Luxembourg

Last update: February, 2023

In general, Luxembourg Governments put a strong emphasis on cultural and natural heritage, the subsequent governmental programmes giving it a key priority in the Government’s cultural policy.

In this regard, one of the main policy objectives of the current government coalition[1] relates to the definition and finalisation of a fundamental reform of the law on cultural heritage. With a legislation that dated back to 1983 and a failed reform attempt twenty years ago, minister of Culture Sam Tanson succeeded in proposing a new text that is based on a large public consultation process and constitutes an important paradigm shift.

A law on cultural heritage was indeed voted in Parliament on February 10, 2022. This law covers archaeological heritage, architectural heritage, movable heritage and intangible heritage. Its objective is to implement international and European law in this area – including the conventions of Faro, Granada, Valletta and Florence – and to modernise the existing legal framework by providing more coherence to the protection and conservation of the cultural heritage, as well as legal certainty.

The need for a new an adapted legislation became indeed ever more urgent: while between 1928 and 2008, only some 700 buildings were protected by state legislation, the number of protections stood at 1 643 in 2020.[2] The competent public administration has been working together with the municipalities at the level of their general development plans (PAG/Plan d'aménagement général[3]) to identify more sites and monuments to be protected.[4] As of 2020, the new PAGs of 53 municipalities provide municipal protection to more than 13 700 buildings.[5]

Based on the adoption of the new law on cultural heritage, ongoing efforts now aim at creating a Centre for Monuments of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (Centre des Monuments du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg)[6], which entails adapting the public cultural institutes’ missions, as well as creating a National centre of Public Collections (Centre national des collections publiques)[7].

Complementing the governmental programme, further objectives in relation with cultural heritage have been developed in the Cultural development plan 2018-2028 (KEP)[8], together with policy guiding recommendations[9].

Besides these overall measures, a lot of emphasis has been put on the development of a national inventory of intangible cultural heritage with the creation of a dedicated post and a specific website (www.iki.lu). New elements have been continuously inscribed on the inventory since 2018 and the national inventory thus now lists elements of all domains of the living heritage. The inscription of elements on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity has been pursued in parallel, often on the basis of multilateral candidatures (such as the musical art of horn players, a multilateral candidature from France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Italy that was inscribed in 2020).

Industrial cultural heritage is also specifically revalorised, notably in the context of and through the European Capitals of Culture 2007 and 2022, as well as the recent agreement between the ministry of Culture and the association in charge of the establishment of a National Center for Industrial Culture.[10]

In line with the overall governmental strategy on digitisation, the ministry of Culture has greatly invested in the development and implementation of a national digital strategy for the cultural heritage and creative sectors. In a collaborative process with the institutes and units in charge of collecting, documenting, preserving and valorising cultural heritage, such as libraries, archives and museums, the main strategic orientations of the national strategy for digital cultural heritage (SNPCN) were developed. They are to:

• Provide broad and inclusive access to digital cultural heritage collections
• Create synergies between cultural institutes
• Develop a sustainable and quality oriented digital cultural heritage ecosystem

The implementation of these strategic objectives is divided into two main components:

• Development of the Réseau de compétence national (National Competence Network) between cultural institutes in order to set up a common reference framework for the digital development of cultural heritage;
• Support the digital transformation within cultural institutes.[11]

On the level of international and European cooperation, Luxembourg is actively involved and contributes to cultural heritage conventions, programmes and debates, particularly in the realm of:

• UNESCO:

Luxembourg is home to several UNESCO-recognised cultural sites and events:

• The Old Quarters and Fortifications of the City of Luxembourg, World Heritage since 1984 (the 25th anniversary of the inscription was celebrated in 2019 with a number of specific participatory projects[12])
• The Minett region, UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2020
• The Whit Tuesday dancing procession, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2010
• The photographic exhibition The Family of Man, UNESCO Memory of the World Programme since 2003
• European Union, within for example the Commission expert group on cultural heritage, the Reflection group “EU and Cultural Heritage”, the Commission Expert Group on the common European Data Space for Cultural Heritage, European Heritage Label coordinators
• Council of Europe, particularly in the context of the European Heritage Days and Herein Network
• Cross border association “Greater Region”: under its presidency, Luxembourg organised a conference in 2018 on «Cultural and Natural Heritage in the Greater Region»”[13]
• ICOM: a convention between the State and Luxembourg-ICOM has been signed in 2020.

