** |
25 745 000 |
100% |
33 540 100 |
100% |
Source:
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Economic Department, 2006.
*
Total public cultural expenditure for culture, arts and mass media in 2006 is
70 628 500 AZN.
**
Total for culture, arts, cinema and monuments restoration.
In 2005, the state budget for
culture, including mass media, represented 2.2% of the entire state budget; of
which 1.2% (0.7% on regional and 0.5% on central levels) was used to maintain
the system of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In 2006, 2% of the state
budget was allocated for public cultural expenditure, 1% (0.6% on regional and
0.4% on central levels) of which was used directly for culture, arts, cinema,
and monuments restoration, excluding mass media. At the same time, total
expenditure is growing rapidly - as the table shows, centralised and regional
expenditure both grew steadily, in accordance with the Culture Act.
Azerbaijan/ 6. Financing of culture
6.4 Sector breakdown
Table 6:
State cultural expenditure: by sector, in AZN, 2005
|
Field / Domain / Sub-domain |
Direct
expenditure |
Transfers |
Total |
%
total |
|
Cultural Heritage |
|
|
|
|
|
Historical
Monuments |
812 400 |
|
|
4.0 |
|
Museums |
638 800 |
|
|
3.2 |
|
Libraries |
537 100 |
|
|
2.7 |
|
Arts |
|
|
|
|
|
Visual
Arts |
200 000 |
|
|
1.0 |
|
Theatre-performance
enterprises |
4 230 000 |
|
|
20.8 |
|
Media |
|
|
|
|
|
Books |
140 000 |
|
|
0.7 |
|
Press |
60 000 |
|
|
0.3 |
|
Cinema |
1 535 100 |
|
|
7.5 |
|
Other cultural enterprises |
117 700 |
|
|
0.5 |
|
International cultural relations |
1 973 900 |
|
|
9.7 |
|
TOTAL (culture, theatre, cinema
and monuments) |
10 245 000 |
15 000 000 |
25 745 000 |
50.4 |
|
Education |
329 700 |
13 905 500 |
|
1.6 |
|
Administration |
743 900 |
447 700 |
|
3.7 |
|
Capital investment |
9 039 000 |
- |
|
44.3 |
|
TOTAL |
20 357 600 |
29 853 200 |
50 210 200 |
100.0 |
Source:
Ministry of Culture and Tourism
Azerbaijan/ 7. Cultural institutions
and new partnerships
7.1 Re-allocation of public responsibilities
The rise in entertainment
businesses, the culture industries and cultural tourism has inevitably
attracted the attention of private business. The number of private galleries,
museums, antique shops and shops for national souvenirs and crafts is growing.
Design agencies, the book market, and printing houses are developing.
The culture industries such as
book-publishing, the press, audiovisual and phonogram production, entertainment
industries and new technologies are undergoing rapid development. Indeed, there
is a totally new independent business sector developing in Azerbaijan, which is
not yet considered in the overall national cultural policy.
Democratisation processes in society
have stirred up the private as well as the third sector. Civil society in
Azerbaijan is in the first stages of its development. The Ministry of Justice
has registered 1 500 non-governmental organisations. There are also many
unregistered organisations, although few of them can be described as really
active. Most of NGOs suffer from a shortage of funds, organisational skills,
research potential and members.
Azerbaijan/ 7. Cultural institutions
and new partnerships
7.2 Status/role and development of
major cultural institutions
The majority of cultural
institutions have state status, being financed by centralised or local budgets.
Libraries, museums and art galleries are fully financed by public budgets, and
the theatre-entertainment organisations are partially financed by the state.
Salaries are guaranteed by the state, while expenditure on maintaining
buildings, or to build new stages, etc., are carried out at the expense of the
organisations themselves. A high percentage of centralised expenditure goes on
libraries and museums of national importance, subsidies to state theatres,
centralised events, theatrical and musical performances, the visual arts,
restoration of cultural monuments, creation of new monuments, and conduction of
events in foreign countries, etc.
