ECA sent the following letter on 23 May 2008:
Dr. Pavel Bem
Mayor of Prague
Mariánské nám. 2
110 01 Praha 1
Czech Republic
Dear Dr. Pavel Bem
The European Council of Artists (ECA) – the umbrella organisation of professional artists' associations from 25 countries across Europe, which represents in excess of 250,000 artists – declares its support for the appeal by citizens of Prague for cultural support.
The ECA Executive Committee visited our Czech member in RUO in 2006 and had the opportunity to experience a little of the artistic and cultural diversity of Prague. In autumn 2007 ECA corresponded with the City authorities about the suspension of grants iand was in November assured by the councillor for culture Mr Milan Richter that the intermediate problems were solved and that the support to Prague culture would be restored.
We can however see that severe problems concerning the culture support remain:
* the advisory team of cultural experts has not been re-established
* the cultural budget is being diverted to support to marketing, tourism etc.
* the conditions of non profit cultural organisations are not properly considered nor respected
* non profit projects are competing for support with cultural enterprise
* there is a general lack of transparency in the cultural policy which does not enable effective decision making process
In 2006 an agreement was reached between the City Council of Prague and RUO representing the cultural sector on a scheme for administration of the cultural support of Prague. We hereby urge you to implement his scheme and to govern the rich and diverse cultural sector of Prague in accordance with the spirit of this agreement.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Burke
ECA president
cc.:
RUO - Rada umeleckych obci
ProCulture / Otevrena spolecnost o.p.s.