Budget cuts may be introduced in Latvia’s cultural sector, including the possible consolidation of museums, while parental contributions to cultural education could increase, Culture Minister Nauris Puntulis (National Alliance) said in an interview with Latvian Television’s morning programme Rīta panorāma.
The minister stressed that the cultural sector cannot be excluded from the government’s reform plans and that improvements are needed in this area as well.
Asked whether this could involve staff reductions, Puntulis said the sector must be prepared to review its current size and structure.
He emphasised that maintaining a broad network of cultural institutions across Latvia is essential for the nation. However, he argued that the network must also be assessed on the basis of data and measurable results.
Puntulis acknowledged that reductions could be necessary in certain areas, although he admitted that such decisions would not be easy.
One possible solution mentioned by the minister was the consolidation of museums performing the same functions.
Changes to museum management structures should also be considered. In this context, Puntulis referred to Rundāle Palace Museum, which has become a separate public-law entity.
According to the minister, cultural institutions should be distinguished according to their ability to generate their own revenue, as the financial circumstances of state-owned companies differ from those of museums, libraries and archives.
He suggested that legislative amendments might be necessary to allow state-owned cultural companies to retain a larger share of their earnings.
In the field of cultural education, one possible solution to funding challenges could be an increase in parental co-payments.
However, Puntulis did not specify how much these payments might rise, explaining that a detailed analysis would first be required.
The minister emphasised his commitment to maintaining an extensive network of cultural education institutions.
In his view, the government’s objective of creating a small and efficient public administration should not be applied in the same way to the cultural sector.
“I am definitely against a small and efficient cultural sector. The cultural sector must be broad,” Puntulis said, adding that this broad accessibility begins with cultural education.
At the same time, he acknowledged the need to examine how the financial burden should be shared between the state, municipalities and parents.
Addressing salaries, Puntulis admitted that the cultural sector is experiencing a crisis, as wages have not increased in recent years.
He claimed that during his previous term as culture minister, salaries in the sector had been raised regularly.
Asked about plans by cultural sector representatives to stage protests in November and whether a substantial funding increase could be secured in next year’s state budget, Puntulis made no specific commitments.
He explained that
uncertainty surrounding the composition of the next government made it difficult to predict whether he would personally participate in the upcoming budget negotiations.
The minister said it would be inappropriate to announce specific funding figures that could affect the decisions of a potential successor.
Nevertheless, Puntulis pledged to do everything within his power to strengthen Latvia’s cultural sector.