“Public awareness and participation has been continuously optimised with events such as the European Heritage Days[14], the Luxembourg Museum Day, the International Museum Day, the Museum Night (Nuit des musées), the World Heritage Day[15], as well as the activities of associations, such as Fondation Bassin Minier, Centre de Documentation sur les Migrations Humaines, or Minett Park/Fond-de-Gras.

[1] Les partis de la coalition DP, LSAP et déi gréng (2018) Accord de coalition 2018-2023, p. 84.

[2]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2020%2B10-octobre%2B01-tanson-patrimoine-architecturale.html; Accessed 7 December 2021.

[3] https://amenagement-territoire.public.lu/fr/glossaire/p/PAG.html

[4] See more at https://ssmn.public.lu/fr.html

[5]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2020%2B10-octobre%2B01-tanson-patrimoine-architecturale.html; Accessed 7 December 2021.

[6] See more: Rapport d'activité du Ministère de la Culture 2020, p. 136. Accessible at: https://data.public.lu/fr/datasets/rapports-dactivite-du-ministere-de-la-culture/#_

[7] See more: Rapport d'activité du Ministère de la Culture 2020, p. 135. Accessible at: https://data.public.lu/fr/datasets/rapports-dactivite-du-ministere-de-la-culture/#_

[8] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 - Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p. 129.

[9] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 - Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p. 129 and p. 167

[10]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2020%2B01-janvier%2B27-tanson-convention.html; Accessed 7 December 2021.

[11] Rapport d'activité du Ministère de la Culture 2020, p. 83. Accessible at: https://data.public.lu/fr/datasets/rapports-dactivite-du-ministere-de-la-culture/#_

[12] https://www.ovpm.org/2019/07/25/25-years-world-heritage-luxembourg/; Accessed 15 November 2021.

[13] https://www.culture.gouv.fr/en/Regions/Drac-Grand-Est/actu/an/2018/Rencontre-Le-patrimoine-culturel-et-naturel-en-Grande-Region; Accessed 15 November 2021

[14] See also https://journeesdupatrimoine.lu/

[15]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2020%2B06-juin%2B04-journee-patrimoine-mondial.html; Accessed 7 December 2021.

Last update: February, 2023

Support for archives and libraries is in line with the focus of the government to invest in its knowledge-intensive services, education and research.

The adoption of the law of 17 August 2018 on archiving marked an important step in that regard as “[i]t establishes better information and archive management at national level, which is essential for maintaining Luxembourg's collective memory and for the proper functioning of the public administration and the democratic system. It also enables the National Archives of Luxembourg (ANLux) to fulfil their mission in an efficient manner and to guarantee the preservation of and access to the national archival heritage.”[1]

The expansion of the National Archives is also one of the priorities of the governmental coalition in that field[2]: on July 23, 2020, the Parliament adopted the bill on the construction and equipment of a new building for the National Archives and the development of the surrounding area. The new building, which should be completed in 2024, will bring together the administration as well as all the repositories of the National Archives on a single site, which is currently not the case. The new structure will also allow for more storage capacities under improved professional and technical conditions, thus meeting the requirements of modern archiving. Its location in Esch-Belval will allow synergies with the University of Luxembourg and the various research centres located there.[3]

The missions of the National Literature Center (CNL), also called Luxembourgish literature archive, encompass the conservation, research, appreciation and transmission of literature in Luxembourg. The CNL thus “collect[s] items relevant to Luxembourgish literature from 1815 onwards”, ranging from authors’ manuscripts, letters, digital files and personal objects to historical documents and records of the influence of Luxembourgish literature, but also “fulfills a duty of conservation, analysis and transmission of Luxembourg’s multilingual literary heritage”. [4]

A web archive site has been launched in 2020 by the National Library of Luxembourg to serve as an information platform and access point for archives related to all of the documents published in Luxembourg in digital format. The National Library will similarly collect and preserve in the long-term all sites with the domain name ".lu" and other targeted sites put online by residents of Luxembourg.

Since its origins in the 19^th century, the National Library of Luxembourg (BnL) is the biggest public library in the country, as well as the main scientific and study library. A multifunctional library, it sees itself as a key player in the knowledge society and as a place of cultural encounter. Furthermore, the BnL coordinates bibnet.lu, the national network of Luxembourg libraries that it established in 1985 and that currently has 90 members, including academic/university and research libraries, school libraries, public and specialized libraries. Bibnet.lu proposes a joint network catalogue that combines the resources of all the member libraries, making them easily accessible to the public.[5]

Co-created with the University of Luxembourg, the BnL also coordinates the Luxembourg Consortium. The purpose of the Consortium is the acquisition and management of electronic publications. Its offer is essential for the development of the knowledge-based society, serving academia, research, state officials and the general public through a national accessibility policy. The BnL centralizes administration, software management, access and negotiation of licenses. Since January 1, 2009, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) and the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) are also part of it.

