Power Lies in Togetherness
Statement by tranzit.org
We’ve been following with deep concern the developments in Slovak society and culture since last fall’s Parliamentary elections. With spectacular speed the new government has started to systematically eliminate the functioning of democratic institutions which represent obstacles to the centralization and consolidation of its power, to attack the judiciary, public institutions and their leaders, and to resort to fast-track decisions and the intimidation of critical voices – all under the guise of populist rhetoric. In their attempt to dominate the public space, ideological control is an essential tool and the field of culture is the main battlefield.
And indeed, since last autumn a cultural war has been waged by the Slovak Minister of Culture, Martina Šimkovičová against everything that is “liberal-progressive,” critical or simply objective, that deviates from the “norm” and does not fit into her understanding of Slovak culture which “must be Slovak and nothing else.” The attacks on culture started with denying the rights of members of the LGBTI artistic and cultural community, and continued with abolishing the Bratislava Kunsthalle, dismissing heads of public institutions such as the Slovak National Theatre, the Slovak National Gallery and the Slovak National Museum on the basis of trumped-up charges, amending the functioning of the Slovak Audiovisual Fund and the Slovak Arts Council in order to control the distribution of funds, and replacing Radio and Television of Slovakia (RTVS) by a new body meant to be the medium of the government’s propaganda. These are just a few examples of the destructive acts which are increasing by the day.
But as unexpectedly harsh as the changes are, the resistance of those in the cultural sphere is surprisingly strong and determined. Since its founding this winter, the non-partisan civic platform Open Culture! has launched statements, formulated the needs and demands of the cultural workers, and organized numerous protests from performative actions to large scale demonstrations.
Furthermore, the Cultural Trade Unions were established in May of this year. On September 19, 2024, almost 10,000 protesters in 14 cities across Slovakia participated in demonstrations as part of the ongoing Cultural Strike demanding professional management of the Ministry of Culture, the end of ideological censorship which not only violates freedom of expression but has economic ramifications, and the improvement of the social security and financial conditions of cultural workers.
The Slovak resistance movement is an outstanding example of cross sectoral collaboration, of the joining of forces to prevent the destruction of culture and defend the interests of all citizens in Slovakia. For culture is a common good, inseparable from freedom of thought, expression and speech, and it belongs to all people, without distinction.
tranzit.org stands by the cultural workers and citizens of Slovakia in their efforts to safeguard the independence of culture and democratic values! We believe in the power of solidarity and acting together for a more sustainable and just world! We hereby launch a call for international solidarity with Slovak Culture and cultural workers!
Let’s use our networks to spread the word, raise our voices and put an end to the devastation of culture in Slovakia! Let’s support our colleagues from Slovakia in their struggle within the Cultural Strike!
https://kulturnystrajk.sk/#download
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