Hungary appoints Berg Judit, Popa Gergely and Sipos Imre as deputy state secretaries for culture

Hungarian culture minister Ervin Nagy announced the appointment of three deputy state secretaries. Writer Berg Judit will oversee literature and public enlightenment, violinist and former orchestra director Popa Gergely will be responsible for music, and actor Sipos Imre will manage the performing‑arts sector.

The selections give the music sector its first deputy‑state‑secretary‑level representation since the post‑communist transition. Berg Judit is noted for leading major children’s literature projects and for two decades of cultural project management; Popa Gergely formerly directed the Hungarian State Opera’s orchestra and led the Savaria Symphony Orchestra; Sipos Imre brings decades of acting and directing experience, previously heading artistic units at the Kecskemét National Theatre and the Dunaújváros Bartók Chamber Theatre.

Later, Minister Zoltán Tarr visited staff of the National Cultural Support Agency, apologised for misconduct by the previous leadership and stressed the need for transparent use of public funds. He highlighted discrepancies in funding allocations, noting that substantial sums were granted to Hungarian communities abroad while domestic civil‑society applications received none.