Leadership and management disputes in Serbian institutions

Management crises have emerged at multiple theatrical and cultural institutions in Serbia. In Užice, the Zeleno levog fronta council group has demanded the resignation of the National Theatre leadership following the departure of the Board of Directors and the postponement of the 31st Yugoslav Theatre Festival. The group has alleged mismanagement regarding the timing of the competition for a new director and internal employee dissatisfaction.

At the Youth Theatre in Novi Sad, the trade union has issued an eight-day deadline for director Sergej Tamaš to resign. The union cites unpaid compensation for six workers under copyright contracts since the beginning of the year, alleging failure to meet government minimum labor price regulations. They also claim the director has failed to resolve the closure of the Great Stage since May 2025 and have called on the Novi Sad City Assembly to dismiss three Board of Directors members due to a lack of transparency.

New disputes have surfaced in the educational and performing arts sectors. The teaching council at the Mokranjac Music School has formally requested the resignation of acting director Tanja Andrijić. Following a vote by 75 of 95 members, the council requested that the Ministry of Education investigate the legality of the director selection process and the impartiality of commission president Aleksandar Hrnjak.

Additionally, Željko Andrić has been appointed acting manager of the Serbian National Theatre (SNP) following the resignation of Dragana Milošević. Milošević’s departure follows previous calls for her removal by the SNP Independence Union, which cited legal and statutory concerns regarding the extension of her acting term.