Table 7: State
cultural institutions in the system of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
2007
|
Institution |
Total
number |
|
Theatres |
28 |
|
Concert organisations |
12 |
|
Libraries |
3 985 |
|
Palaces and houses of culture,
clubs |
2 699 |
|
Child music, art and painting
schools |
234 |
|
Baku School of Choreography |
1 |
|
Scientific-methodological centre
for culture |
1 |
|
Centre for the cultural
institution workers' training and professional development |
1 |
|
State museums |
184 |
|
State reserves |
24 |
|
Art galleries |
34 |
|
Exhibition Hall |
1 |
|
Culture and recreation parks |
60 |
|
Zoos |
1 |
|
Leisure centres |
4 |
|
State Film Foundation (with
filial) |
2 |
|
State film studios |
7 |
|
City and district cinemas |
153 |
|
Film distribution bases |
5 |
|
Editorial and publishing houses |
8 |
|
Scientific-Research Project
Institute "Azerberpa" |
1 |
|
Scientific restoration-production
agencies and departments |
4 |
|
Republican Library Collector |
1 |
|
National Culinary Centre |
1 |
|
Historical and cultural monuments |
6 308 |
Source:
Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Economic Department
Azerbaijan/ 7. Cultural institutions
and new partnerships
7.3 Emerging partnerships or
collaborations
There are a number of new
partnerships between public cultural institutions and private sponsors e.g.
during 1998-2001, the Azerbaijan State Theatre of Opera and Ballet was able to
attract additional funds to cover its expenditure. It formed an Opera Trust
Fund, whose members included wealthy oil and other companies such as BP-Amoco,
AGIP, Arco, HSBC British Bank, Mobil, Shell, Texaco, Wicklow Group Limited etc.
Various other theatres obtain sponsorship for new productions. The Azerbaijan
International Cinema Company, a joint venture of the Union of Cinematographers
and a private British firm "ITIL", has modernised "Azerbaijan
Cinema" and successfully manages it.
Azerbaijan/ 8. Support to creativity
and participation
8.1 Direct and indirect support to
artists
Cultural creativity and artists in
Azerbaijan are supported by centralised and local budgets, mainly by providing
relevant conditions for maintaining cultural institutions, salaries, honoraria
afnd payment of retirement and health contributions. Other ways that the state
supports creativity are by involving artists in realising state development
programmes and projects, as well as organisational and financial supporting of
private projects and initiatives, holding festivals and competitions in
different spheres of culture for professionals (theatre, music, visual arts and
etc), sending delegations to international events, and by providing free
primary, secondary and high special education etc.
Azerbaijan/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.1 Special artists funds
There are different special funds in
the cultural field, set up at national and local levels by local authorities,
associations, legal entities and individuals in the hope of attracting further
contributions. Another alternative source is sums earned by cultural
organisations e.g. fees charged for services provided by museums, exhibition
halls and libraries. However, these sums are still insignificant, accounting
for less than 1% of total expenditure on culture, the arts and monument conservation.
Privatisation is another answer to
the problem of funding, and the periodical press, publishing, TV and radio,
records, film production and distribution, concert organisation, etc. are the
areas most affected. At the same time, privatisation has slightly
impacted on the cinema production and distribution industry, which requires
significant capital contributions.
There are also restrictions on
privatisation, for example, the following may not be privatised: state museums,
libraries, galleries, historical monuments and cultural assets of international
importance.
Azerbaijan/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.2 Grants, awards, scholarships
Grants for artists are a new concept
in the state support system. The Law on Grants (April 1998) regulates
economic and legal relations for the issuing, receipt and use of grants. Some
of the most important grants available for artists are given by the Open
Society Institute - Azerbaijan and other humanitarian foundations. Their
activities are directed towards the exchange of artists, musicians and art
critics with foreign countries, including travel grants, which enable cultural
workers to participate in seminars, conferences and festivals abroad, and to
receive research grants in the field of social sciences, including culture and
art.
