The opening line of the Ministry of Culture's section in the 2026 state budget's explanatory memorandum declares that the deliberate implementation of cultural, integration and sports policy ensures the preservation, development and sustainability of Estonian culture, residents' well-being and social cohesion.

But the budget dynamics chart in the same section paints a bleak picture: less and less money will be available for culture in the coming years.

This year, the ministry's budget amounted to €391 million, of which €40 million consisted of funds carried over from the previous year.

Next year, the ministry's line in the budget stands at €365 million. After that, the allocation shrinks year by year, reaching €325 million in 2029. Most other ministries' budgets do not show such a decline.

The explanatory memorandum argues, however, that next year's budget is not actually decreasing. If this year's sum is compared without the €40.2 million carried over from 2024 and the €4 million allocated from the government reserve, then next year's budget grows by nearly 9 percent.

This year, the Culture Ministry's budget was cut by €13.4 million and next year an additional €7.95 million cut will be added.

In 2024, operating subsidies for foundations, managed museums and public-law institutions under the ministry's administration were reduced by 4 percent, or €5.3 million. According to the memorandum, the cut will not deepen further next year.

Still, the document notes that additional reductions in subsidies and expenses will be made next year, though these will not affect the operations of any specific institution with an important or central role in cultural policy goals and the impact on individuals will be minimal.

Together with government agencies and managed institutions, the Ministry of Culture employs 380 people. The largest institution is the Estonian National Museum, with 127 staff. Including foundations and public-law institutions, the sector accounts for about 3,600 full-time jobs.

In terms of wages, the ministry's sector lags furthest behind all others. It has ranked last for several years in a row and the explanatory memorandum says the gap will widen further next year.

The minimum wage for cultural workers with higher education has not increased since 2023, when it rose to €1,600, leaving salaries flat for several years. Next year, the minimum will rise to €1,720.

While average salaries in other ministries have grown by more than 8 percent since 2023, and by 15 percent across the labor market, the increase within the Ministry of Culture has been just under 3 percent.

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