Zsolt Sári announces major reforms to Hungary’s heritage protection

Zsolt Sári, the State Secretary responsible for collections and heritage protection, has announced a series of major reforms aimed at restructuring Hungary’s cultural and heritage protection systems. A central component of this plan is the establishment of a new Heritage Protection Office. This institution is intended to operate with national jurisdiction, unified professional practices, and genuine decision-making authority, addressing what Sári described as a decade of fragmented operations lacking an independent institutional background.

Additional reform measures include the creation of a 21st-century law for collections and heritage protection to replace outdated regulations. Sári also pledged to support decentralization, resolve wage issues for cultural workers, and strengthen rural museums, archives, and libraries to ensure they receive consistent professional support.

The plan also addresses the long-term closure of the Museum of Applied Arts, with intentions to launch reconstruction efforts that meet both museum and monument standards. Furthermore, a new Department of Fine Arts will be established to promote the international positioning of contemporary Hungarian art, design, and photography.