Section for Performing Arts, Ministry of Culture
The sector's production is prolific and internationally renowned. The Ministry of Culture supports regularly 11 theatre institutions - the three national theatre houses (Ljubljana, Maribor and Nova Gorica) and the eight municipal public theatre institutions (two puppetry theatres in Ljubljana and Maribor, two theatre houses in Ljubljana, and one theatre house each in Celje, Ptuj, Kranj and Koper). Ministry support covers the programme costs (production and post-production) as well as salaries, running costs and equipment for the 8 theatre houses (and only programme costs of Ptuj, Kranj and Koper theatre houses which are co-funded by the municipalities). The extent of the support is determined annually when the institutions are called to present to the Ministry their next year's programme. The public cultural programmes and projects by other organisations are supported via public tenders for support. Three-year support is given to the selected non-governmental organisations who have shown their long-term excellence in production and post-production, organisation of international festivals and international touring. Annual late Autumn tenders or calls for project support are open to all organisations or individuals who create new performing arts projects or present their successful recent productions internationally. Usually a project tender also offers grants for residencies - individual artists compete to get the grant. Other support possibilities include open calls for individual freelance artists who can compete for a residency at the Ministry's New York or Berlin studios, and an open tender for NGO vocational training initiatives. Evaluation of programmes and project applications is made by a four-member expert jury for performing arts appointed by the Minister.