The National Cultural Fund of Hungary became the supreme institution responsible for funding cultural life in and outside Hungary during the past 20 years.

Established by the Hungarian Parliament to support the creation, preservation and spread of national and universal values, this separate state fund is now running on 90 percent of the gambling tax of Lottery 5 as its main revenue. It calls for bids to offer and award the vast majority of its disposable money to those who implement the winning programs through a system of social divisions.

In recent years, an intensive legislative process has reinforced the NCF in terms of not only organisation but also finances. It fully used its actual revenues (EUR 39 million in 2010, EUR 41.6 million in 2011, and EUR 45.3 million in 2012) to support cultural programs. The structure of divisions and the overall online tender system in place since 1 January 2012 and 2013 respectively have made the Fund an economical, efficient and environmentally-friendly body.

The main objectives of the National Cultural Fund of Hungary include stabilising funds and involving new incomes to increase its available tender budget. To this end, the Fund has signed a number of cooperation agreements with government agencies and NGOs in the past years, and its professional divisions have announced comprehensive support programs to reinforce the State’s engagement in the field of culture.