Targeted support for certain art
forms is an approved approach to cultural financing in the Republic of
Azerbaijan. The following resolutions of the President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan provide direct support to particular artists or groups: On
measures to improve the activity of the Symphony Orchestra of Azerbaijan; On
pensions for persons engaged in creative activity in Azerbaijan; On
presidential stipends for talented young people included in the "Gold
Book"; On improvement of social welfare provision for members of the
ballet troupe at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre; On personal
stipends to young writers of the Republic of Azerbaijan; On improvement of
social welfare provision for the Azerbaijan State Choir Chapel; On improved
social welfare for the workers of the Azerbaijan State Dance Ensemble; On
establishment of grants of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan for
prominent figures in the arts; On establishment of individual pensions of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan etc. The system of governmental
awards such as the People's Artist, People's Actor, etc., plays an important
role in a moral sense.
Azerbaijan/ 8.1 Direct and indirect
support to artists
8.1.3 Support to professional
artists associations or unions
A multi-branched system of creative
unions continues to function and operate mainly as professional unions. They
obtain their main funds and material-technical bases, including buildings, from
the state system, but administer material, social and professional matters
themselves, without state interference at present. The Ministry of Culture and
Tourism, and other central and local authorities, involve the creative unions'
members in different national and international events and purchases products
of their art and creativity at regular intervals.
Table 8:
Professional artists' unions in Azerbaijan, 2007
|
Name of union |
Year
of establishment |
|
Union of Writers |
1934 |
|
Union of Composers |
1934 |
|
Union of Architects |
1936 |
|
Union of Artists |
1940 |
|
Union of Theatrical workers |
1949 |
|
Union of Cinematographers |
1958 |
|
Union of Journalists |
1958 |
|
Union of Musicians |
1987 |
|
Union of Designers |
1988 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan/ 8.2 Cultural consumption
and participation
8.2.1 Trends and figures
The social, economic and political
changes in society, including consequences of the war in Azerbaijan, have had a
direct impact on the quantity and quality of cultural institutions and the
number of visitors. A considerable number of cultural institutes remain in
occupied territories and, thus, remain out of reach for many visitors.
Table 9:
Number of attendees of public cultural institutions, 1990 - 2005
|
|
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Libraries (number of readers) |
4 145 000 |
3 031 000 |
2 881 000 |
2 400 000 |
2 400 000 |
|
Participants in clubs |
199 500 |
125 200 |
107 500 |
87 300 |
83 600 |
|
Cinemas |
... |
... |
116 100 |
123 300 |
115 400 |
|
Theatres |
1 376 000 |
1 201 000 |
925 000 |
604 000 |
544 000 |
|
Concerts |
994 000 |
393 000 |
339 000 |
246 000 |
259 000 |
|
Museums |
1 154 000 |
1 543 000 |
1 196 000 |
1 501 000 |
1 477 000 |
|
Circus |
... |
109 000 |
178 800 |
101 600 |
103 000 |
|
Zoo visits |
... |
110 000 |
64 000 |
80 000 |
93 000 |
|
Pupils in child music, art and
painting schools |
... |
... |
69 099 000 |
72 979 000 |
72 005 000 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Table shows that attendance figures
for libraries, clubs, theatres and concerts have decreased. On the other hand,
the numbers visiting museums, cinemas and pupils in children's music, art and
painting schools have increased, a fact which can be explained by the
development of the these spheres in recent years. The overall decrease in
attendance is first of all due to the Armenian aggression and occupation on 20%
of the Azerbaijan territories. In 1990, the military operations had just
started and there were already about one million Azerbaijani refugees from
Armenia and Garabagh by 1998. Social status and living conditions of refugees
and IDP are so low that it is very hard to consider their participation in
cultural life and this fact undoubtedly influences the overall picture.
In 2001, the Ministry ordered a
survey "Cultural Participation", for the National Report, on the
cultural activities of social groups, differing from each other with respect to
gender, age or education. This survey was carried out by SIAR, a social and
marketing research centre and was essentially focused on the culture industries
- television, cinema, radio, computers, newspapers and books.
Azerbaijan/ 8.2 Cultural consumption
and participation
8.2.2 Policies and programmes
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
is initiating special programmes, starting from 2007, in order to broaden and
promote participation in cultural life for different social strata. Besides the
traditional privileged categories of the population, it is proposed to provide
free and favourable access to museums, reserves and monuments for
Nagorno-Garabagh War participants, martyrs' family members, disabled people,
pensioners, orphans, secondary schools pupils and high school students, etc.,
as well as for all visitors on state official holidays, international museum
and tourism days. All of these measures are intended to raise the social
consciousness and cohesion of citizens by activating participation in the
cultural life of society.
