Allocations for culture will be higher this year

The 2013 state budget includes a larger sum for culture. The salaries of the people of culture will be increased by over 15.6% from June 1. A series of works will be started this year to restore cultural and historical facilities of national value. Contacted by Info-Prim Neo, Deputy Minister of Culture Gheorghe Postica said that the largest allocations will be given to public organizations. The sums for them trebled compared with last year. A sum of 2 million lei was earmarked for producing cultural-artistic activities. The lowest salary in the area of culture is now 700 lei, mainly in rural areas. The actors have the highest salaries, of about 3,000 lei. 10 million lei will go to partially repair the Organ Hall, the Museum of Plastic Arts, the Museum of Ethnography, and the Museum of Deportees. However, the situation of the homes of culture will remain unchanged. “The budget includes investments for certain cultural facilities, but these resources are insufficient and we cannot solve the problem completely. Over 250 million lei is needed to repair all the homes of culture,” said Gheorghe Postica. He also said that fewer financial resources were earmarked for the conservation and restoration of the cultural patrimony, even if a lot of problems are faced in this area. The Culture Ministry’s budget for 2013 is 253.8 million lei, up about 5 million lei compared with 2012.