Central

Central government’s functions are:

• Develop and enforce national policies and strategies;
• To provide tools for the various forms of artistic expression;
• To define criteria for subsidies, to allocate resources, and to assist in solving problems and crises in the various institutions, to present awards for the advancement and encouragement of performing and creative artists;
• To support cultural and artistic institutions and to handle the thousands of applications received each year for subsidizing institutions and projects.
• To transfer funding and execute subsidy payments for institutions, events and artists;
• To operate the public councils for culture and the arts, the Film Council, the Museums Council, the Libraries Council, the Council for Film Criticism;
• To supervise the corporations operating in the fields of culture and the arts as defined by law, with regard to the implementation of Ministry policy and good governance;
• To initiate and encourage programs and projects for the development of the various spheres of culture and the arts in Israel, with an emphasis on the social and geographical periphery;
• To provide professional advice to the various government departments in regulatory matters related to the spheres of culture and the arts;
• To present awards for the promotion and encouragement of performing and creative artists;
• Strengthen and encourage cultural and artistic creativity in order to ensure continuing growth and development
• Strengthen and encourage cultural creativity in the country’s geographical and social periphery.
• Enhance cultural institutions that are the primary source of such creativity.
• Foster and advance independent cultural and artistic creators, and non-institutional activity.
• Reinforce the professionalism of those who are engaged in artistic and cultural activity in Israel.
• Enhance and promote the enjoyment of culture and participation in cultural activity in the geographical and social periphery
• Enhance and promote the enjoyment of culture by populations where such activity is not the norm.
• Expand the range of cultural activities in the periphery, with emphasis on promoting quality and excellence.
• Intensify cultural activity in the community.
• Promote the documentation of cultural achievement and the preservation of cultural assets and heritage sites
• Establish of a central archive of Israeli films.
• Establish organized processes for documenting activity in the spheres of theatre, music and dance.
• Computerize museum collections.
• Encourage visits to heritage sites.
• Preserve Israel's cultural assets.​

Local

Local government units are responsible for:

• Libraries;
• Museums;
• Cultural institutions;
• Cultural spaces.

The administration of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv regularly engage in international cultural activities, including the twinning of their cities with international counterparts. Other activities include hosting and organising festivals.

Voluntary powers are to support local businesses and producers. No other competencies identified at the local level.

Responsible ministries/bodies Ministry of Culture and Sport

Sources:

Culture in EU External Relations, Israel Country Report

Israel Arts Directory, Cultural Policy and infrastructure

"About the Culture Administration", Government Portal