Hungarian cultural leaders issue open letter to Minister Zoltán Tarr

Thirteen prominent figures from various sectors of Hungarian cultural life have issued an open letter to Zoltán Tarr, the Minister responsible for social relations and culture. The signatories, including artists, institution leaders, cultural professionals, and heads of civil organizations, warn that increasing unpredictability in funding and institutional support is threatening the continuity of community culture and the creation of cultural value.

The letter highlights that while significant support has reached certain public interest foundations, many local cultural institutions, workshops, journals, festivals, and civil organizations face precarious financial situations. These groups often rely on short-term grant cycles and sporadic support, which jeopardizes the professional knowledge, traditions, and talent development they provide to hundreds of thousands of people.

The authors are not seeking special privileges or specific organizational funding, but rather call for the state to act as a genuine partner to those who have spent decades maintaining Hungarian culture. They emphasize that the potential disappearance of established workshops and communities results in the loss of irreplaceable professional networks and cultural heritage.