responsibilities and organizational structure of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance

Historical course of the establishment of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance (prior to the victory of the Islamic Revolution):

The Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance was found following the Islamic Revolution by integration of the two Ministry of Culture and Art and Information and Tourism.

Ministry of Culture and Art:

On Oct.30.1939 based on a resolution issued by the supreme writing council and fine Arts, the fine Arts department was established in the Ministry of Culture in Feb.21.1940, the fine Art department was transformed to Fine Art General Directorate. In 1961, the Fine Art department became under the supervision of the prime minister.

In Nov.1964, based on a parliamentary resolution, the Ministry of Culture and Art was established.

Ministry of Information and Tourism:

In July.01.1953, the publication and propagation general directorate was set up.

Based on a resolution of the National Consultative Assembly (parliament) in Feb.20.1963, the said General Directorate was transformed to Ministry of Information.

By integration the Tourism dept. to Ministry of Information in July 1974, the Ministry of Information and Tourism was established.

Historical course of the formation of Ministry of culture and Islamic Guidance (in post ?Islamic revolution era).

1. in Mar. 7. 1978, based on a resolution approved by the Islamic revolution council, the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education was formed by integration of the two Ministries of culture and Art and Ministry of science and Higher Education.
2. In May 27.1979, the Ministry of Information and Tourism was renamed as Ministry of National Guidance.
3. In 1980, the Ministry of National Guidance was renamed as Ministry of Islamic Guidance.
4. In the same year, a number of departments of the Ministry of Culture and Higher education were detached from this ministry and attached to the Ministry of Islamic Guidance.
5. In 1981, some more departments were detached from the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education and were integrated to ministry of Islamic Guidance.

In Mar.02.1987, based on the law stipulating the objectives and responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, the Ministry of Islamic Guidance was renamed as the Ministry of culture and Islamic guidance.

The affiliated organization of the ministry:

• Islamic republic news agency (IRNA)
• Culture and Islamic communication organization
• Endowment and charity organization
• Iran and International tourism organization
• Association of cultural
• Printing and publication organization of ministry culture and Islamic guidance
• Hadj and pilgrimage organization
• Cultural heritage organization (because affiliated to this ministry in 1993) objectives
• Promotion of ethical virtues based on belief and piety.
• Cultural independence and immunity of the society against penetration of public awareness in various respects and flourishing of talents and research, investigation and innovation mentality
• Spread of Islamic culture and art.
• Informing the world community about the basis and aspirations of the Islamic revolution.
• Expansion of cultural ties with various nations and Muslims and the oppressed people in particular

Basic Responsibilities:

• Introducing the basis, manifestations and ideal of the Islamic revolution to world community through art, audio ?visual means, books, publications, arranging of cultural gatherings and other possible activities within the country and abroad with collaboration of ministry of foreign affairs and other concerned authorities.
• Conducting research works on the propaganda campaign of international media and becoming familiar with their techniques and the ways to counter their measures if needed.
• Collection ad classification of all cultural document of the Islamic revolution such as films, books, photographs and other publications related to the Islamic republic of Iran ad publication of required items.
• Reviewing and focusing of news and information related to the progress of activities of the state establishments and institutions of the Islamic revolution in order to publish them.
• Enforcing the press laws and drafting relevant regulations and rules, taking care, publication and distribution of various governmental announcements and their implementation within the country and abroad.
• Concluding of agreements on cultural, art, film, tourism, news, and press exchange and participation in meeting of regional and international organizations on the said issued through cooperation and coordination with the ministry of foreign affairs and by respecting the country's constitution.
• Establishment, expansion and administration of all cultural missions of Iran in other countries and appointing cultural and press representatives and monitoring their activities.
• Cultural cooperation with Islamic and cultural centers of other nations aimed at promotion of Islamic culture.
• Running the affairs of Hadj, endowment and charity institutions based on relevant laws.
• Gathering of news, reports, articles and photographs on Iran and other countries and their distribution among country's mass media as well as reflecting various events in the country and the region on political economic, social, cultural, sport development among the world mass media.
• Establishment, expansion and operation of facilities for domestic and international Tourism, providing required means for Iranian and foreign tourists to travel within the country by road, air and sea transportation facilities, providing all requites services for tourist and introducing country's developments and tourist attractions.
• Promoting research, investigation and innovation mentality among the people in all Islamic and Iranian culture and art by encouraging and providing assistance to writers, poets and artists as well as introducing and commemoration of scholars and cultural figures of the Islamic world and publication of works and promotion of talents and cultural and artistic qualities of the people.
• Determining the criteria for presenting cultural and art awards within the framework and procedures of such activities.
• Establishment, expansion and equipping of public libraries cultural centers and movie theaters affiliated to the ministry across the country.
• Issuing permission for establishment and order for banning the activities of propagation institutions and supervising the activities and the quality of advertisements, printing works based on relevant laws and regulations.
• Planning aimed at establishment, improvement of completion of Tourism facilities and infrastructures through directive investment or providing of loan to private sector of on joint venture projects with other governmental organizations and municipalities, issuing the license for establishment of accommodation facilities for tourists, tourism, pilgrimage and traveling offices to provide requires services and classification and pricing of such facilities and accommodation centers through cooperation with other concerned authorities.
• Supervising the cultural, art and propagation activities of the religious ministries who are official recognized in country's constitution.
• Issuing the required permission for entry and exit of audio-visual equipment, artifacts, newspapers and other publications, all suspicious cultural and propagation items. The judgment to distinguish the suspicious works from authorized items would base on a directive which would be approved by the cabinet.
• Drafting the rule of procedures and regulations for holding of festivals, art and cultural fairs and films and literary contests within the country and abroad.
• Issuing license of banning the activities of cultural, press, news, art, cinema, audio-visual, publications and propagation institutions in the country and overseeing the activities of publishers and bookshops in the frame of relevant regulations.
• Leading and supporting film making centers, script writing, movie theaters, film screening centers, photo shops and producers of audio visual cassettes and issuing licenses and with drawing them for such institutions and foreseeing their activities.
• Foreseeing the cultural, art, propagation activities of expatriates residing in Iran through cooperation of other concerned authorities.
• Investigating the impact of mass media and the activities such as speeches, pictorial works, press, news and written works and their impact on public opinion with cooperation of other concerned activities.
• Conducting studies on the public culture, art, cinema and theater and other related activities to use the findings of the studies for cultural and art planning in the country and improving their quality.
• Cultural and propagation planning to promote the public cooperation with the government ad studying the impact of such programs and activities of the government on public opinion and submitting the finding to the cabinet.
• Preparing the ground for spread of the culture of Islamic revolution and Persian language in other countries through cooperation of ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of science, research and technology.
• Outlining country's macro cultural, art and film making policies and presenting them to the Islamic consultative assembly (Majlis) for approval based an article 74 of the constitution of the Islamic republic of Iran
• Establishment ad administration of educational institution for Tranining of talented individual in various branches of culture, art, tourism and related fields through cooperation with other concerned organizations