1. Cultural policy system
Azerbaijan
Last update: October, 2021
The current cultural policy operating in the Republic of Azerbaijan is developed based on universal values, the national history of statehood, culture and art, and in line with main European cultural policy principles such as the promotion of identity and diversity, support for creativity, participation in cultural life, respect for artistic rights and ethics. National culture plays a significant role in the consciousness of Azerbaijanis, and the achievements of arts and literature organically fit into their mentality, axiological attitudes and everyday behaviour. In this context, the primary purpose of cultural policy in Azerbaijan comprises the harmonisation of relations between culture, arts workers, the people and the state. It means building relationships in which culture develops based on internal needs, creative persons realise their potential, audiences receive aesthetic inspiration, and the state provides due support.
As a result of general development and the formation of an independent state policy, the Culture Concept of the Republic of Azerbaijan (No. 273 dated 14 February 2014) has formed a systems approach to the understanding of the main cultural policy objectives at the level of the highest executive document in the field of culture. Thus, the government policy implemented in recent years involves adjusting cultural policy provision mechanisms to actual requirements of cultural activity and artistic creativity. First of all, that implies improvement and further development of:
- cultural legislation (national, international, copyright);
- financing (public budget, paid cultural services, fundraising);
- administration (public institutions, creative unions, private enterprises);
- information (research, databases, mass media);
- human resources (education and training, social security, encouragement);
- infrastructure (buildings, equipment, supply);
- international cooperation (multilateral, bilateral, diaspora).
It should be noted that the state cultural policy currently being implemented in the Republic of Azerbaijan follows the model of harmonious development based on historical continuity. This attitude is necessary to bring together a comprehensive approach to practical handling simultaneously with artefacts from different eras, modern art achievements, and new artistic technologies looking into the future. Rock painting of Gobustan and Nakhchivan dates back thousands and tens of thousands of years, the first opera and ballet in the East, symphonic-mugham and jazz-mugham, and professional theatre and cinema arts, which have emerged in Azerbaijan in the 19th century, and so on. All of it, including the latest forms of creativity, lives, breathes and requires increased attention and responsibility to the descendants.
Considering all of it, a temporal, "yesterday-today-tomorrow" approach, has been developed in the current national cultural policy, defined by the Concept of Culture. Thus, the whole variety of manifestations of culture and art in the life of modern Azerbaijani society is usually subdivided into:
- cultural heritage (tangible-immovable, movable, intangible);
- professional arts (music, theatre, fine arts);
- cultural industries (cinematography, publishing, intersectional industries).
Thanks to this systematisation used in the country, there are cultural and political opportunities for targeted and qualified development of programmes, road maps, and action plans in all these areas of creative activity in culture and art to set specific tasks and monitor key performance indicators.
The cultural policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan is constantly developing, comprehending and rethinking itself. In general, society and the state have already understood their roles in culture by virtue of the Concept of Culture. Now, the issue is to apply this understanding successfully. Spontaneous attempts to implement separate, unrelated and isolated individual programmes, which were not as effective as a rule, do not work anymore. Projects for the sake of projects and programmes for the sake of programmes mislead nobody now. This time has passed, and concrete long-term and sustainable results are needed. Following the conceptual understanding of the theory and practice of managing the sphere of culture, the agenda of public administration actualised the need, in an integrated and systematic approach, the necessity for a comprehensive and long-term strategy.
Based on this understanding, and precisely in these conditions, the draft Culture Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the period up to 2030 is being developed. Within the framework of this general long-term strategy, medium-term and short-term programmes, projects, road maps and so on will be prepared. A characteristic feature of the strategy is that it involves a strong intensification of creating databases and registers in all areas of culture and art. It has become especially evident in the period of social isolation and the increasing importance of virtual representation. The execution of the decisions will also be put on the rails; the state institutions have taken it seriously and require an account to society for each declared task. A separate requirement of the cultural policy was increased financial discipline and a gradual transition to programme-targeted financing.
