According to Georgian legislation, cultural organisations (as for other organisations) may have three types of legal status – state, private commercial legal entities and non-profit making (non-state) organisations.
The higher art schools, cultural heritage sites, archives, libraries, museums, most theatres (only a few are NNLEs), symphony orchestras, 3 folk ensembles and the centre, the Writers’ House, and the Cinema Centre are subordinated to the state (central and municipal authorities.).
Architecture, design, fashion, handicrafts, art galleries, TV and radio (except 2 public broadcasters), film studios, publishing houses, production and advertising firms, gaming, audio and video, multimedia and club industries, contemporary and electronic music fields are privately owned.
The nongovernmental sector more or less covers the areas of cultural heritage and cultural industry. Most of the intellectual resources are concentrated in this sector, but in terms of infrastructure it is still quite weak.
Cultural infrastructure was severely damaged during the hostilities of the 1990s and the economic crisis. Uncontrolled privatization in the 2000s destroyed many cultural heritage sites and disrupted the integrity of the historical city network. At the same time, the restoration and renovation of facilities of national importance (state theatres, higher art schools, churches, etc.) was carried out in cooperation with the state, international donors and the private sector. Often the share of the private sector far exceeded that of public investment.
Today, the issue of cultural infrastructure is still acute and budget funds cannot cover its needs.
“The cultural infrastructure dissemination in Georgia according to the CDIS survey is 0.312. This final result of 0.312 is low for the average indicator of spaces designed for museums, libraries, exhibitions and performing arts in Georgia” (Source: UNESCO “Culture for Development Indicators (CDIS) Georgia”, 2017; EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme).
Therefore, in the Culture Strategy 2025 approved in 2016, this issue is given a strategic role: “Cultural Infrastructure and New Technologies.”
Objective: The development and effective management of the cultural infrastructure contributes to producing and disseminating high-quality cultural products and services, preserving cultural properties and improving the working environment in accordance with international standards.”
In 2021-2024, there were no significant changes in the legal status of most cultural institutions.
In general, the number of non-governmental sector organizations has increased, especially those engaged in protecting and defending the rights of representatives of the cultural sphere. The reason for this trend is the anti-democratic and unprofessional policy of the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia and its leadership, which consists of law enforcers. The need for human rights organizations in the cultural sphere arose after the mass and inadequate dismissals of experienced professionals from state institutions of culture and science.
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