Funding for the literature and books sector is provided by Flanders Literature (see 1.2.3 and 3.5.2), which functions separately from the Arts Decree. This funding body was established by the Decree of 30 March 1999. The Decree of 23 December 2016 introduced a regulated book price in Flanders. This means that publishers (or importers) set the price of a book (both paper and e-book), which has to be respected by book vendors for a period of at least six months. Limited price reductions are possible under certain conditions and the rules do not apply to certain genres of books (such... read more →
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If you are not happy with the results below please do another searchCultural heritage — i.e. archive documents, manuscripts, works of art, old utensils, immaterial heritage, etc. — is a matter falling under the policy field of Culture, which is a competence of the Flemish Community. Immovable heritage is a separate policy field, residing with the Regions (see 1.2.3). The Cultural Heritage Decree of 24 February 2017 is the most important legal framework for cultural heritage in the Flemish Community, arranging project-based support and grants (see 7.2.1) or multi-year funding for organisations such as museums (also art museums), archives, heritage libraries, or heritage societies (see especially 3.1 and 3.2). The Masterpieces Decree... read more →
The Arts Decree of 13 December 2013 is the main legislative framework for supporting the professional arts in the Flemish Community (see 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 3.3, 3.5.4, 5.4, and 7.2.1). This includes project support, grants, residencies, and multi-year funding for performing arts (theatre, dance, music theatre, performance art), music, visual arts, (‘multiple screen’) audiovisual arts, design, architecture, and multi- and transdisciplinary arts. The Arts Decree is currently being reformed (see 2.9). The Circus Decree of 1 March 2019 provides separate regulations for circus arts. As of 2021, it will replace older legislation that is still in effect in 2020. The Decree... read more →
The Arts Decree of 13 December 2013 is the main legislative framework for supporting the professional arts in the Flemish Community (see 1.3.2, 1.3.3, 3.4, 5.4, and 7.2.1). This includes project support, grants, residencies, and multi-year funding for performing arts, music, visual arts (sculpture, painting, drawing, multimedia, sound art, photography, etc.), (‘multiple screen’) audiovisual arts, design, architecture, and multi- and transdisciplinary arts. The Arts Decree is currently being reformed (see 2.9). The Flemish Audiovisual Fund (VAF) provides funding for (‘single screen’) audiovisual productions. Museums for fine arts and for contemporary arts receive support through the Cultural Heritage Decree (see 4.2.2).... read more →
In Belgium, Culture is foremost a competence of the Communities (see 1.2.3). We therefore focus in this section on legislation (decrees) on culture in the Flemish Community. Table 2a presents a selection of decrees that are currently in effect and that provide the framework for cultural policies and trends discussed throughout the other sections.[1] The table mentions the section(s) in which (the reform of) these decrees and related policy instruments are elaborated. Some of these decrees apply to specific sectors (arts, cultural heritage, circus, etc.) and are therefore referred to in the other subsections of 4.2. Other decrees have a... read more →
Section 5 deals with arts and cultural education. Policies on education are a competence of the Communities in Belgium (with a only small part of legislation residing with the Federal State). Legislation and policy documents on the Flemish education system can be consulted through Edulex. The education goals (“onderwijsdoelen”) in secondary education are currently in a process of reform. The legal documents in which these new attainment targets and other goals are grounded, can be consulted at onderwijsdoelen.be. The new Decree on out-of-school childcare (“Decreet houdende de organisatie van buitenschoolse opvang en de afstemming tussen buitenschoolse activiteiten” of 3 May... read more →
The Belgian Constitution (see 4.1.1) guarantees the freedom of (private) language use (art. 30). However, a historical corpus of laws has provided further stipulations on language communities, language areas, and language usage in, e.g., schools, law suits, services of public authorities, or at the workplace (see 2.5.4). Steunpunt Taalwetwijzer provides an online guide to legislation on language in the Dutch-speaking area of Belgium. Flemish Sign Language (see 2.5.4 and 2.5.6) was officially recognized by Decree of 5 May 2006 (“Decreet houdende de erkenning van Vlaamse gebarentaal”).
The Law of 30 July 2018 (“Wet betreffende de bescherming van natuurlijke personen met betrekking tot de verwerking van persoonsgegevens”) stipulates regulations on the processing of personal data. This law takes into account the EU Regulation known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Federal Chamber of Representatives established an independent Data Protection Authority in 2017, which has the mission to ensure that the ground rules on the protection of personal data are respected in Belgium.
Legislation on intellectual property resides with the Federal policy field of Economy. Since 2015, regulations on intellectual property — including copyright (“auteursrecht”, which then encompasses resale rights, lending rights, reprography rights, etc.) and related rights (“naburige rechten”) — are subsumed under Book XI of the Code of Economic Law, which replaces the older law of 30 June 1994 (“Wet betreffende het auteursrecht en de naburige rechten”). Through the years, these regulations have been adapted to European (and other international) Directives. Artists can become a member of collective management organisations (“collectieve beheersvennootschappen”) to take care of the management of their copyright... read more →
Labour policies reside with the Federal State. Social partners (unions and employer associations) are intensely involved in the process of installing regulations on labour. They meet in joint committees (“paritaire comités” or PC) with the aim of gathering organisations that work in a particular area of activities and developing and implementing labour agreements on those activities. To which PC an employer belongs, is determined on the basis of their activities. There is an extensive list of PCs, and the following pertain to large parts of the cultural sector: PC 227: audiovisual arts and media sectorsPC 303: film: production, distribution, movie... read more →