Rethinking the Role of Public Incentives for Amateur Arts

The significance of individual contributions in amateur art process in Latvia

“…Along with the growing significance of participation in arts and amateur art in Europe, it is timely and meaningful to analyse the sustainability factors in regards to financial preconditions of amateur arts. The previous studies of the authors (Tjarve et al, 2017a(Tjarve et al, , 2017b show that although the division of competences between the state and local governments meets the principles of decentralisation, strengthening the non-governmental sector and individual financial contributions would increase the level of decentralization and foster sustainability of the amateur arts sector and the tradition of the Song and Dance Celebration in a long-term.…”

“…Active participation in culture is a widespread leisure time activity in Latvia, a survey suggests that about half of Latvian inhabitants have taken an active part in one or several cultural activities, including amateur arts (Culturelab, 2016). The residents of Latvia rather often identify a word 'culture' with the Song and Dance Celebration (Culturelab, 2014); moreover, those who take part in amateur art activities, often prefer activities which form the process of the Song and Dance Celebration, a tradition which is unique for all three Baltic states and was inscribed on the Latvia is strongly supported by the public authorities and institutionalised (Tjarve et al, 2017a(Tjarve et al, , 2017b), stronger emphasis on individual contributions is a way to share risks and strengthen diversity of funding sources, which is especially significant in the context of negative demographic tendencies and uncertainty of economic development.…”

“…Usually the amateur arts are being analysed in the discourse of social impact, social functions and as a tool for social and cultural capital (Matarasso, 1997). Financial aspects of amateur arts are less often in the centre of academic discussions (Tjarve et al, 2017a). Along with the growing significance of participation in arts and amateur art in Europe, it is timely and meaningful to analyse the sustainability factors in regards to financial preconditions of amateur arts.…”

Fiscal Decentralisation in Amateur Art Sector in Latvia: Case of Song and Dance Celebration

“…Usually an amateur group is self-financing and has no paid workers; their primary motive for coming together is to have fun (Hill et al 2011). However, amateur arts in Europe are increasingly supported through different support mechanisms (Villarroya 2015) or different fiscal measures on national or local level aiming to sustain social and economic benefits (Tjarve et al 2017). The ambiguity of financial maintenance of amateur art is in the centre of this study.…”