Historical background for the past 70 years
1950-1960. Azerbaijan is part of an empire that occupied and liquidated the first secular parliamentary state in the East - the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918-1920). These are the years of transition to a political thaw. As a result, in 1953, the Ministry for Culture of the Azerbaijan SSR was established with minor powers.
1961-1970. The first signs of individualism and rejection of principles of socialist realism became visible at the end of the 1950s and the beginning of the 1960s. Since that period, the arts have gradually emancipated themselves from state control.
1971-1980. Large-scale measures to develop the economy, the creation of numerous industrial enterprises in Azerbaijan. The republic gets money for culture and arts, the formation of an influential creative environment.
1981-1990. A powerful surge of national and cultural awareness, which Soviet tanks are trying to crush on 20 January 1990, in the streets of Baku.
1991-2000. 18 October 1991 is the day of restoration of the State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Destruction of the cultural infrastructure in the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia. The National Leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, was returned to the leadership of the state at the request of the people.
2001-2010. Years of modern cultural policy formation in active cooperation with UNESCO, the Council of Europe, ISESCO and other international organisations.
2011-2020. The Republic of Azerbaijan initiates many international cultural programmes and events and becomes a strong global cultural and political player. The territorial integrity of the country was restored on 10 November 2020. It meant restoring cultural integrity as well.
Last update: October, 2021
Source: The Ministry for Culture, 2021.
Source: The Ministry for Culture, 2021.
Last update: October, 2021
The Republic of Azerbaijan is a democratic, law-based, secular, unitary republic. The only source of state power in the Republic of Azerbaijan is the people of Azerbaijan. The Constitution, approved by a general referendum on 12 November 1995, provides the principle of division of powers: the Milli Majlis (Parliament) exercises legislative power; executive power belongs to the President; and law courts exercise judicial power.
Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan - one chamber body comprising 125 deputies, elected by direct elections for a 5-year term. The Culture Committee of the Milli Majlis is the leading committee concerned with drafting laws and decisions about forming and fulfilling the state policy on culture and protecting cultural heritage. The Culture Committee draws up draft laws concerned with culture, including language, literature, arts, museums, theatres, cinema, design, architecture, urban planning and development, library services, archival activities and protection of the cultural heritage. The Committee also gives its opinions about the draft laws submitted already.
The Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the courts of appeal, general courts and other specialised courts of the Republic of Azerbaijan implement judicial power. Judicial power is exercised through constitutional, civil and criminal proceedings and other means prescribed by law.
The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the Head of the state of Azerbaijan. He represents the state of Azerbaijan both within the country and in its foreign relations. The President is elected for a 7-year term by way of general, direct and equal elections, with a free, personal and secret ballot. The President appoints the Prime-minister by consent of the Parliament. The President establishes the Cabinet of Ministers to implement executive powers, subordinated and reporting to the President.
The Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan is the central executive body implementing state policy and regulation in culture, art, history and protection of cultural monuments, publishing and cinematography. The Ministry for Culture manages the cultural sphere at a centralised and local level. The management of enterprises located in the regions (except for theatres and cinemas) is under the direct control of the regional cultural departments and indirectly under the relevant structural units of the ministry. Cultural institutions and organisations located in Baku, which are of national importance and non-duplicated (for example, the Azerbaijan National Carpet Museum, the National Library, etc.), are under the direct control and management of the relevant structural units of the ministry.
The State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture was established by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (№ 409 of December 18, 2014). The State Service is the executive authority exercising state control in the field of protection of cultural heritage, use of immovable historical and cultural objects (monuments) under state protection, their restoration, reconstruction, conservation and reconstruction, except for the territories of "Icheri Sheher" State Historical-Architectural and "Gala" State Historical-Ethnographic Reserves and other relevant areas.
Last update: October, 2021
Sixteen regional departments for culture of the Ministry for Culture were established by merging and enlarging the previous 64 city and district departments for culture by the Presidential Decree On Improving the Structure of the Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (№ 1932 of March 29, 2016). As a result, this system's architecture changed to form a transparent and effective management system in the field of culture and to improve the structure of the Ministry for Culture.