The ebooks.lu programme, produced by 11 public libraries in collaboration with the BnL and the Higher Council of Public Libraries is acquiring and managing the digital publications, the public consultation of which has been growing, especially since the beginning of the pandemic. Since 2020, the offer has been supplemented by audio books. In summer 2020, the read-y program has been launched as a result of a collaboration between the BnL and the ministry of Education’s “Service de Coordination de la Recherche et de l'Innovation pédagogiques et technologiques”. Books purchased in this context are also accessible on ebooks.lu.[6]

An important governmental investment in libraries consists in the recent construction of a new landmark building for the National Library. Inaugurated in 2019, it also houses the “Bicherbus” (book bus) that serves more than 100 Luxembourgish municipalities[7], providing access to literature and culture, especially in areas of the country which do not have a public library in the immediate vicinity.

In terms of promotion and support of libraries, the current government has foreseen the pooling of resources and deepening of collaboration among large libraries. A revision and simplification of the law on public libraries us currently in preparation.[8]

The Luxembourg Learning Center (LLC), University library in Belval, supports the development of informational skills as well as research excellence throughout the research lifecycle: from documentary research services, to dissemination, access and research visibility.[9]

The interests of the professions and sectors linked to archives and libraries in Luxembourg are supported by a couple of associations and structures, in particular ALBAD (Association Luxembourgeoise des Bibliothécaires, Archivistes et Documentalistes), VLA (Veräin vun de Lëtzebuerger Archivisten), ULBP (Union Luxembourgeoise Des Bibliotheques Publiques), jonk BAD (Bibliothéikswiesen-, Archivistik- an Dokumentatiouns-Studenten), the Council of Archives (with an advisory mission for all matters relating to archives[10]), and the Higher Council of Public Libraries (advisory body of the ministry of Culture for, among others, the exchange of information related to the activities of public libraries as well as the coordination of cultural activities promoting reading and knowledge). In addition, there are actions in favour of the development of documentary research skills.[11]

Luxembourg is also an engaged European player in the archives and libraries field, being represented notably in EBILDA/European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations. In addition, FëBLux asbl, a non-governmental non-profit organisation, has been acting since 2009 as a fundraising organisation for public libraries in Luxembourg, aiming to raise funds to help organizations contributing to the promotion of public libraries in Europe.

[1] https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2018/09-septembre/03-loi-archivage.html

[2] Les partis de la coalition DP, LSAP et déi gréng (2018) Accord de coalition 2018-2023, p. 87.

[3] https://anlux.public.lu/fr/actualites/2020/nouveau-batiment-belval-vote.html; Accessed 15 November 2021.

[4] https://cnl.public.lu/en/cnl/mission.html

[5] https://www.bibnet.lu/blog/?page_id=8446; Accessed 15 November 2021.

[6] Rapport d'activité du Ministère de la Culture 2020, p. 125. Accessible at: https://data.public.lu/fr/datasets/rapports-dactivite-du-ministere-de-la-culture/#_

[7]https://wwwfr.uni.lu/etudiants/informations_utiles_de_a_a_z/bibliotheque_universitaire_luxembourg_learning_centre_llc; Accessed 15 November 2021.

[8] Les partis de la coalition DP, LSAP et déi gréng (2018) Accord de coalition 2018-2023, p. 89.

[9]https://wwwfr.uni.lu/etudiants/informations_utiles_de_a_a_z/bibliotheque_universitaire_luxembourg_learning_centre_llc; Accessed 15 November 2021.

[10] Rapport d'activité du Ministère de la Culture 2020, p. 126. Accessible at: https://data.public.lu/fr/datasets/rapports-dactivite-du-ministere-de-la-culture/#_

[11] https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2020/12-decembre/09-storn-culture.html; Accessed 29 November 2021.

Last update: February, 2023

In order to promote and valorise the performing arts sector, there are two types of prominent awards: the Luxembourg Theatre Prizes (Lëtzebuerger Theaterpräisser) and the Luxembourg Dance Prize (Lëtzebuerger Danzpräis).

The creation of the biennial Lëtzebuerger Theaterpräisser is a long-standing demand of the sector, pleading for the valorisation of theatre professions through such public recognition. There are four categories, each winning a prize with 10,000 euros (national prize), 4 500 EUR (“On the stage” prize and “Behind the stage” prize) and 3 500 EUR (rising talent).

