Minister of Culture to cancel State Cultural Fund

Minister of Culture Jiří Besser says he wants to cancel the State Cultural Fund, which he said is indebted and has failed to fulfil its purpose. Speaking to the parliamentary committee for science, education and culture, Mr Besser said that the fund will be dissolved as quickly as possible, provided he has the support of the finance minister, with whom he plans to meet in the coming weeks. The fund for the development of cinematography would be kept. Parliament has supported the idea of cancelling the fund before, and the culture minister’s proposal has received nonpartisan support. The State Cultural Fund was established in 1992 with the aim of supporting important cultural projects independently of the state budget. However, the fund has been without its planned income for most of its existence.