Having high regard to the Song and Dance Celebration process as an unique cultural expression of deep symbolic and comprehensive edifying value, which belongs to the whole nation and is free of politics or commercial interests,

 

Having regard to the provisions of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Safeguarding of Traditional and Popular Culture (1989) and the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003),

 

Recognising the significance of the proclamation of the Song and Dance Celebration process and symbolism in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2003,

 

Complying with the obligations assumed by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to implement the Action Plan with a view to safeguard and revitalise the Song and Dance Celebration process and to warrant the continuity thereof,

 

Convinced that in respect of the economic and social difficulties or other adverse factors occurring, the Song and Dance Celebration process in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania must be safeguarded for the generations to come by means of a joint effort of the governments of the three Baltic countries, co-ordinating institutions, nongovernmental organisations, practitioners and interested communities,

 

 

1. To elaborate or to strengthen appropriate legal basis in order to safeguard the Song and Dance Celebration as a continuous process, which culminates cyclically with nationwide and youth events in each respective country according to the settled periodicity.

 

2. To promote collaboration among all stakeholders of the tradition by establishing a permanent, well-coordinated institutional system encompassing decision makers, involved ministries, organisers and practitioners as well as representatives of communities. Each country will decide upon the design of such a system, more precise functions of and relations among involved institutions independently.

 

3. To establish and develop a permanent and well-functioning network of qualified specialists or mentors (chief conductors, dance leaders and music instructors) that would contribute to creative development of amateur art groups on regional level, thus safeguarding the quality of the Song and Dance Celebration Tradition. Each country will work out an optimal organization to meet these purposes separately.

 

4. To recognise as the precondition for the continuity of the fundamental essence of this Tradition to be the acknowledgement of the respective national intangible cultural heritage that forms the basis for the future creative repertoire performed at the Song and Dance Celebration, while offering contemporary artistic interpretation and modes of expression. The general aim of the repertoire policy is to preserve the unique qualities, like polyphonic choral a cappella singing style or big-scale dance compositions that distinguish this phenomenon of human creativity.

 

5. To provide conditions for the enhancement of the prestige of national costumes reproduced on scientific grounds and expand the scope of their function so that the society, especially young people, recognise and embrace them, and consequently groups representing various genres continue wearing them. National costumes of high quality will be made available through handicraft courses, workshops, and training, offered with state support.

 

6. To recommend to the Ministries of Education and Culture, and local municipalities to take active means to develop and implement educational and study curriculum geared towards the teaching and transmission of the artistic expression that sustains the Song and Dance Celebration, for all the age groups, but in particular children and young people, and on all educational levels,  with appropriate emphasis on extra curriculum education in its various forms.

 

7. To provide possibilities of instruction and advanced study programmes to cultural specialists and group managers in relevant fields of artistic expression.  With the view to strengthening their social status, to create a functioning system for extending recognition to these specialists and providing adequate remuneration for their work.

 

8. To propose to the governments of all three countries to elaborate and put into practice state sponsored target programs for the sustenance and development of the various fields of artistic expression that carry the Song and Dance Celebration Tradition.

 

9.  To plan adequate financial resources in the state budget of each country for the public service broadcasting institutions for regular reflection and analysis of the process of Song and Dance Celebration Tradition and amateur art in audiovisual mass communication resources. To foresee additional earmarked finances for the culminating years of the celebration process.

 

10. To provide state investments for the National Song Celebration Grounds, recognised as sites of sacred significance and symbolic value, and Dance Celebration venues, with a view to guarantee appropriate conditions for the practitioners of the tradition.

 

11. To coordinate and exchange information on respective calendars of the Celebrations in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as enhance communication and exchange of practitioner groups, specialists and repertoire.

 

12. To develop the activities of the Baltic Co-ordinating Committee on Safeguarding and Revitalisation of the Tradition of the Song and Dance Celebrations, with each of the concerned countries presiding over it in successive years, to attend to the implementation of the common Action Plan and to determine the next joint activities.