At present, Baku City Culture Head Department and 15 regional departments of Sumgayit, Khachmaz, Ismayilli, Sheki, Kurdamir, Agstafa, Shamkir, Ganja, Barda, Agjabadi, Agdash, Sabirabad, Bilasuvar, Masalli and Lankaran, with 219 full-time positions, are carrying out the direct management of state-local culture and art institutions of the capital city and the regions. Following the Regulations on Regional Cultural Institutions approved by the Decision of the Board of the Ministry for Culture (No. 5/1 of October 3, 2018), the regional departments for culture participate in forming a unified state cultural policy in the regions and ensure the implementation of this policy. They also draft and implement various programmes to develop the relevant fields in the regions in coordination with the ministry.
The Presidential Decree On Improving the Activity of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (№844 of October 22, 2019) improved the management system of immovable cultural heritage in the regions. Five regional departments of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture were established to strengthen state control in protecting immovable historical and cultural monuments under state protection and ensure effective management. According to this decree, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the division of territorial affiliation of the Baku, Shabran, Gabala, Ganja and Salyan regional departments of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture. The number of employees of the regional departments of the Civil Service was determined to be 215 staff units, including 20 staff units for the staffing of the regional offices and 195 staff units for the guards of the monument.
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is an integral part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Accordingly, the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Azerbaijan, decrees of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, including those in the sphere of culture, are binding within the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. At the same time, given the constitutional status of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, the Ministry for Culture of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is responsible for regional cultural policy within its jurisdiction.
Last update: October, 2021
Territorial and administrative units are formed according to the Law on Territorial Structure and Administrative Division (№ 892-IQ of June 13, 2000). The Republic of Azerbaijan is administratively divided into 66 districts and 11 cities subordinate to the Republic. The districts are further divided into municipalities. Out of these, seven districts and one city is located within the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
The Ministry for Culture, being the central executive body implementing state cultural policy, manages the cultural sphere not only at a centralised but also at the local level through its regional and local structures. The 15 regional cultural departments of the Ministry for Culture manage state-local cultural enterprises, and five regional departments of the State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture and protect immovable cultural heritage located in the regions. State institutions of culture and art, monuments of history and culture, and a number of historical and cultural reserves, which are in the system of the Ministry for Culture, are financed from the central or regional budgets of the ministry.
District institutions of culture in the system of the Ministry for Culture act under their model regulations approved by the Decision of the Board of the Ministry for Culture (No. 6/1 of November 8, 2018), such as:
- The Model Regulations of History and Ethnography Museums;
- The Model Regulations on the Centralised Library System;
- The Model Regulations of Children's Schools of Music, Art and Painting;
- The Model Regulations of City (District) Cultural Centres;
- The Model Regulations of City (district) Heydar Aliyev centres;
- The Model Regulations of State Art Galleries operating in the Regions of the Republic.
The Ministry for Culture and its subordinate bodies cooperate with city/district executive authorities and self-government bodies in implementing the state cultural policy at the local level. "Regulations on local executive authorities" approved by the Presidential Decree (№ 648 of June 6, 2012) define the duties of the local executive power in the field of culture as follows:
- Implements state policy in the field of culture in the relevant area
- Makes proposals on draft state programmes for the development of culture and art and ensures the implementation of these programmes in the appropriate location;
- Organises protection of historical, cultural, natural monuments and cultural heritage sites with the Ministry for Culture.
For this purpose, departments of socio-political and humanitarian affairs and departments related to architecture are included in the city, district and city district executive authorities. For example, the Baku City Executive Power structure includes the Department of Protection of the city's cultural heritage and the Sector for registration of toponymy, architectural monuments, and allocated areas.
According to the Law on The Status of Municipalities (№ 698-IQ of July 2, 1999), they may assist in developing cultural institutions and preserving historical and cultural monuments via their local social protection and social development programmes.
Last update: October, 2021
Development of culture and art is among the priority areas of state support to non-governmental organisations, according to the Concept of State Support to Non-governmental Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan (№ 2288 of July 27, 2007).
Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organisations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan functioned from 13 December 2007. However, analysis and summarisation of the results of state support for non-governmental organisations made it necessary to build activities in this area on a more sophisticated basis and improve regulatory mechanisms for their active participation in the life of the state and society. As a result, Presidential Decree № 1317 of April 19, 2021, established a public legal entity, the "Agency of State Support to Non-Governmental Organisations of the Republic of Azerbaijan".
The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, which operates in education, health, cultural, social and other fields since 2004, are among the main non-governmental actors influencing cultural policy in the country. The Foundation actively participates in the preservation, restoration and use of cultural values and historical and cultural monuments, the implementation of musical projects, the organisation of art festivals and exhibitions.
The Union of Azerbaijan Writers, Union of Azerbaijan Composers, Union of Azerbaijan Artists, Union of Azerbaijan Theatrical Workers, Union of Azerbaijan Ashıqs, and Union of Cinematographers are among the most proactive non-governmental organisations. They play a significant consultative and lobbying role in corresponding spheres of culture and arts as well as concerning ethics and cultural rights.
Last update: October, 2021
Considering that drafting and putting the national cultural policy into practice requires joint efforts of two or more institutions, the Ministry for Culture cooperates closely within the Cabinet of Ministers with other ministries, state committees and relevant executive bodies.
General management is carried out by the Administration of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers, while regional cultural events and policies are coordinated with local executive authorities where necessary. Issues related to legislation on culture are discussed with the Parliamentary Committee on Culture and all kinds of regulations with the Ministry of Justice. Arising copyright issues are agreed with the Intellectual Property Agency.
On funding for culture procedures, it is necessary to communicate with the Ministry of Finance closely. At the same time, the infrastructure provision of cultural institutions and taxes for culture are coordinated with the Ministry of Economy and, where it is necessary, with the State Urban Planning and Architecture Committee. Likewise, projects in information-communication technologies are discussed, if needed, with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies.
The main partners of the Ministry for Culture in matters of education, training and research in culture are the Ministry of Education and the affiliated research institutes of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. On human resources issues, cooperation has been established with the State Examination Centre, the Ministry of Youth and Sport, and the State Committee on Family, Women and Children's Issues. In addition, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population administers the social welfare of cultural workers.
Multilateral cooperation within the frameworks of international organisations and international bilateral relations with foreign countries are coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while diaspora issues are under the jurisdiction of the State Committee on Work with the Diaspora.
The State Statistical Committee collects statistical data annually for further processing and systematisation.
In some cases, the President, or the Cabinet of Ministers, sets up specific organising committees and working groups, including representatives from the respective levels of government, to facilitate inter-ministerial cooperation and implement long-term state programmes or concrete projects. Their work includes concepts on the economy, science, education, culture, health, transport, the State Programme on Socio-economic Development of the Regions for 2019-2023, etc.
Government can also establish commissions to prepare national reports for international organisations. The Periodical Reports of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the International Pact on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which was prepared by a Governmental Commission, with the participation of high-level representatives of foreign, internal, justice, health, culture and tourism, education ministries and other relevant state bodies, e.g.
Last update: October, 2021
The rise in entertainment businesses, culture industries, and cultural tourism has attracted the attention of private companies; the number of private galleries, museums, antique shops, and national souvenirs and crafts producers is growing. In addition, design agencies, the book market, and printing houses are developing. Furthermore, the culture industries such as book publishing, the press, audio-visual and phonogram production, entertainment industries and new technologies are undergoing rapid development.
The general picture is that if you look at the directions, it is striking that the institutions and organisations of cultural heritage (immovable, movable and intangible) are mainly under the management of state bodies. On the contrary, the cultural industries' various forms of organisation are more concentrated in the private and non-state spheres. Professional art (music, theatre, fine arts) is somewhere in the middle in this "public-private scale". That is, where it is about the preservation of traditions and personnel training, it is primarily concentrated in state institutions. Nevertheless, the performing arts and concert activities are already more eager to monetise and are more commercial. Moreover, many activities in arts and culture, namely festivals, concerts, fairs, etc., both international and local, attract a significant share of sponsorship from the private sector.
