Insufficient investment and low salaries affect Moldova’s cultural sector. Jardan: “I hope we reach better salary levels”
Moldova’s cultural sector continues to suffer from insufficient investment, deteriorated infrastructure, and salaries that fail to retain specialists, despite budget increases recently. Culture Minister Cristian Jardan says that without stronger state intervention, the sector risks losing even more human resources.
Although authorities have increased funding, the situation remains difficult. The minister noted that the cultural budget exceeded one billion lei for the first time, but this still cannot cover the gaps accumulated over decades.
“In recent years, state funding has increased significantly. This year, for the first time, the budget surpassed one billion lei. Investment continues to grow. This has become an unfortunate tradition over the past 35 years,” Jardan said.
Alongside underinvestment, the sector struggles with low salaries, which drive specialists away. The minister admitted that some staff categories earn very little.
“The field includes diverse roles. In some organizations, there is no way to earn extra income. Librarians or museum workers lack these opportunities, and that creates major problems. Some auxiliary staff, such as technicians or stage crew, earn 2,000 to 3,000 lei. These are the lowest-paid positions,” Jardan said.
The effects are already visible, with shortages of specialists in key institutions.
“In some cases, we can no longer find specialists. At the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, for example, stage equipment dates back to the 1980s, and young people no longer know how to operate it,” the minister warned.
To address the staffing crisis, the government extended its support program for young specialists at the start of the year. Graduates who work in rural areas, as well as those employed in cultural institutions in Chișinău, including theatres, concert halls, and museums, can receive one-time payments between 90,000 and 120,000 lei. The program targets about 830 young graduates and aims to attract and retain staff amid a severe shortage.
Authorities say they have adjusted the program after identifying issues in recent years and plan to expand it to make the cultural sector more attractive to young people.
