The fee to participate in events associated with the Song and Dance Celebration is mentioned only as a last resort, said Latvian Minister of Culture Agnese Lāce in an interview to LTV programme “Rīta panorāma”.
She said the proposal to charge participants a fee to participate in inter-holiday events was mentioned at the Wednesday meeting of Saeima committee as a last resort option. The state budget for inter-holiday events is at the current level, and usually these events are organised in cooperation with municipalities. The minister invited the Latvian Union of Local Governments, the participating municipalities, which, in cooperation with the Latvian National Cultural Centre, organise events, to look for solutions.
“I think that other solutions should be sought so that the inter-holiday events take place and the participation fees are not considered,” the minister said, adding that EUR 230 000 were available in the state budget for the inter-holiday events, and last year there were also events for which the state budget money had been marked.
Lāce emphasised that the budget provides funds for the Song and Dance Celebration and the participation fee in this event is not considered and “not required”.
Discussions of problematic issues is scheduled for next week.
Latvian municipalities lack finances. This is why amateur collectives may have to pay to participate in certain events prior to the XXVIII Latvian Song and XVIII Dance Celebration in 2028, was mentioned at the meeting of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Committee on Wednesday, the 22nd of January.
In order for the 9th Mid-Generation Dance Festival to take place in Salaspils this May, a fee will be charged to members of participating dance groups. Similarly, participants might have to pay for participating in inter-holiday events in other municipalities that lack funds in their budgets to provide such events.
The Manager of Latvian National Culture Centre (LNKC) Signe Pujāte mentioned at the committee’s meeting that the fee to participate in inter-holiday events will be requested from dance collectives for the first time. However, she stressed there is no other way.
Sigulda municipality faces financial troubles as well, as confirmed by representative of Latvian Local Governments Union Ināra Dundure during the committee’s meeting.
According to her, at the moment the municipalities are evaluating how to ensure the course of events “so as not to lose the tradition of the Song Celebration, because it is a sacred thing for all of us”. However, other municipalities may have to pay a membership fee for their collectives if the municipalities hosting the inter-holiday events are unable to find the funds.