In total, state cultural policy in cultural infrastructure prescribes:
- Modernisation of the material and technical bases with the construction of specialised buildings and rehabilitation of cultural institutions;
- Equipping cultural enterprises with modern engineering and information communication technologies;
- Providing cultural institutions with stage costumes, musical instruments, etc.
Last update: October, 2021
Table 1: Cultural institutions, by sector and domain
| Domain | Cultural institutions (subdomains) | Public sector | Public sector | Private sector | Private sector |
| Number (2020) | Trend last 5 years (In %) | Number (2020) | Trend last 5 years (In %) | ||
| Cultural heritage | Cultural heritage sites (recognised) | 6036 | -4.3% | - | - |
| Archaeological sites | 2550 | +24.7% | - | - | |
| Museums | Museum institutions | 239 | +2.1% | 1 | 0% |
| Archives | Archive institutions | 78 | 0% | - | - |
| Visual arts | Public art galleries / exhibition halls | 33 | 0% | - | - |
| Performing arts | Scenic and stable spaces for theatre | 29 | +3.6% | - | - |
| Concert houses | 10 | +11.1% | 6 | +20% | |
| Theatre companies | 29 | +6% | - | - | |
| Dance and ballet companies | 1 | 0% | - | - | |
| Symphonic orchestras | 1 | 0% | - | - | |
| Libraries | Libraries | 2922 | -9% | - | - |
| Audiovisual | Cinemas | 2 | -60% | 3 | +40% |
| Broadcasting organisations | 4 | 0% | 36 | +5.9% | |
| Inter-disciplinary | Socio-cultural centres / cultural houses | 2231 | -15.8% | - | - |
| Other (please explain) | Historical, cultural, architectural, art and ethnographic reserves | 28 | +7.7% | - | - |
| Child musical, art and painting schools | 238 | +0.4% | - | - |
Source(s): the State Statistical Committee, 2021 and the Ministry for Culture, 2021
There is no data available on private cultural institutions, only incomplete information. For example, you can still cite private cinemas, which decreased from five in 2015 to three in 2020. There is also data for one private museum, also for concert and broadcasting organisations. However, statistics for the private sector of other domains indicated in the table are not kept yet.
The State Service for Protection, Development and Restoration of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry for Culture deals with cultural and historical monuments, archaeological sites, and a number of historical, cultural, architectural, art and ethnographic reserves.
The Ministry for Culture manages public museums, art galleries, concert halls, theatres, libraries, cinemas, children's music, arts and painting schools, cultural houses, et cetera. The National Archive Fund manages archive institutions.
Although a tiny fraction of these institutions is run by other government agencies, for example, out of 2 922 public library units, two belong to the State Oil Company, 3 to the Confederation of Trade Unions, and another 24 to other organisations. In addition, out of the total number of museums in 239 institutions, three museums are under the Cabinet of Ministers, 4 of which are in the National Academy of Sciences. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Oil Company have one museum each. Out of 2 231 club establishments, the State Oil Company owns three, the Confederation of the Trade Unions owns seven, and 28 club institutions belong to other organisations.
Last update: October, 2021
Institutions and organisations of culture are functioning practically in all areas of cultural activity. Accordingly, the Concept of Culture undertakes to classify cultural institutions in heritage, art and cultural industries.
Archaeological, architectural, garden-park, monumental, memorial, decorative, applied art monuments, culture, architecture, art, and ethnographic reserves, form immovable cultural heritage. Museums of history, memory, ethnography, art, and archives and libraries protect movable cultural heritage. The centres of culture, houses of culture, and clubs represent the infrastructure of intangible cultural heritage (folklore, local lore and crafts).
Concert halls and theatres, art galleries and exhibition halls are places where professional art is widespread. Music, dance and art schools are places where professional skills and professional audiences are nurtured. Finally, film studios and cinemas, publishing houses and book houses represent directions of the cultural industries.
