According to the information provided by the Ministry for Culture and Innovation in 2024, the three most important issues in the field of youth community culture are:

• national identity, patriotism,
• health and climate awareness and
• strengthening access to culture.

Forthcoming policy developments

The Ministry of Culture and Innovation plans some key measures including mobilizing cultural services (such as mobile libraries and digital platforms) to reach underserved areas, promoting youth involvement in cultural heritage preservation, and supporting young artists through funding and exhibition opportunities. The internationalization of higher education is also emphasized through Erasmus+ and Ceepus programs.

The information provided by the ministry also emphatically mentions the EU frameworks that shape cultural policies. The adoption of the Council Conclusions on Improving and Fostering Access to Culture (C/2024/7446) during Hungary's EU Presidency signals key directions. This document outlines recommendations for enhancing cultural engagement, particularly for young people.

Among its youth-focused provisions, EU Member States are encouraged to support formal, informal, and non-formal cultural education to foster cultural curiosity, talent development, and entrepreneurial skills. This approach seeks to equip young people with the creative competencies needed to shape a better society. Additionally, the conclusions stress the importance of sustainable partnerships between schools, artists, and cultural organizations, ensuring that cultural programmes remain inclusive and accessible, particularly for students with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The document also calls for lifelong learning initiatives, improved access to arts education and cultural practices, and the development of innovative, youth-friendly cultural formats that encourage greater participation in cultural life.

Additionally, the 2024 Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe held in Hungary, focused on youth engagement in heritage transmission, cultural innovation, and community participation.

Ongoing debates

Current discussions revolve around national identity, sustainability and climate awareness, and cultural accessibility. A key debate concerns the Human Resources Development Operational Programme Plus, where the European Commission supports school-led non-formal education, but cultural institutions argue for continued funding of their museum and drama education programmes, which have been highly effective. Stakeholders warn that reducing cultural engagement to one-off events, such as annual theatre visits, could disadvantage students, especially in rural areas.

The debate involves government bodies, cultural institutions, and EU policymakers, with no resolution yet reached regarding including cultural institutions in systemic non-formal education programmes, according to the information provided by the ministry in 2024.