Culture Squared: A Cross-Cultural Comparison of the Values Espoused by National Arts Councils and Cultural Agencies

Abstract

This study compared the values of national cultural agencies of 92 countries around the world. Through analysis of agency names, mission statements, and other information on the websites of cultural ministries and arts councils, the research considered not only the scope and function of each agency but, in particular, looked at which values were reflected in each country’s cultural policies. The most prominent value-oriented themes were cultural heritage, national promotion of arts and culture, national identity, and cultural diplomacy. The study contributes to a framework on which many regional and other comparative studies of cultural policy can be anchored.

Keywords:

• Arts council
• cross-cultural communication
• cultural policy
• Ministry of Culture
• values

Notes

1 An earlier version of this article was presented at the Social Theory, Politics and the Arts conference in Manchester, England.

2 Republic of Estonia Ministry of Culture http://www.kul.ee/en

3 Armenia Ministry of Culture http://www.mincult.am/.

4 India Ministry of Culture http://www.indiaculture.nic.in/.

5 Paraguay National Secretariat of Culture http://www.cultura.gov.py/.

6 Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Culture http://moc.gov.eg/en/ministry/about-ministry/

7 Spain Ministry of Culture and Sports http://www.mecd.gob.es/

8 Pakistan National Council of the Arts https://www.pnca.org.pk/

9 Note that because they were included as separate IFACCA members, countries in the UK were treated individually.

10 Arts Council England http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

11 Swedish Arts Council http://www.kulturradet.se/

12 Singapore National Arts Council https://www.nac.gov.sg/

13 Ministry of Culture and Sport of Georgia http://mcs.gov.ge/

14 Malawi Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture/Department of Culture http://www.culture.gov.mw/

15 Malaysia National Department for Culture and Arts http://www.jkkn.gov.my/

16 Chile Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage http://www.cultura.gob.cl/

17 Namibia Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture http://www.moe.gov.na/

18 South Africa National Arts Council http://www.nac.org.za/

19 Fiji Arts Council http://www.fijiartscouncil.com.fj/about-us/

20 Arts Council Korea http://arko.or.kr/main.do

21 Israel Ministry of Culture and Sport https://www.gov.il/he/Departments/ministry_of_culture_and_sport

22 Arts Council Malta http://www.artscouncilmalta.org/

23 Republic of Cuba Ministry of Culture http://www.ministeriodecultura.gob.cu/

24 Finland Ministry of Education and Culture https://minedu.fi/en/frontpage

25 Argentina Ministry of Culture https://www.cultura.gob.ar/

26 Malaysia National Department for Culture and Arts http://www.jkkn.gov.my/

27 Creative Scotland http://www.creativescotland.com/

28 Australia Council for the Arts http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/

29 Republic of Estonia Ministry of Culture http://www.kul.ee/en

30 Malawi Ministry of Information, Tourism and Culture http://www.culture.gov.mw/

31 Paraguay National Secretariat of Culture http://www.cultura.gov.py/

32 Thailand Ministry of Culture https://www.m-culture.go.th/en/

33 Czech Republic Ministry of Culture https://www.mkcr.cz/cultural-policy-of-the-czech-republic-983.html?lang=en

34 Myanmar Ministry of Culture http://www.culture.gov.mm/About_Culture/default.asp

35 Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance https://www.farhang.gov.ir/en/profileofministry/responsibilities