Grant Scheme for the Culture of Disadvantaged Sections of the Population
The objective of the grant scheme is to provide financial support to projects related to the culture of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population.The grant scheme Culture of disadvantaged sections of the population is a stable financial mechanism operated by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic for the promotion and development of the cultural rights of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. The grant scheme has four sub-schemes: Living Culture, Periodicals, Non-periodic Publications and Informal Education in the Area of Culture for People with Disabilities. The scheme is intended to support access to culture for people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. It supports cultural activities aimed at breaking down barriers and prejudices in relation to vulnerable groups; it promotes intercultural dialogue, social cohesion and the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of groups at risk of social exclusion; it also supports cultural mechanisms that help to prevent all forms of violence and discrimination, xenophobia, homophobia and the like. The grant scheme contributes to prevention activities in the area of extremism and human trafficking. The grant scheme is an instrument for the implementation of temporary balancing measures in the area of culture (pursuant to Act No 364/2004 on equal treatment in certain areas and on protection against discrimination and amending and supplementing certain acts, as amended).
The grant scheme is intended to support projects whose target groups are disadvantaged sections of the population, e.g.:
- People with disabilities (physical, mental, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and also protection of mental health – under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
- Children and young people – in particular children in children’s homes, children living in marginalized Roma communities, refugee children and child victims of violence.
- Women (support for cultural projects contributing to the implementation of gender equality), e.g. non-discrimination of women over the age of 45 years, single mothers, victims of violence, women living in marginalized Roma communities, women at risk of poverty.
- Seniors, in particular seniors at risk of poverty and support for cultural projects intended to promote active aging.
- Migrants (support for projects aimed at promoting cultural integration)
- People at risk of poverty and social exclusion, e.g. people out of work, homeless people, people from socially excluded communities, LGBTI people, victims of human trafficking.
Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.
The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.
Representatives of the professional community participate in the assessment of grant applications every year. Non-government organizations and private companies do not participate directly in the implementation of this measure because they are its target group and they are excluded from the decision-making process (by law) so as to maintain transparency in the allocation of public funds and eliminate potential conflicts of interest.
The grant scheme distributes around EUR 375,000 each year.
Every year, the grant scheme supports around 115 projects run by non-governmental organizations, private companies, churches and local or regional government organizations which contribute to the protection and promotion of the cultural rights of disadvantaged sections of the population.
The result of implementation of the measure is increased availability of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population (e.g. providing access to the services of museums, galleries and libraries for visitors with hearing or visual impairments). An envisaged outcome of implementation of the measure is the elimination of prejudices of the majority population against people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that vulnerable groups can fully exercise their cultural rights.