The Lëtzebuerger Danzpräis is awarded every two years by the ministry of Culture since 2011. The prize is worth 10 000 EUR and is intended to reward the artistic merit of a choreographer or dancer in the field of choreographic art.[1]

In June 2021, the ministry of Culture has organised the "Assises sectorielles du théâtre", a meeting with the stakeholders of the theatre sector, during which a stocktaking analysis on Luxembourg's theatre sector was presented. Two round tables then discussed two main issues facing the sector today: sustainability and eco-responsibility in the theatre, and working conditions in the theatre.[2]

During these two round tables, the professionals observed that there is currently an "overproduction" in theatres, which leads to "exhaustion" with more rehearsals than actual performances. The adjustment of production methods for shows, as well as the demands of professionals in terms of, for example, tariff recommendations thus animate debates and works that are currently underway.

According to the Theater Federation, Luxembourg’s association of theatres, cultural centres, theatre and dance companies as well as independent artists and intermittent workers in the theatre and dance sector, the country has indeed “witnessed exceptional growth in the theatre and performing arts sector” during the past few decades with a professional network whose activity “revolves around an impressive number of productions each year, many of them local productions or co-productions, created in cooperation with international partners, as well as hosting guest performances from abroad.” [3]

At the same time, “a particular characteristic of the theatre and dance scene in Luxembourg is the absence of permanent in-house companies. Performing arts professionals work under the status of “travailleur intellectuel indépendant”, which means they usually do not have fixed long-term contracts. Typically, an artist, director or set designer signs a contract for the length of a production only.”[4]

State support is foreseen for independent professional artists and intermittent workers (notably in the sector of performing arts). According to the Amended law of 19 December 2014 relating to social measures for the benefit of independent professional artists and intermittent performers and the promotion of artistic creation, artists who work professionally, creating cultural assets and producing artistic works, may indeed benefit from social assistance for a period of 24 months (renewable) on the provision that they fulfil prerequisites, such as being continuously registered in Luxembourg for at least 6 months prior to the request, having performed artistic services for at least 3 years etc. Intermittent workers in the entertainment industry, who alternate between periods of employment and periods of inactivity, are entitled to involuntary-out-of-work benefits, provided for instance that they have worked for at least 80 days over the course of the 365 calendar days prior to the application, that during that time they worked either for businesses, for any type of entertainment organiser or in the context of a production, etc.[5]

Considering that certain of these provisions are no longer appropriate due to the evolution of the cultural sector in recent years as well as the evolution of the professionals’ working and living conditions (notably because of the Covid19 pandemic), an adaptation to this legislation has been submitted to Parliament in November 2021 by the ministry of Culture. The proposed amendments are the result of a dialogue between the various representatives of the artistic and cultural scene, launched at the end of 2019 by a public consultation, which aimed to launch reflections on the usefulness of such an adaptation. Consequently, changes applying to artists would comprise, for instance, the reduction of one year, or even the exemption (for university graduates) of the reference period preceding the application, as well as increase in the period of the benefit of aid and of the amounts of monthly aid. For intermittent workers, the scope will be broadened to include more professions and activities, a possibility of suspending the period of eligibility for aid (in the event of illness, maternity leave, parental leave, etc.) will be introduced, etc.

[1] https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2021/09-septembre/18-tanson-theaterprais-danzprais.html; Accessed 16 November 2021.

[2] https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2021/06-juin/28-assises-sectorielles-theatre.html

[3] https://www.theater.lu/en/professionals/working-in-theatre/luxembourgs-cultural-landscape/; Accessed 16 November 2021.

[4] https://www.theater.lu/en/professionals/working-in-theatre/professional-status/

[5] https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/loisirs-benevolat/culture-tourisme/statut-artiste.html

Last update: February, 2023

The relatively young Luxembourg visual arts sector has seen many dynamic developments, often thanks to public funding and supporting cultural policies and measures, with a long tradition for instance of publicly commissioned works. The latter are regulated by a 2014 law on the promotion of artistic creation that foresees, notably that during the construction of a building by the State, or the construction of a building by municipalities or public establishments financed or subsidized to a large extent by the State, a percentage of the total cost of the building, which can be below 1% and cannot exceed 10%, is allocated to the acquisition of artistic works to be integrated into the building. The maximum amount to be allocated to the acquisition of artistic works is 500 000 EUR per building.

