Members of National Council for Culture

Both organisations (The Council of Creative Unions of Latvia and Association of Non-governmental Organizations of Contemporary Culture) are members of National Council for Culture and implements very active participation. The Latvian National Council of Culture was established in 2009, its operation was renewed at the beginning of 2014. It is a public consultative institution of the Ministry of Culture on cultural sectors and cultural policy, the aim of which is to promote balanced development of cultural and cultural heritage sectors in the interests of the whole society. The tasks of the National Council of Culture are: 1. to evaluate and forecast cultural perspectives in the context of cultural policy and national development and to provide the Ministry of Culture and the Minister of Culture with reasoned proposals; 2. to co-operate with the Minister of Culture, structural units and institutions of the Ministry of Culture in the development of sectoral strategies and policies, determination of priorities, development of budget and investment policy and evaluation of draft legal acts; 3. to maintain links with the cultural, cultural heritage sectors and cross-sectoral sectors, discuss issues relevant to them and make proposals for solutions; 4. to coordinate the opinions of state institutions and various interest groups in the field of culture on issues of cultural policy; 5. to represent the interests of culture, cultural heritage sectors and related inter-sectors in the context of the formation and development of state policy by delegating representatives to negotiations with state and local government institutions; 6. to maintain a discussion in society about the role of culture in the development of society and the state; 7. to evaluate the applications of the applicants for the Award of Excellence in Culture and to submit proposals to the Minister of Culture regarding the candidates for the award; 8. to nominate a representative from among its members in the institutions (for example, in the council of the State Culture Capital Fund), in which the council must be represented The Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia (CCUL) was founded in 1988 at the Plenary Meeting of Writers Union as Culture Council of Creative Unions. In 1995 it was registered as an association of professional creative organizations “The Council of the Creative Unions of Latvia”. CCUL is comprised of 11 creative unions, and total membership exceeds 3500 individual members. The Association of Non-governmental Organizations of Contemporary Culture was founded in 2007 by the leading contemporary culture NGOs in Latvia The association currently has 19 organizations and individual members and is still open to new members. The aim of the association is to develop and activate the activities of non-governmental organizations in the field of culture and to improve the environment for the activities of cultural NGOs; to represent the interests of cultural NGOs in the cultural policy of the state and local governments; to develop and support innovative cultural processes in Riga and the regions of Latvia, as well as internationally; offer advice and expertise as well as industry research and analysis.