President of Latvia mentioned the letter he had sent to Culture Minister, urging the Cabinet of Ministers to discuss with book and print media publishers’ associations a possible value-added tax (VAT) cut to 5% for original works and print media.
President Levits and Culture Minister Puntulis discussed the concerns about readiness and resources of municipalities for continued support of Song Festival participants in the form of group manager wages, and thus ensure the continuity of Song Festival, raised in a recent letter from Song Festival societies and senior conductors of choral districts of Latvia. President Levits praised people for active involvement in organising of Festival, which is equally demanding from the perspective of preparation and the actual events, requiring many hours of work. Need to define equal responsibility of the state and local governments in ensuring future continuity of Song Festival was also discussed.
Minister Puntulis informed President Levits about consultations with Riga City Council. He underlined that operators of Mežaparks open-air stage will have to find balance between business and culture needs. They will also have to offer more ambitious and diverse programme.
Minister for Culture also gave an update on Riga Concert Hall initiative. He and President Levits then talked about importance of increasing financial support for non-governmental culture organisations during the COVID-19 crisis.
President and Culture Minister exchanged views on tasks and responsibilities of public media, their role in ensuring plurality, planned Public Service Broadcasting Council and Public Service Broadcasting Ombudsman.
On the future of Riga Saint Peter’s Church, President of Latvia underlined that the law should provide a sustainable church management mode. Republic of Latvia, Riga City administration and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia should create a special entity for this purpose, said Egils Levits. German Evangelical Lutheran St Peter’s Church of Latvia should also be one of the partners and be given a special status within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia by the law. According to the President, a special law would cover all functions of Riga St Peter’s Church, including state significance architectural and cultural heritage safeguarding and preservation, sacred, heritage (especially Baltic German heritage) safeguarding, cultural, tourism function.
