Russian Theatres: the Relation between Funding Models and Policy Objectives in the Area of Theatrical Activity

Abstract

The paper considers the transformation of the public funding mechanisms of theatres during the period from the last years of the USSR and early years of post-Soviet Russia up to the present. It analyses the differences between models applied at different times. Several parameters of these models are taken into consideration, including the requirements that public bodies impose on the activities of theatres due to funding, and special features of budgetary tools which among other things characterize the approach to the determination of amounts of funding transferred to the theatres. Four models of public funding are juxtaposed with the state cultural policy objectives in theatrical activity set by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal statutory and regulatory enactments. Th e hypothesis that there is no direct orientation towards such objectives is put forward and fi nds its confi rmation. A new model based on the public grants mechanism that meets the requirement of being policy objective-oriented is proposed.

Untitled

“…The inconsistency of the regulatory framework for the functioning of SONPOs makes it difficult to objectively assess the scope of the sector's activities, as well as the volume and effectiveness of various types of support for SONPOs 7 , the limited availability and insufficiency of which acts as one of the main barriers to their activities. Coupled with other problems, the effectiveness of the measures taken to support SONPOs remains insignificant (Rudnik et al, 2017;Rudnik, Kushtanina, 2018;Grigorieva, Parfenova, 2021) and the potential of the nonprofit sector for the effective functioning of regional socio-economic systems is limited (Kosygina, 2018;Starshinova, Borodkina, 2020).…”

“…The above indicates the inconsistency of the institutional conditions created for the development of SONPOs. In existing studies, barriers associated with both the SONPO functioning environment (Belokrylova, Vakhtina, 2017;Rudnik, Kushtanina, 2018) and internal causes (Zabolotnaya, Larionov, 2017;Grigorieva, Parfenova, 2021) are usually referred to as constraining factors. However, they are formulated in a very general way and are not always based on taking into account the opinions of real participants in the process -SONPOs themselves, representatives of government and business, as well 6 Available at: https://raex-rr.com/pro/NKO/Regionnko/Region-nko-size/2022/methods/ 7 The legislation establishes various forms of support: procurement of goods, works and services on a contractual basis; provision of benefits for the payment of taxes and fees; information support for the activities of NPOs; transfer of municipal property for free use; consulting support for the activities of NPOs; training of professional personnel and volunteers; provision of benefits for legal entities -donors; provision of preferential conditions for renting premises; providing subsidies to NPOs for the development of their activities; grant support for the activities of NPOs.…”