The Government earmarked 2 million lei for implementing cultural projects in 2014. The Expertise Board of the Ministry of Culture examined 135 applications for financing submitted by 76 public associations and selected 53 projects, IPN reports.
Minister of Culture Monica Babuc told a news conference that over 400,000 lei will be used to organize 14 regional and local festivals, while another 400,000 lei will go to implement nine music projects. In 2014, the International Romance Creation and Singing Contest “Silver Chrysanthemum, which was interrupted for several years through lack of funds, will be restarted.
A sum of 300,000 lei will be allocated for implementing five theatrical projects, including 80,000 lei for the UNITEM Prize Gala. Four cinematographic projects will get financing of 75,000 lei.
The projects from the field of literature will be financed with 330,000 lei, while the premiere in this field will be the launch of the PEN Center, which is the branch of the World Writers Association. The Center will provide a public readings platform that will involve writers from all over Europe. Another novelty is the resumption of the publication of the monthly journal “Contrapunct”.
Monica Babuc said the state financing for cultural projects over the last three years rose from 700,000 to 2 million lei, but the funds are insufficient for helping the cultural associations to carry our their initiatives. About 13 million lei is needed for the purpose. Next year the Ministry of Culture will amend the regulations for selecting cultural projects that are financed from the budget. The document will be more explicit, but will impose more conditions that will have to be met.
