Culture ministry will support projects promoting "love for homeland and freedom"

Georgia's newly appointed Minister of Culture, Sport and Youth Thea Tsulukiani has said the institution will look to support production of culture projects promoting "love for homeland and freedom" in young generations.

Tsulukiani made comments in a TV interview with the Imedis Dila morning programme on Tuesday, making her remarks in response to a question about whether her ministry would support artists working against conventions in their practice.

Asked if artists "dismantling clichés" in their creative work would have support of the ministry, Tsulukiani said she disagreed with the idea of a minister "promoting" work they did not approve of.

If by 'support' we mean a minister promoting what she does not like, there might not be such support. Do not forget that I am a viewer as well and have my own taste - whether good or bad - like everyone else," Tsulukiani told programme hosts.

Expanding on the subject, the newly appointed minister also explained she would work to support cultural projects promoting "love for homeland and freedom" during her tenure at the state agency.

The state should provide financial support for [projects] promoting love for homeland and freedom among the youth, and giving them the correct information on human rights"

- Thea Tsulukiani

She also spoke about a need for support from the culture ministry for works on the subject of the ongoing Russian occupation of two of Georgia's provinces, particularly noting young creatives from the third and fourth generation internally displaced persons from Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region.

Tsulukiani said she believed state support should go for projects explaining "necessities for ending the occupation", adding the culture field should have a role in conversations around the subject.

In her comments the minister also spoke about initiatives such as creating a unified code of culture-related laws and regulations.

Formally assuming her new ministerial position last week, Tsulukiani encountered controversial reception from some artists of the domestic culture industry who questioned her qualifications for the job due to her history in government sectors unrelated to culture.

Although most recently she worked as the Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Education, Science and Culture, Tsulukiani is mostly known for her work as the justice minister between 2012-2020.