21 January 2016

Lawyer at «Khrenov & Partners» Alexander Kostin explains why private individuals are not included in the number of recipients of philanthropic support

Gone in 2014 in the Russian presidential decree of Vladimir Putin has become the Year of Culture. Government had issued an order «On approval of the plan for the main events in 2014 in the Russian Culture Year» and «On the formation of the organizing committee for the Year of Culture of the Russian Federation and the approval of its composition." All subjects of the Russian Federation have developed plans for the «Cultural Year». According to the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medina, emphasis should be placed on the support of traditional, classic and authentic folk art forms that have proven its vitality and national love, with all the attention given to the regions, the development of infrastructure (museums, libraries, clubs) in small towns as well as the revival tour and exhibition activities, supporting culture in the most remote corners of the country.
A year has passed, reports on the results of his written decision makers, jackdaws delivered, received the award. It should be recognized that the incentives awarded themselves artists. In late December last year, President Putin presented state awards, along with representatives of working professions, pilots, journalists, doctors and figures of culture and science. Order «For Services to the Fatherland» IV degree received the singer Alla Pugacheva and conductor Vladimir Spivakov. Satire Theater artistic director Alexander Shirvindt and composer Igor Krutoy and Alexander Pakhmutova awarded the Order of Merit of III degree. Full Cavalier of the Order was the actor Leonid Armour. Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky, who led the list of the most influential figures in Russian art in 2014 (rated edition of «Artguide»), was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky. Director and screenwriter Victor Merezhko awarded the title of People’s Artist of Russia. It was then the president by awarding two tractor drivers and pilot, I said that in our country the past are no different from the intellectuals. «The pilots we are like artists and performers — on the tractor,« — he said. Are the results of the Year of Culture is already «there»?

Meanwhile, without a trace of irony, it must be recognized that for the year were withdrawn talented films (take «Leviathan» by Andrei Zvyagintsev, received the «Golden Globe»), has written a good book (which is the trilogy by Dina Rubina «Russian canary»), set the original performances (the best version of the award «Crystal Turandot» recognized «Lady Macbeth of our district," Kama Ginkas on the novel by Nikolai Leskov in the Moscow Youth Theatre). There have been successful concert tours, both abroad and in the provinces, an interesting exhibition, unconventional — in today’s terms — installation and mob show. Although the year had to see and hear a lot of vulgarity, vulgarity and just bad taste.

But today is not about that. We wondered what was significant in the field of culture for the year at the state level. The main thing, it seems to us (not taking into account the aegis of the year), the first time in recent years, has been formulated the state’s position in this matter. At a meeting of the State Council and the Council for Culture and the Arts at the end of December 2014, Vladimir Putin said that the country needs to get away from the culture and history of indoctrination. «One of the main problems — that we are with you as soon as possible went to various forms of indoctrination of our history and our culture, — the president said. — We should impartially investigate it, look at it through the eyes of modern man, and use it to do not hurt us to go forward. " The President stressed the need to strengthen the cultural influence of Russia in the world and is not confined to himself.

Quite expectedly, this position was secured in an approved president fundamental in the cultural sphere public document — «Fundamentals of the state cultural policy," which provides a comprehensive culture and emphasis on education and the creation of cultural goods available to all residents. This act appeared for the first time in Russian history. As the president noted, commenting on «Fundamentals», one of the main tasks — to ensure that culture has become a natural regulator of life.

The draft document, we analyzed in detail in the article «The» Fundamentals of state cultural policy «: a new ideology of the state, or a means to» cut «the budget». In particular, it was concluded that «all the lofty words about the mission of the state, on the eternal values of the micro- and makrokulturalizme no more than words. And are these words in a paper entitled «Fundamentals of the state cultural policy," only to cultural officials could use their position to decide (not free, of course), who allocate public money, and who deprive them. " It is symptomatic that it would seem quite far from the finance document can be refracted in this vein.

(By the way, the final version of the «Fundamentals», according to experts, is not very different from the initial draft, although its public discussion, as it was officially announced, was attended by not only the governors and officials, but also tens of thousands of experts and citizens.)

Naturally, that the document prevail purely ideological theses. In addition to the policy of de-ideologization and the rejection of isolationism Russia from the world of culture, particular focus is on the creation of the whole territory of Russian high-quality cultural environment and a level playing field for creativity. «One of the main tasks — to provide the best possible access to culture and cultural values for all citizens of our country, regardless of where they live. Today indeed there are problems in the countryside, in small towns. It will be paid attention, «- said the presidential adviser on culture, Vladimir Tolstoy.
«Excellent project is very important for our country… Because, I think, the first time so seriously culture derived from the status of indentured servants, public services», — commented on the adoption of the «Fundamentals» artistic director of the State Theatre of Nations Yevgeny Mironov.

Wait and see. However, the basics — it is only the first step. The second is to develop a state strategy. Meanwhile, according to Putin, it is important not to dig in the papers, and begin to work, so to finance new projects President proposed the establishment of Russian cultural development fund and create a new body supradepartmental management culture. In addition, it should develop public-private partnership in the field of culture. Here again, the financial issues.

However, finances are not so simple. This just shows another significant event, already directly concerned «money» issues. We refer to the State Duma adopted in October last year — in two readings — the basic law «On the philanthropic activity." (For the record. The name «philanthropist» as a person contributing on a voluntary and free of development of science and art, rendering material assistance from personal funds, derived from the name of the Roman statesman of the I century BC. Oe. Guy Cilnius Maecenas, patron of the arts, which, incidentally, led the public affairs, without any official position, thus openly expressed his point of view, without servility and flattery).

