On this page

1. Governance

2. Cross-sectorial cooperation

Governance

In North Macedonia, culture is recognized as an important area in national regulations, with young people included both as part of the general public and as a specific target group in some cultural events and projects. Governance of culture and youth is therefore complex, involving multiple stakeholders at national and local levels.

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism is the main governmental body responsible for culture at the national level. It proposes laws, oversees the implementation of national cultural programmes, and coordinates with institutions, local authorities, and other stakeholders. The Ministry leads the implementation of the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, which includes six programmes and seventeen sub-programmes covering cultural development, heritage protection, infrastructure, support for the independent cultural scene, and youth participation. The draft National Strategy for Development of Culture 2023–2027 exists but has not yet been adopted.

Public cultural institutions—including museums, theaters, libraries, cultural centers, opera houses, and others—implement cultural policies at national and local levels. They provide cultural offerings to citizens and are primarily funded through the state budget based on annual cultural activity programmes.

Municipalities play a key role in youth and culture. Since decentralization reforms in 2005, local authorities are responsible for culture and youth within their jurisdictions. Part of the municipal budget is dedicated to youth-focused cultural activities, and several municipalities have adopted local youth strategies.

Non-state actors are also essential for the cultural scene. Civil society organizations and youth associations organize festivals, cultural events, and youth programmes. The private sector contributes by organizing concerts, festivals, cinema screenings, and sponsorship of cultural events. Independent artists and groups—such as theatre companies, music bands, and creative collectives—also shape cultural offerings.

Cross-sectorial cooperation

Cross-sectorial cooperation in North Macedonia exists mainly through participatory consultations rather than formalized or standardized mechanisms. This means that while there is no permanent, structured framework for cooperation between all stakeholders, different actors are regularly involved in the creation of policies, programmes, and strategies in the cultural and youth sectors. For example, the National Strategy for Development of Culture 2018–2022 and the National Youth Strategy 2023–2027 were developed through wide-ranging consultations that included national institutions, local authorities, civil society organizations, cultural associations, independent artists, experts, and young people themselves.