Opening the meeting the President outlined the range of problems in the sphere. He raised the topic of accessibility of culture and art objects noting a dramatic reduction in the network of mass culture centres. The head of state lamented the lack of sufficient legal and economic conditions for private investments in culture.
The President spoke of the need to improve legislation in the cultural sphere, as it was formed during the period of transition to a market economy and needs to be revised today. Copyright protection takes on particular importance, especially since piracy has become widespread and is pursued with impunity, the President stressed.
Thus the President identified two main tasks for the state in the cultural sphere: protecting creative freedom and accessibility of culture for citizens.
A list of instructions approved at the end of the meeting includes the development of a complex of measures to promote Russian culture and art abroad, including the creation of Russian centres for science and culture in the CIS and Baltic countries.