Azerbaijan/ 8.3 Arts and cultural
education
8.3.1 Arts education
Arts education has a long and deep
tradition in Azerbaijan and is marked by a high degree of democratisation and
accessibility for the majority of the population. Responsibility for cultural
education and training institutions is divided between the Ministry of Culture
and Tourism (children's music, art and painting schools and the Baku
School of Choreography) and the Ministry of Education, which supervises the
special secondary and the higher arts education in Azerbaijan.
At present, there are 266
specialised schools teaching music, dance and painting at primary level, which
children attend for 4 to 7 years (art - 4 years, dance - 5 years, music - 7
years). Music schools teach classical (piano, violin, cello, flute, clarinet,
oboe, trumpet, tuba, bassoon, etc.) and folk (tar, kemancha, nagara, canon,
balaban, etc.) instruments, as well as classical and folk singing. Music and
art schools are almost totally (99.4%) state-funded. Only 0.6% comes from
parents, who pay approximately 0.8 AZN per child, per year.
There are 16 specialised schools
providing education in culture and the arts at secondary level (11 music
schools, 3 cultural technical schools, a college of art and a dance school).
Technical schools specializing in music (there are 8, including the Music
College of Azerbaijan National Conservatoire) train performers in classical and
folk instruments, and also teachers for children's music schools. The Arts
College of the Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts teaches painting, sculpture,
carpet-making, ceramics, model-making, theatre design and the decorative and
applied arts. Technical schools specializing in culture provide training in the
following fields: culture and arts management, museum management, monument
conservation, decorative and applied arts, librarianship. They also have music
departments, which train music teachers for pre-school institutions and music
schools. The second-level course runs for three years, the first-level course
for four. Some specialised schools offer both as a continuum; the Secondary
Special Music School, named after Byulbyul, of the Baku Academy of Music and
the Baku School of Choreography - the country's only training school for
ballet and folk dancers - are among them. Training in these institutions lasts
11-12 years, is provided free of charge, and students with good grades also
receive scholarships.
The Baku Academy of Music, the
Azerbaijan National Conservatoire, the Azerbaijan State University of Culture
and Arts, and the Azerbaijan State Academy of Art offer third-level courses in
culture and the arts. Some universities also run courses for students intending
to work in cultural institutions. Composers, musicologists, choir-leaders,
classical and folk instrumentalists, and singers receive their training at the
Baku Academy of Music, whose graduates have won international recognition, both
as teachers and performers. The State University of Culture and the Arts runs
courses in the following fields: theatre, cinema and TV (directing, acting,
scriptwriting, camera operating, etc.), choreography, museum management,
monument conservation, cultural management, performing arts, decorative and
applied arts (carpet design, industrial graphics, commercial art, fashion
design, interior design, etc.). The Azerbaijan State Academy of Arts offers
courses on painting, graphics, sculpture, architecture, decorative and applied
arts, theatre design, the history and theory of the performing arts, interior
design, carpet design, advertising and model-making. Architects are trained at
the College of Architecture and Building Techniques. The State University of
Azerbaijan offers the only graduate course for librarians and bibliographers.
Some institutions of higher
education have arts departments that train music, history of music, performing
arts, piano and folk instrument teachers. Arts departments at some universities
have commercial status, e.g. Western University (design, decorative and applied
art) and "Khazar" University (design). Some of the above courses are
fee-paying, others not. Students who achieve good results qualify for
scholarships. Courses last between 4-6 years, depending on the level
(bachelors, masters and PhD), in accordance with the Bologna process.
Training and further training
courses for cultural workers have been functioning since 1966. These help
people working within the Ministry of Culture and Tourism system (directors of
municipal cultural centres, theatre and concert hall managers and staff,
librarians, and staff of museums, children's music and art schools, adult art
schools, cultural associations and centres, picture galleries, etc.) to improve
their skills. The number of students, and the range of categories from which
they come, are increasing yearly.
