For registered artists, the ministry will announce scholarships this month

The so-called artist status with financial state support has been granted since July based on a long-prepared and approved government amendment to the law. The support is expected to concern a maximum of 1,400 people, which the state would fund with approximately 126 million crowns annually. The aim is to help address the long-term underfunding of professions. The proposed state budget for next year anticipates that the Ministry of Culture will operate with a budget of 18.13 billion crowns, which is 3.39 billion crowns less than this year.

The ministry of culture is set to introduce the pilot call for scholarships at the beginning of September. Applicants will need to have a valid certificate of registration in the registry. "The first call would be intended for people applying for registration in the registry by September 30,” Zahradníčková said. Applications are expected to be accepted in October and November, after which another call should follow.

For study scholarships, support for participation in foreign educational projects or internships will amount to 10,000 to 15,000 crowns, and for domestic studies, up to 8,000 crowns per month. The amount of support for creative projects will vary depending on the scope of the work; for smaller projects, creators can receive a total of 30,000 crowns from the state, and for larger projects, up to 90,000 crowns.

Applicants for scholarships do not need to study full-time, but they can be distance learners. They can also be employed, but no more than part-time. It is essential that their artistic activity is their main source of income, which should not exceed the average salary.

Many professions can become registered artists. This includes actors, acrobats, dancers, directors, choreographers, singers, as well as playwrights, writers, poets, translators, various theater and film professions, and also visual artists or architects.

However, the ministry will not grant artist status to some professions. This applies, for example, to educational artistic activities, marketing, but also to educators, editors, librarians, and authors of scientific texts. The decision, according to Zahradníčková, is based on the copyright law.

The ministry views the artist registry as the first in a series of measures aimed at addressing long-term underfunding in culture. The registry is non-public and also serves the ministry as a source of data about the situation. According to the director, the Ministry of Culture should adhere to the Code of Fair Compensation. "The annex to the code would consist of so-called minimum recommended fee schedules,” added Zahradníčková. The ministry would prepare rewards in cooperation with industry associations.

Registrations in the artist registry as of September 2, 2025

Source: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic