The Slovenian Arts Council is sewing, and the Ministry of Culture is cutting funding
According to several sources, the Slovenian Ministry of Culture recently reduced co-financing of non-governmental organizations by almost 50 percent in the last four-year program, a decision feared that it could push the country’s cultural landscape to the margins. The move, which cut funding from 6.4m euros ($ 7.1m) to 3.6m euros ($ 4m), comes as the ministry has the largest budget since Slovenia’s independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and follows a rise to power. in the last two years of the right-wing administration, which further destroyed the Slovenian Press Agency and withheld funding for media that cover or express views contrary to the views of the ruling party.
Many art organizations that have been denied money have been funded through the ministry for decades. The non-profit institute for contemporary art Maska was established, which was one of the rejected organizations, to warn that many rejects had already had their funding cut in previous rounds, but had successfully appealed these decisions. A large proportion also produced or sponsored socio-politically engaged work, which is contrary to the habits of the ruling Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS). “Reducing funding has become a means of punishing and suppressing speech and creativity,” Maska wrote.
In an interview for a Slovenian weekly Youth Last week, Jani Novak from the well-known long-standing Laibach industrial group, which has its roots in Trbovlje, lamented: and many others). Given their outstanding references, the Intelligent Ministry could – and should – co-finance them directly, without any complicated and degrading bureaucratic procedures. Paper and separate article On January 7, he described the Glej Theater as one of the few places in the country that presents new works by Slovenian playwrights and a pot in which many national actors are forged.
As revealed by the French network last week EuronewsSlovenia was included in June Civicus Monitor Watch List, which issues warnings regarding countries where civil liberties are rapidly disappearing. The publication described in detail the government’s reduction in funding for culture, noting that environmental NGOs are also at high risk, with funding for climate-related efforts reduced by 70 per cent and for environmental projects to zero.
