On this page

1. Existence of a national strategy

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/updates

Existence of a national strategy

Strategy on culture

There is no national strategy for creativity and culture for young people. The most relevant document regarding cultural policies of the government is the 'cultural law' (Act CXL of 1997) which has been significantly modified in 2017 to express the policies related to the concept of basic cultural care. (For more information see sub-chapter 8.1 General context.)

The Hungarian Strategy of Popular Music

In 2020, the Hungarian Strategy of Popular Music (Magyar Könnyűzenei Stratégia) was launched for a period of 5 years with a budget of HUF 25 billion (EUR 64.1 million).

The strategy was administered by the Ministerial Commissioner Responsible for the Renewal of Hungarian Popular Music but with the changes in the governmental structure this position has ceased and the execution of the strategy is currently coordinated by the Petőfi Cultural Agency (Petőfi Kulturális Ügynökség).

According to ministry information, the development of the strategy is not a priority in the current economic and political situation.

Scope and contents

As already mentioned, there is no strategy for creativity and culture. However, elements and directions of planning for young people's creativity and culture can be found in some primary strategic documents.

The National Youth Strategy

The National Youth Strategy 2009-2024 (Nemzeti Ifjúsági Stratégia 2009-2024), under the specific objective of 'Empowering youth age groups and their communities', lists 'Creation of cultural values, culture mediation' as a sub-chapter.

The partial objectives are to

'improve the quality of cultural consumption and participation in culture; reduce regional inequalities; improve access to info-communication; enhance success and cooperation in an intercultural environment'.

The specific partial objectives are the following:

• facilitating access to cultural values,
• developing the relationship between the culture mediating institutional system and the age group, and
• encouraging intercultural experience.

One of the problems the document addresses, is related to the high price of consuming high culture and the non-integrated nature of youth discounts. The proposed solution aims to make culture accessible to all young people. Discounts for entry to cultural institutions already exist, but the common framework is provided by the National Unified Card System (Nemzeti Egységes Kártyarendszer). Currently, student cards (and parking cards) are in the system, but an extension is foreseen in the near future.

The Hungarian Strategy on Popular Music

The Hungarian Strategy of Popular Music 2020-2025 (Magyar Könnyűzenei Stratégia 2020-2025) states that

'from the point of view of national culture, the quality of popular music that young people listen to and their understanding of what they hear is not at all irrelevant.'

Thus a state recognition and popularisation of quality popular music is needed with a special emphasis on creating state recognised and supported popular music education

'which would cover everything from the choice of instruments in childhood, through the music school system and the teaching of popular music in public schools, or the higher education institutions.'

A notable development related to the Strategy is the launch of the BA-level education programme on contemporary popular music, by Egon Póka Art Academy and University of Miskolc.

Strategy on Sustainable Development

The Framework Strategy on Sustainable Development 2012 - 2024 (Nemzeti Fenntartható Fejlődés Keretstratégia 2012 - 2024) addresses the role of culture among the goals related to social resources. The strategy targets the whole population in general but some of its goals mention young people. The goal of 'Maintaining the heritage of the past, developing cultural services' states that

'it is necessary to strengthen social cohesion, to reproduce trust, to maintain operational community networks, to enhance values related to sustainability, to revive cultural traditions, to appreciate cultural diversity, to preserve intellectual, material and built heritage as well as to promote its values and sustainable use.'

Among the tasks of the national and local governments, the objective of developing human resources is connected to culture. The goal related to this states that the development

'is possible not only in educational institutions but as well as in other cultural institutions – such as public collections and community cultural centres. These institutions, with the right amount of financing, may launch programmes that can attract a large volume of the population. Participants can acquire new knowledge, familiarise themselves with the opportunities provided by the institutions and may develop their social relations. It is recommended to improve the cooperation of educational, training and cultural institutions, in order to develop the core competencies of the Hungarian population.' [Resolution 18/2013. (III. 28.) of the Parliament]

The Public Education Strategy

The Public Education Strategy 2021-2030 (Köznevelési stratégia 2021 - 2030) underlines the role of art education, as it 'provides experiential value through the complex development of students' creativity and problem-solving skills'. Art education, according to the strategy, contributes to 'the strengthening of national identity, the patriotic commitment and community building'. The strategy emphasises the role of learning outside the classroom,

'to develop and strengthen patriotic values through artistic creation, audio visual development, emotional education, sensitivity to values and the development of a sense of national identity.'

(For more information on the strategy, see sub-chapter 6.3 and sub-chapter 6.8.)

A flagship initiative to reach these aims is the Lázár Ervin programme (see sub-chapter 8.4).

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

As already mentioned, there is no national strategy in relation to creativity and culture. The objectives and sub-objectives relating to the consumption of culture by young people are delegated to the Minister Responsible for Culture. Programmes related to youth policy are managed by the State Secretariat for Families, and the Department of Young People of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium). After that, the youth-related programmes have belonged to the Minister without Portfolio Responsible for Families. Objectives related to community culture are mainly administered by the State Secretariat for Culture (Kultúráért Felelős Államtitkárság).

Revisions/updates

There is no national strategy for creativity and culture.