Continuing the functions of Cultural Endowment of Estonia
In the Action Programme of the Government of the Republic 2011-2015 it is stated that the basic principles of the Estonian Cultural Endowment will remain unchanged. Subject to budgetary capacity support for professional creative activities will be increased.
Cultural Endowment of Estonia is a legal person in public law the objective of the activities of which is to support the arts, folk culture, physical fitness and sport and the construction and renovation of cultural buildings by the accumulation of funds and distribution thereof for specific purposes. The functions of the Cultural Endowment are to:
- support projects which promote, introduce and popularise the arts and sport, artistic associations, research related to culture and sport, and to further the development of the arts, folk culture, physical fitness and sport;
- support outstanding figures in the arts and sport, and their families upon their death;
- support talented persons with development potential in various areas of culture and sport and to facilitate their individual development;
- support the commemoration of deceased figures in the arts and sport;
- support the construction and renovation of cultural buildings which are of national importance
Cultural Endowment of Estonia is providing financial support for cultural activities and for establishing and renovating cultural facilities. There are eight sub-endowments (literature, music, visual and applied arts, architecture, performing arts, audiovisual arts, folk culture, sport) and fifteen county expert groups in the structure of the organisation. Open calls for applications take place four times a year which allows to support different initiatives in a quick and flexible way. Regional expert groups provide regional expertise and input for making the financing decisions.
Distributing the financial resources available for the foundation allows to fulfil the mission and objectives of the Cultural Endowement of Estonia.
The budget or income of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia is comprised of:
- 3,5% of alchohol and tobacco excise received to the state budget
- 46% of gambling tax received to the state budget (of which 63% is allocated for cultural buildings and 37% is distributed as scolarships and grants and operating costs)
- donations and heritages
- income from investments made by the foundation
- other income from economic activities
Increase in number of applications received by the Cultural Endowement of Estonia indicates the viability of Estonian cultural field and recognition of foundation's role in supporting the culture. The reason might be that other resources and measures available for supporting the culture have not increased sufficiently or have diminished. Financial decisions are more focused, total costs or budgets of the projects have increased.