Policy Issues and Cultural Diversity
Policy is a concept that formulates existence of politics by coordinating acts and measures that regulate the inclusion and exclusion of its activities. Culture on the other hand, encompasses everything that defines the self-image of different ethnical groups of people in a political set up. Cultural policy is the area of public policy-making that governs activities that are related to the arts and culture of people in a political set up. This implies that culture in a government set up thrives on the tension of political and social changes (Arbete, 2010).
A cultural policy is a core requirement that attributes to how individuals conserve their ethnic, artistic sociolinguistics, literary and other expression in a nation. This conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage needs to be within permissible limits and taken care of by a formal policy. In essence, a cultural policy is essential for the:
- Promotion of chances to permit all individuals to exercise their culture, engage in education plans and advance their creative capabilities.
- Endorsement, preservation, development and usage of a dynamic cultural heritage,
- Promotion of domestic and international intercultural exchange and cooperation within a particular cultural sphere.
- Paying special attention to children and young people’s right to consumption of culture (Arbete, 2010)
In order to accomplish its goals, a cultural policy needs to sufficiently take care of contents such as public support for cultural sites. These include heritage and historic preservation sites, museums, libraries and visual arts that incorporate films, pottery and painting. In addition, cultural policy accomplishes its goals via zoos, botanical gardens, arboretum and parks. Performing arts in musical theatres and public humanities approaches on creative writing and poetry promotes cultural development. A cultural policy should also ensure that there is greater accessibility of aesthetic cultural artifacts to the public. This confers that national cultural treasures should be accessible to every individual regardless of their class, educational levels, tyranny of numbers or place of residence. Precisely the policy should be of a democratic kind and I support the populist’s view of the content of a public culture. In my perspective, the populists position advocates for defining culture broadly and making this culture widely available across the state. (Barry, 2012)
A fulfilling cultural policy covers areas such as: cultural industries promotion where it promotes customary activities such pottery, sculpture making in its attempt to promote creative abilities. Secondly, it provides clear guidelines on tax incentives and systems to fund the running of museums, arboretums, entertainment theaters, libraries and other culture-promoting centers. Further, it allows for analysis of employment opportunities from societal level in order to achieve the goal of promoting cultural development in society.
An existing cultural policy also ensures that there are no obstacles to mobility of artists such poets. This will promote and support nationwide accessibility of cultural activities. This in itself enhances artistic replenishment and quality through interactions of various artists. It also provides for liberalization of market prices in achieving the goal of promoting coordination intercultural and global exchange in a cultural setting. Finally, a cultural policy that holds copyright rules and customs that determine the interaction of all of its objectives also provides a consensus of the rights of every individual to culture.
The government has a task to encourage the public and private exploration of culture, in all its forms and variation. This is because culture can provide the state with incidental but important contributions to its economic and social welfare. This makes cultural policy an inevitable strategy that the government requires to develop in improving the quality of life of its people.
References
Arbete, J. (2010). Objectives of Cultural Policy. Washington University Press
Barry, M. (2012). Significance of Diversity. London University Press