Ministry officials consider the document ambitious and hope that by 2035, culture and cultural heritage will become strategic areas of national development, backed by sustainable investment and equal partnership.
The strategy is structured around five main objectives. These are broad and inclusive participation of citizens in cultural life based on modernization and digitalization of cultural infrastructure, support for the independent sector, artistic and cultural education, and promotion of national cinema.
An important goal is the protection and valorization of cultural heritage: reforming the institutional framework, inventorying immovable heritage, building resilience to risks, combating illicit trafficking of cultural property, promoting a culture of memory.
A key objective is the development of human capital and support for creativity: recognizing the status of creative people, supporting artists and freelancers, integrating young professionals into cultural institutions.
Sustainable and equitable funding should be ensured – diversification of funding models, inclusive mechanisms for restoration and valorization of cultural heritage. As well as promotion of Moldovan cultural products at the international level, participation in global cultural networks and programs.
The Strategy will be implemented in two phases: 2025-2030 and 2031-2035.
These are good goals. But they were also declared in the previous Strategy for 2014-2020. Result: if in 2019 there were 2,674 libraries in the republic, in 2024 – already 2,544, minus 130. The number of public libraries financed from the budget decreased from 1,324 to 1,285. The number of Houses of Culture decreased from 1,216 in 2019 to 1,183.
On the other hand, creative (creative) industries – a new approach of innovative cultural development – have been rapidly developing in recent years. They have great opportunities and huge potential for the development of the cultural cluster in modern conditions.
And in Moldova, in the period 2020-2023, the creative industries sector is becoming an increasingly important part of the economy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the total number of companies in this sector increased by about 16%, from 2,413 to 2,789 in 2023, indicating a growing interest in economic activities based on creativity, innovation and digital technologies.
Among the areas with the highest growth rates are computer games and specialized design, which have benefited from the momentum of digitalization, reflecting their alignment with global trends and their ability to adapt to new market demands.
In addition to the increase in the number of enterprises, their financial performance has also grown significantly: the total turnover of creative industries rose from MDL 3.1 billion in 2020 to over MDL 4.8 billion in 2023, increasing by 58%. This dynamic was observed in particular in sub-sectors such as advertising and creattech, which have demonstrated not only resilience to post-pandemic economic challenges, but also an accelerated potential for innovation. Thus, digitalization has become the main driver of the sector’s transformation, affecting both the internal structure of companies and the type of services offered.