Azerbaijan/ 8.3 Arts and cultural
education
8.3.2 Intercultural education
Intercultural education is a part of
the general school and university curricula. There are different themes focused
on shared national values and identity; to promote tolerance, multilingualism,
equality; to inform students about world cultures, religions, traditions, etc,
within humanitarian disciplines, delivered at all levels of education.
For more information, see our Intercultural Dialogue section.
Azerbaijan/ 8.4 Amateur arts,
cultural associations and community centres
8.4.1 Amateur arts
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism,
and partly, the Azerbaijan Trade Unions' Confederation, support the amateur
arts via a network of cultural clubs, which are financed by the state or by
large enterprises. Cultural clubs and houses of culture provide a good
background and conditions for functioning of club circles, amateur art groups
and unions, clubs of interests and amateur unions, amateur art circles and
collectives, technical creation courses and classes, children's circles and
collectives.
Table 10: Club circles,
amateur art groups and unions, by system of the
Ministry
of Culture and Tourism, 1990, 1995, 2000-2005
|
|
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Total |
13 084 |
9 386 |
8 236 |
7 818 |
7 339 |
7 323 |
7 109 |
6 997 |
|
Participants |
199 500 |
125 200 |
107 500 |
100 400 |
93 500 |
92 400 |
87 300 |
83 600 |
|
Clubs of interest and amateur
unions |
1 441 |
1 086 |
1 076 |
985 |
951 |
1 099 |
1 046 |
1 094 |
|
Participants |
29 000 |
16 200 |
15 200 |
14 300 |
13 100 |
14 500 |
13 900 |
14 000 |
|
Amateur art circles and
collectives |
10 130 |
7 509 |
6 604 |
6 281 |
5 834 |
5 852 |
5 664 |
5 474 |
|
Participants |
143 200 |
97 000 |
85 300 |
78 900 |
73 800 |
73 400 |
68 500 |
64 800 |
|
Technical creation courses and
classes |
1 513 |
791 |
556 |
552 |
554 |
372 |
399 |
429 |
|
Participants |
27 300 |
12 000 |
7 000 |
7 200 |
6 600 |
4 500 |
4 900 |
4 800 |
|
Children's circles and collectives |
3 788 |
3 989 |
3 632 |
3 734 |
3 614 |
3 442 |
3 410 |
3 375 |
|
Participants |
65 200 |
56 100 |
50 400 |
52 400 |
48 400 |
46 200 |
44 900 |
44 200 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan/ 8.4 Amateur arts,
cultural associations and community centres
8.4.2 Cultural houses and community
cultural clubs
There has been a decrease in the
number of cultural clubs over the last years. This is not only due to the fact
that many of the "nomadic" or so-called "mobile clubs" or
"cultural tents" have shut down because of insufficient funding, but
also to the internal changes occurring within society, increased social and
political activity by the people, freedom of choice and freedom to develop
one's own initiative. Reorganisation processes in this sphere caused some
artificial rises in number of urban clubs in 2004, but it didn't influence on
total declining tendencies.
Table 11: Number of
clubs by years, 1990, 1995, 2000-2005
|
|
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Urban |
529 |
503 |
432 |
414 |
418 |
407 |
657 |
393 |
|
Rural |
3 151 |
3 174 |
2 922 |
2 677 |
2 659 |
2 659 |
2 373 |
2 370 |
|
Total |
3 680 |
3 677 |
3 354 |
3 091 |
3 077 |
3 066 |
3 030 |
2 763 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism
is the main responsible central executive body for the functioning of the
clubs, taking into consideration that the club system is funded by local
authorities. There are also a number of clubs within the Azerbaijan Trade
Unions' Confederation.