The majority of cultural institutions have public status, being financed by centralised or local budgets. Libraries, museums and art galleries are funded by public budgets, and the state partially subsidises the theatre-entertainment organisations. Salaries are guaranteed by the state, while expenditure on maintaining buildings or building new stages, etc., is carried out at the expense of the theatre-entertainment organisations. A high percentage of centralised expenditure goes on libraries and museums of national importance, subsidies to state theatres, centralised events, theatrical and musical performances, the visual arts, restoration of cultural monuments, creation of new monuments, and conduction of events in foreign countries, etc.
Structural reforms in these spheres explain a significant decline in public libraries (11% in the last five years) and socio-cultural centres/cultural houses (18.8% in the previous five years). Small neighbouring rural branches of Regional Centralised Library Systems were merged and consolidated. In addition, the Ministry for Culture carried out fundamental reforms in the field of the club system under the "Project for the establishment of the city (district) cultural centres". The project envisaged the establishment of one centre in each city or region, with other club institutions to be branches of the centre. In the future, some of the branches may be dedicated to crafts, ethnography and folklore. In the reform, the Ministry for Culture established 55 cities (district) cultural centres throughout the country.
The Presidential Decree On Measures to Improve the Structure and Management of the Ministry for Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan (January 15, 2019) envisages increasing the efficiency of cultural and educational institutions (libraries, cultural centres, clubs, music schools, art galleries, etc.) under the Ministry for Culture by:
- Reconstruction of the library system in the country, taking into account the opportunities of information and communication technologies, as well as the existing demand;
- Conducting an inventory of state-owned museums, optimising their activities and organising more advanced museum activities;
- More compact organisation of music schools by administrative-territorial units by conducting an inventory, to increase the efficiency of its activities;
- Improving the activities of cultural centres, cultural houses and clubs, art galleries by conducting an inventory, more compact organisation and raising the level of service in the administrative-territorial units of the country, taking into account the current needs.
Last update: October, 2021
After regaining its independence in 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan has pursued a policy of cooperation with many important international and regional organisations, like the UN, UNESCO, Council of Europe, European Union, World Tourism Organisation, Organisation of the Islamic Conference, ISESCO, TURKSOY, CIS, GUAM, IKKROM, IRSICA, etc.
The Ministry for Culture drafts and implements bilateral and multilateral foreign cultural policy in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the central executive body in Azerbaijan responsible for implementing all international relations and cooperation issues. The Republic regards the development and strengthening of global standard-setting activity as highly important and has acceded to many international conventions.
Active participation in the elected bodies of international organisations is also a priority for the dynamic and extensive cultural interchange with other countries. In this regard, the Republic of Azerbaijan was elected a member of the following structures:
- UNESCO Executive Board (2005-2009);
- Intergovernmental Committee for the Restoration and Promotion of the Return of Illegally Acquired Cultural Property (2011-2015);
- Deputy Chairman of the Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict (2011-2015 and 2015-2019);
- World Heritage Committee (2015-2019);
- Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2018-2022); and
- Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions (2019-2023).
The country is also interested in hosting major international cultural events, becoming one of the global players and policymakers. For example, the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC), held in Baku, Azerbaijan (25-27 April 2016) under the central theme on "Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and A Goal", is a brilliant example of international and even global cultural activity of the country.
The Ministry for Culture develops bilateral international relations, implements intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements, programmes, protocols and other documents to promote Azerbaijani culture and arts internationally. A developed legal framework for cooperation in culture with more than 40 countries exists and is planned to be updated and concretised. The diplomatic missions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in more than 70 countries and the embassies of more than 60 foreign countries in the Republic of Azerbaijan are constantly working on expanding cooperation.
Azerbaijan Cultural Centres operate under the diplomatic missions of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Uzbekistan, France, Austria and Germany. Currently, construction work is underway for a new Cultural Centre in Italy. The Ministry for Culture organises the activities of the Cultural Centres, carries out coordination work and promotes national culture through the Centres.
