Slovakia’s tradition ministry introduced on Wednesday that it has sacked Alexandra Kusá, the overall director of the nation’s Nationwide Gallery (SNG), for “a number of managerial failures.” The ministry additionally stated that as a result of Kusá is the daughter of Martin Kusý, the architect liable for refurbishing the SNG, she had a “battle of pursuits.”
“[The fact she is related to Martin Kusý] was already identified earlier than Alexandra Kusá was appointed director of the SNG [in 2010],” the ministry stated in a press release. “The present administration is of the opinion that, on account of household connections, Alexandra Kusá shouldn’t have been appointed to this submit.”
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Kusá’s dismissal follows the sacking of Matej Drlička, who was the top of Slovakia’s Nationwide Theater, on Tuesday.
Kusá, nonetheless, instructed ARTnews that the tradition ministry’s causes for axing her are “fabricated.”
“There are some very imprecise causes [for my sacking], most of them are fabricated, I don’t even trouble to learn them… it makes me sick,” she stated. “We’re newly reconstructed, newly open, [we have the] greatest finances, we’ve by no means had so many guests… we’re a really vivid establishment. Possibly that’s the issue!”
Kusá added, “I used to be not stunned in any respect that I used to be sacked as a result of I knew that the tradition ministry’s work and our work may be very completely different, so it was solely a matter of time. This sort of factor just isn’t solely occurring in Slovakia. It’s about non-compatibility between the brand new tradition ministry and the way we work and really feel.”
In October of final yr, Robert Fico’s populist left-wing Smer-SSD get together gained parliamentary elections in Slovakia and fashioned a coalition authorities with the center-left Hlas and nationalist SNS events. Fico has since halted Slovakian assist to Ukraine however denies being pro-Russia.
Martina Šimkovičová, a TV presenter who has mocked refugees on social media and overtly criticized homosexuals, was appointed tradition minister.
Drlička stated he discovered of his dismissal at house on Tuesday.
“I used to be in my bathtub early within the morning, the doorbell rang, and there was an officer from the HR division with two huge guys, I assumed they have been safety guards, however I later discovered they have been from the authorized division,” Drlička instructed ARTnews. “They delivered my dismissal however I instructed them I wasn’t going to take it, this isn’t the way it ought to occur, however they instructed me I used to be dismissed – I stated ‘thanks’ – they usually wished me a pleasant day.”
He stated that he hasn’t been given a cause for his sacking, neither has he been contacted by Šimkovičová “The tradition ministry stated in press releases that the tradition minister doesn’t agree with what the theater did… and may be very nervous about how I’m managing on this space, and so on, and so on,” he defined.
When requested if he might need performed one thing to upset the tradition ministry, Drlička stated that in 2022 at a convention in Budapest he made an “inappropriate remark that was attempting to be humorous, however wasn’t humorous.” He stated it was taken out of context and “gave the impression of I wanted [certain] politicians have been useless.”
Somebody reported him and he subsequently handed in his resignation because the director of the Nationwide Theater, however he was quickly reappointed. “Šimkovičová is once more utilizing this case as a cause for my dismissal however I’ve already paid my penalty for it.”
Drlička stated that as quickly as Šimkovičová was appointed “we realized we have been coming into a brand new tradition conflict.” He stated her first assertion was that “any more, the tradition will probably be Slovak and Slovak solely, no mixing.”
“It was like a fascist declaration,” Drlička instructed ARTnews. “We had very daring and courageous programing within the drama division, however after each premier, we obtained a whole lot of hatred. It was apparent that I might go down.” He stated he has been focused by on-line trolls.
Drlička and Kusá have been defiant of their dismissals, addressing the media collectively exterior the SNG on Wednesday.
Workers from their respective establishments have joined the 2 former administrators in criticizing Slovakia’s nationalistic coalition authorities for stifling institutional independence.
The SNG launched a press release on Wednesday. It stated, “The employees… stands firmly behind Alexandra Kusá, recognizing the immense effort, time, experience, humanity, progressive imaginative and prescient, and at occasions, superhuman dedication she has invested in constructing a nationwide cultural establishment that really understands the true that means and worth of the phrases ‘nationwide,’ ‘tradition,’ and ‘establishment.’”
Kusá instructed ARTnews that Branislav Panis, the director of the Slovak Nationwide Museum, was doubtless subsequent on the chopping board. “He’s on vacation in Croatia for the time being, however Slovak regulation dictates which you could’t be sacked whereas on trip.”