The Ministry of Culture enables NGOs (alongside other applicants specified in the act on grants) to participate in calls for bids to support cultural activities under the Culture for Disadvantaged Groups grant scheme. This is an effective and longstanding financial grant scheme that supports social inclusion and cohesion, equal opportunities, and non-discrimination. The scheme makes it possible to fulfil and develop the cultural needs of people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population. The grant scheme supports the cultural activities of people with disabilities and other disadvantaged sections of the population, including the cultural activities of such persons and groups that support equal opportunities, social integration, the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia and extremism, the promotion of education leading to tolerance, stronger social and family cohesion and the development of intercultural dialogue. Since 2017 this grant scheme has distributed EU980,000 per year, which represents a 161.12% increase compared to the period 2014-2016. One of the priorities of the grant scheme is to support cultural activities that eliminate barriers to the accessibility of culture for disadvantaged sections of the population. The grant scheme is aimed at supporting projects whose target groups are disadvantaged sections of the population such as people with disabilities (physical, mental, visual impairments, hearing impairments, and also protection of mental health - in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
The Ministry of Culture cooperates with various civil society organisations and experts in the field of disadvantaged groups through a range of specialist committees and working groups, in informal education and legislative activities concerned with the development of the cultural rights of such groups. These include the Slovak Blind and Partially Sighted Union, the Association for Helping People with Mental Disabilities in the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Deaf Association etc.
There has been a significant improvement in cooperation with NGOs and the processes for the protection of disadvantaged groups' cultural rights have become more efficient.
No
Name of partner | Type of entity |
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NGO´s
| Civil Society Organization (CSO)
|
Evaluation is carried out in national and international strategic documents at various intervals (annually, biennially etc.).
Cooperation with NGOs increases the efficiency and dynamism of social processes and strengthens democratic principles in society.