"The State Programme on Education of Azerbaijani Youth Abroad in 2007-2015" (№ 2090 of April 16, 2007 ) provided 5 000 Azerbaijani youth with education in various countries, the most prestigious universities in the USA, Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Turkey, Russian Federation, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and other countries, in various specialities, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. All of the expenses of those admitted to the programme during the period of study - airfares, visas, living expenses, and tuition fees - are paid by the state.
Last update: October, 2021
Since 1999, Azerbaijan has participated in the CoE / ERICarts comparative research project "Cultural Policy in Europe: a Compendium of Key Facts and Trends." From 2001 to 2005, Azerbaijan participated in the Council of Europe "STAGE" Project, followed by the Kyiv Initiative Regional Programme (KI). Since 2011, Azerbaijan has joined the Council of Europe's Cultural Routes project. The Twinning Project was implemented in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2016-2017.
“Icheri Sheher, Maiden Tower and Shirvanshahs Palace Complex" (2000), "Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape" (2007), and the "Historical centre of Sheki together with Khan Palace" (2019) are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List". Gobustan National Historical and Artistic Reserve and Icheri Sheher State Historical and Architectural Reserve were granted enhanced protection status in 2013. Two cities are included in the UNESCO Network of Creative Cities: Sheki on the theme of "art and crafts" (2017), and Baku on the theme of "design" (2019).
UNESCO included fifteen samples of Azerbaijan's intangible cultural heritage on the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage: "Azerbaijani Mugham", "Art of Azerbaijani Ashiq", "Novruz", "Azerbaijani carpet weaving art", "Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game", Yalli (Kochari, Tenzere), and the traditional group dances of Nakhchivan, et cetera.
ISESCO declared "Baku - the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2009, and Nakhchivan - the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2018. Likewise, TURKSOY declared Sheki the cultural capital of the Turkic world for 2016.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has ratified (№ 918-IIIQ of November 26, 2009) the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. The central ministries dealing with implementing this convention are the Ministry for Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan for UNESCO.
Last update: October, 2021
The state encourages trans-national cooperation between arts and heritage institutions, professional associations, networks, and other NGO actors in cultural policy, heritage protection, theatre, dance, film, music, etc. At present, the Ministry for Culture funds yearly membership fees to several international organisations. In addition, it supports the participation of Azerbaijan specialists at conferences of the European Music Council, World Congresses of Dance Researchers, European Council of Artists conferences, etc.
Each higher education institution, the Baku Academy of Music, the Baku Choreography Academy, the State University of Culture and the Arts, Azerbaijan National Music Academy, Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, carries out various international activities. Moreover, they all have agreements with leading foreign higher educational institutions regarding training students, exchanging experience, and implementing joint projects.
The Union of Azerbaijan Theatrical Workers, Union of Azerbaijan Journalists, Union of Azerbaijan Ashıqs, Azerbaijan National Culinary Association, other creative unions and professional cultural networks have extensive ties around the world with their foreign colleagues and similar organisations. They organise joint events, exhibitions, concerts, hold international festivals and competitions, and implement mutually exciting projects in their areas of activity.
Large institutions in the field of culture and art, libraries, museums, cinematographic institutions, publishing houses, art galleries, reserves, research centres, et cetera, independently conduct active international activities with the support of government agencies, if necessary.
Backing for international festivals are one element of direct professional cooperation, and the Ministry for Culture supports national and international conferences and festivals organised by different professional communities. Among such events are the regular International Mugham Festivals, International Music Festivals in memory of Uzeyir Hajibeyli, International Qabala Music Festivals, International Mstislav Rostropovich Festivals, and so on.
The readers of this project may be interested in the fact that, for example, the 10th-anniversary meeting of the project "Compendium of Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe" was held in Baku on 4-5 December 2008, with the participation of many eminent researchers from the Council of Europe and ISESCO member-states. It was a rather unusual and exciting meeting of cultural policy researchers to offer a significant opportunity to promote intercultural dialogue and examine new opportunities for future transnational cooperation.