The cultural policy foresees State funding for the development of cultural infrastructures and for grants and bursaries[1]. Moreover, the ministry of Culture is also pursuing a strategy of purchasing and commissioning works by Luxembourg artists. It also awards two prizes for visual artists on a rotation basis every two years: Prix Pierre Werner and Prix Révélation. In 2022, the ministry also created a new award, the Lëtzebuerger Konschtpräis, a biennial prize that is awarded to an artist for his/her body of work, his/her career and his/her lasting commitment to the Luxembourg art scene.[2] In complement, the association Cercle artistique Luxembourg organises every year an exhibition that is an important meeting place for local artists. Since 1902, it also awards every two years the Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe.[3]

Support in photography is being provided through various actors: besides crosscutting schemes from the ministry of Culture, the Centre national de l'audiovisuel plays an important role insofar as its missions include the production or support of production of works in the audiovisual field and to encourage studies, research and training. As part of these missions, the CNA has set up its grant "Bourse CNA - Aide à la création et à la diffusion en photographie" and created the Portfolio Days and Night, a triennial international forum for contemporary photography.

Luxembourg-born photographer Edward Steichen has inspired the setting up in 2004 of the Edward Steichen Award as “a biennial incentive supporting emerging European talents in the field of contemporary art (not only photography), initiated to support young artists’ international horizon and networks, especially between Luxembourg and New York, where Edward Steichen gained artistic prominence”.[4] Likewise, the European Month of Photography is an important biennial event.

Since 2015, the annual organisation of the privately run Luxembourg Art Week has become an important vector and meeting place for contemporary art. Likewise, Luxembourg’s presence at major international events has been much developed in the last years, notably through the decision to invest to become more visible at the Venice Biennale by transferring its pavilion to the Arsenale in 2018[5] or by supporting since 2017 a yearly high-profile showcase opportunity at the Rencontres d’Arles photography festival.

Based on an initial project for a national gallery for contemporary Luxembourg artists, the Government set up in 2021 the « Lëtzebuerger Konschtarchiv », Centre for the documentation on graphic arts. It’s missions are, among others, to document and index the production in graphic arts in Luxembourg, to lead scientific research on the topic and to prepare the creation of a national gallery. The aim clearly is to better document creation and creative processes in Luxembourg.

A specific focus is also put by national and local governments on young visual artists. For instance, tasked by the ministry for Culture, the Casino-Luxembourg, Forum d’art contemporain has invested a gallery owned by the ministry and runs it as a place of work, research, exchange and orientation whose aim is to promote and support young creation. Likewise, others such as Rotondes, do noteworthy work to support young artists from the Grand Duchy and its neighbouring regions of France, Belgium and Germany through the Triennale Jeune Création (Triennale for Young Creatives).

In the context of Esch2022, European Capital of Culture 2022, new infrastructures thrive in the area of visual arts, with the creation of the Konschthal and, linked to it, the upcoming new space for artist residencies at the Bridderhaus. Also the Batiment IV has been opened as “tiers-lieu”. Other places have been created or are in the making throughout the country, the availability of sufficient and affordable space for creation having been much debated in the last years. The ministry of Culture took up these demands by opening up the annexes of the State-owned Château de Bourglinster and by refurbishing and making available 45 studios in former police barracks to the Association des Artistes Plasticiens du Luxembourg that manages them. Other spaces are to follow.

When it comes to crafts, “master artisanship is still being undermined by a lack of available training and an inability to hand skills down to a new generation. Despite this, artisanship in the country is vibrant and, in particular, stunningly diverse. (…) In total, there are over 50 trades listed in the country”[6] and the majority of the craftspeople are registered with the Chambre des métiers. The CDM, in partnership with Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l’État and with the support of the ministry of Culture and the ministry of Economy has founded the non-profit De Mains de Maîtres, an association dedicated to crafts that also organises a biennale that is placed under the patronage of TRH Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie.

[1] https://guichet.public.lu/en/citoyens/travail-emploi/activite-independante/statut-artiste/demande-bourse-aide-creation.html

[2] https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2022/10-octobre/11-letzebuerger-konschtprais.html

[3] https://www.cal.lu/prix-gd-adolphe.php; Accessed 8 December 2021.

[4] https://www.edward-steichen-award.lu/about/the-awards; Accessed 8 December 2021.

[5]https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites.gouvernement%2Bfr%2Bactualites%2Btoutes_actualites%2Bcommuniques%2B2018%2B05-mai%2B27-bettel-venise.html

[6] Jean-Marc Dimanche (2021) Crafts Panorama in Luxembourg, https://www.kulturlx.lu/en/panorama-category/crafts/; Accessed 16 November 2021.