CULTURAL PROVISION AND CULTURAL PARTICIPATION IN THE CENTRALISED CULTURAL SYSTEM IN SERBIA

Abstract

In this paper, we have analyzed cultural provision and cultural participation in Serbia, as well as measures taken by the Ministry of Culture to decentralize culture. Our research into cultural provision revealed significant differences in the number of cultural institutions, organizations, and associations between Belgrade, Novi Sad, and the rest of the country. Additionally, there are significant disparities in the financial resources allocated to them from the budget and through donations obtained via open calls. As a key contribution to the centralization of culture in the country, we identified the existence of 24 out of 27 national cultural institutions in Belgrade, i.e., 14 out of 17 provincial institutions of Vojvodina in Novi Sad. Although these institutions are funded by taxes paid by all the citizens of Serbia and Vojvodina, their programs are typically only available to those residing in the cities. On the other hand, analyses of cultural participation indicated the dominantly anti-elitist nature of cultural needs, a very low level of cultural habits, and small regional differences in the cultural practices of the citizens of Serbia. This seemingly paradoxical finding that pronounced inequalities in the cultural offering do not have a greater impact on cultural participation – because it is at a very low level in all parts of the country – represents a framework for future strategies of cultural decentralization in Serbia.