ECA wrote the following to Ints Dalderis, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, on 12 August:
Dear Mr Dalderis
The European Council of Artists - an umbrella for interdisciplinary artists' councils and professional artists' associations from 26 countries across Europe - was informed by its Latvian member, The Council of Creative Unions of Latvia, of the proposed closure of the National Film Centre of Latvia and of the intention to include some of its functions under the Ministry of Culture as a part of a crisis reconstruction of the public sector.
The Nation Film Centre, established in 1991 as a state financed but independent agency, has in cooperation with the Latvian film industry been able to secure films based on Latvian experiences and cultural values - as a constant in a globalised context with strong influences from East and West, and as a facilitator for Latvian participation in film sector cooperation on European level.
We fear that closing the National Film Centre will lead not only to a reduction of the financial support for Latvian film production and international co-productions, but also a reduction of the freedom of artistic expression which would be at variance with the provisions of the UNESCO Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which Latvia ratified in 2007. The Convention underlines the special attention needed to secure cultural and artistic production in a world that is dominated by financial considerations.
We therefore urge you, as the Minister responsible for the culture policies of the Republic of Latvia, to reconsider the situation of the National Film Centre of Latvia.
Yours sincerely
Michael Burke,
president