The law defines the legal status of the patrons: they will be treated as a person directing money or property for the development of culture, or to conduct, for example, the restoration works. Metsentstva object can only be a «state, municipal and non-profit cultural organizations, and educational institutions that are engaged in programs in the field of culture and art," ie, museums, libraries, theaters and universities. The law prohibits public authorities to get help philanthropists and government officials — to prevent patrons and influence their decision who to help.

But the state here is disingenuous, because the law still limits the number of potential recipients of philanthropic aid, excluding specific individuals that, according to experts, is simply absurd. For instance, Alexander Kostin, lawyer of «Khrenov and Partners," said the news portal «Garant.ru»: «The number of recipients of philanthropic support does not include individuals engaged in creative activities — actors, artists and so on. N. Such a restriction seems not quite justified given the fact that, historically, recipients of philanthropic help were just individuals engaged in activities in the field of art. " Interestingly, this is just another example of the economy or is it a desire to «keep in your pocket," not just finance, but also the opinion of prominent cultural figures — the potential beneficiaries?

Meanwhile, the authorities commit to fund cultural facilities in full, regardless of the patronage of money, and patrons — a cost to maintain and to award him a variety of awards. However, experts believe that the law regulating the activities of patrons in Russia, was adopted in a shortened form and without the specific exemptions laid to those who will invest in culture. For example, a gallery owner Marat Gelman believes that in its current form the law is «decorative nature». «It is important that there was a public-private partnership that patrons could not only finance but also to participate in cultural activities, in particular in the administration,« — he said. Normal, the current law on sponsorship would lead to decentralization and the lack of control of the state ideology, cultural life. That is why instead of clear tax incentives purely decorative items of state awards. «
We explain what is meant Gelman. During the discussion, it was assumed that patrons will be given some tax preferences (they can include funds allocated to recipients philanthropic support «in non-operating expenses»), and non-profit organizations, recipients of support will be exempted from tax on property transferred as philanthropic support. As a result, adoption of the bill is guaranteed by the implementation of a state of economic support measures patrons and organizations to which they provide care without setting specific economic incentives philanthropic activities.

However, the state reserves the right to award prizes and honors, as well as the establishment of information inscriptions with the names of the patrons in the building, structure or land belonging to the recipients philanthropic support. As they say, there is a savings or «for that fight?».

After all, the struggle of the state and the initiators of the law has a long history. For the first time a group of enthusiasts, among whom were representatives of art (Stanislav Govorukhin, Galina Volchek, Nikolai Hubenko etc.), Developed and introduced to the State Duma a draft law «On the patrons and patronage» in December 1997. Then the government in its conclusion, the document contradicts the current legislation, and pointed out: «It is necessary to clarify the scope and terminology to ensure the unity of the conceptual apparatus." The bill has lain 'under wraps' for over 13 years, and in the end of January 2011 it was decided to reject it in the first reading.

Again, the bill was submitted to the Duma in the autumn of 2012 and the first reading was adopted over a year ago. But before the second he has not reached due to the protracted dispute deputies and financiers just about tax breaks for patrons. As a result, items relating to tax benefits, were simply removed from the text of the document. But this move makes a new piece of legislation once the legal profanation. According to Arcadia Sosnova, chief editor of the almanac of social partnership «Russian patron of the arts», with the current state of the Russian economy is especially noticeable. «No matter how disinterested traditional Russian patrons, of course, the main problem hindering the modern philanthropic activities — lack of stimulating its economic (tax) benefits. Moreover, in some cases we observe formally legalized absurd as double taxation of gifts and donations or levy both the giver and the recipient of the aid. In the current economic situation, tax credits would not be evidence of prudence or self-interest of patrons (as spiteful critics try to present), and the necessary environment to attract funds in the sphere of culture, deprived of state funding, «- he commented on the situation.

Meanwhile, the state, creating the appearance of concern for the problems of culture, giving the whole year auspices of Culture, taking fundamental and «Fundamentals of the state cultural policy," and more action-oriented law on «philanthropic activities», while budget cuts in the cultural sphere. According to some estimates, taking into account the extremely optimistic official forecast for inflation in 2015, government spending on culture and cinematography are subject to cuts by 30.9%.

Than it threatens? First of all, cut and so far not high salaries, in particular, employees of the Ministry of Culture subordinated institutions. Minister of Culture Vladimir Medina said that in 2015 the funding of their salaries will be reduced by about 4 billion rubles. «The more our institutions earn, the more the desire to save our financiers in the allocation of money for wages,« — commented the decision Medina and added: «We will work around the clock and in any case can handle." The day and night the minister and his subordinates can help to some librarians or museum workers, it is absolutely unclear.

In addition to the promise not to leave their desks minister has put forward the idea of a curious compensation trimmed budget — proposed to introduce a system of state lotteries to finance the sphere of culture. According to him, the financing of culture by lotteries widespread abroad, particularly in Italy and the UK. «Proceeds from them reach 30–40 per cent or more of total government spending on culture,« — said Medina. It turns out that the state is reducing its spending on the cultural sector, offers us, its citizens, tightening even their belts (although much tighter?), And now through the lottery — in addition to the tax — by financing the culture that it «was a natural regulator of the life» (Vladimir Putin).