Table 12: Distribution
of clubs by departmental division, 2000-2005
|
|
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
2005 |
|
Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
3 275 |
3 016 |
3 000 |
2 997 |
2 968 |
2 703 |
|
Azerbaijan Trade Unions'
Confederation |
79 |
75 |
77 |
69 |
62 |
60 |
|
Total |
3 354 |
3 091 |
3 077 |
3 066 |
3 030 |
2 763 |
Source:
State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan/ 9. Sources and Links
9.1 Key documents on cultural policy
Baumer, Markus: Baku -
Azerbaijan: a Proposal of Cultural Strategy. 2003. DGIV/CULT/STAGE (2003)9:
http://www.coe.int/T/E/Cultural_Co-operation/Culture/Completed_projects/STAGE/pub_baumer.asp
Berza, Maria: Cultural Policy in
Azerbaijan: Report of an Independent Panel of European Examiners.
Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 2003. (STAGE Project) CDCULT(2002)28B: http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_co-operation/culture/policies/reviews/CDCULT(2002)28B_EN.pdf
Council of Europe: Cultural Policy
in Azerbaijan: the Republic of Azerbaijan National Report on Cultural Policy. Strasbourg:
Council of Europe, 2002 (STAGE Project) CDCULT(2002)28A [PDF]: http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_co-operation/culture/policies/reviews/CDCULT(2002)28A_EN.pdf
Haavisto, Tuula: Libraries in
South Caucasus - a Manual for Managers, 2005, DGIV/CULT/STAGE(2005)1: http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_co-operation/culture/completed_projects/STAGE/pub_haavisto.asp#TopOfPage
Kuzmin, Evgheny: Libraries in
Azerbaijan: How and What Next?. 2004, DGIV/CULT/STAGE(2004)16: http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_co-operation/culture/completed_projects/STAGE/pub_kuzmin.asp#TopOfPage
Mason, Timothy: At the
Crossroads: the Strategic Development of Museums in Azerbaijan. 2004,
DGIV/CULT/STAGE(2004)13: http://www.coe.int/t/e/cultural_co-operation/culture/completed_projects/STAGE/pub_mason_mus_azerb.asp#TopOfPage
Azerbaijan/ 9. Sources and Links
9.2 Key organisations and portals
Cultural policy making bodies
President of the Republic of
Azerbaijan
http://www.president.az
The Milli Mejlis of the Republic of
Azerbaijan
http://www.meclis.gov.az/
The Cabinet of Ministers of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
http://www.cabmin.gov.az/
Ministry of Culture and Tourism of
the Republic of Azerbaijan
http://www.mct.gov.az/
Grant-giving bodies
Heydar Aliyev Foundation
http://www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/index_e.html
Open Society Institute Assistance
Foundation-Azerbaijan
http://www.osi-az.org/indexen.shtml
Professional associations
Azerbaijan Film Directors' Guild
http://azdgcinema.aznet.org/azdgcinema/index_en.html
Association of Culture of Azerbaijan
"Simurg"
http://www.simurq-az.org
"Creative Women" Azeri
Non-governmental association
http://www.cwa.aznet.org
Experimental Creative Association
"Baku Arts Centre"
http://www.photo.azuni.net/workgroup/organizers/bac.html
Official site of Azerbaijan
Photographers' Union
http://www.afb.aznet.org
Cultural research and statistics
Azerbaijan Development Gateway
http://gateway.az/cl2_gw/pages/en/
Baku Musical Academy
http://www.musicacademy.edu.az
State Statistical Committee of the
Republic of Azerbaijan
http://www.azstat.org/indexen.php
Culture / arts portals
Azeri painting
http://azeripaint.aznet.org/azeripaint/
Azerbaijan State Philharmonic named
after Muslim Magomayev
http://www.philarmonia.az
Gobustan State Historical and
Artistic Preserve
http://gobustan.iatp.az/gobustan/
Official web site of "Qiz
qalasi" art gallery
http://www.qgallery.net
Official site of Azerbaijan Museum
of Miniature Books
http://www.minibook.aznet.org
Official site of modern creative art
group "Wings of time"
http://www.wings.aznet.org
Palace named after Heydar Aliyev
http://www.ha-saray.com
The site devoted to the city of Baku
http://window2baku.com/
The magazine, "Musiqi
dunyasi", dedicated to musical culture
http://www.musigi-dunya.az/index.htm
The
Council of Europe/ERICarts "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in
Europe, 9th edition", 2008