For culture – continued strict economy. For the telethon and the new presidential “Spring of a Thousand” – billions.
This is what the priorities of the State Budget for 2027 look like.
If you set aside dozens of tables and percentages, the answer is simple: the state effectively leaves local culture on the shoulders of communities.
The government showcases a beautiful figure: overall spending on culture and arts supposedly will increase by 20.7% – to 36.3 billion UAH. But nearly 29 billion UAH of this amount must be provided by local budgets. This is 80% of all cultural funding.
Moreover, over 92% of the projected increase in expenditures for 2027 is expected from communities. Not from the State Budget. From local budgets, which are not even adopted yet.
Will communities have these funds in times of war, destruction, income decline, and the need to finance heat, water, shelters, and restoration?
There is no answer.
The State Budget plans to spend about 7.28 billion UAH on culture and arts. Practically the same amount as in 2021 – 7.281 billion.
Six years of war, inflation, rising tariffs, and repair costs – and state funding for culture returns to the same nominal amount.
Meanwhile, 57% of all cultural expenditures go to libraries, museums, exhibitions, and club establishments. The very network that operates daily in communities and needs heating, repairs, electricity, and staff.
No separate subsidy for cultural and artistic education institutions damaged by Russian aggression is received.
The program for the development of nationally significant institutions is completely stopped.
Now about the true state priorities.
5.4 billion UAH – for the presidential “Spring of a Thousand”.
Another 1.62 billion UAH – for the production and broadcasting of programs for state needs, state foreign broadcasting, and telethon.
Together – over 7 billion UAH. Almost as much as the State Budget plans to spend on all culture and arts.
For one “Spring of a Thousand,” almost 16 times more is allocated than for cultural projects through the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation. Moreover, funding for “Spring of a Thousand” is increasing by about 36%. While the entire Ukrainian Cultural Foundation – only by 3.5%, significantly below the forecasted inflation.
What is “Spring of a Thousand” for 5.4 billion UAH?
How many products will be created?
Who will produce them?
How will performers be selected?
Who will own the rights?
What are the performance indicators?
In the budget explanatory note, there are no answers. For 5.4 billion UAH – essentially one sentence.
The government talks about culture as the foundation of Ukrainian identity. But it shifts the maintenance of libraries, museums, and cultural centers to communities.
For damaged institutions, there is no separate resource. For cultural projects – an increase below inflation.
In contrast, for the telethon and the new presidential media initiative – over 7 billion UAH.
Agree, human sacrifice cannot indefinitely replace state policy and proper funding.
This is a budget for the survival of culture at the expense of communities and further financing of the state media machine.
Shame.
On the cover: The local history museum in Okhtyrka destroyed by shelling by Russian occupiers. Photo from open sources
