Czech Culture Sector Protests Potential Political Interference
– A growing wave of protest is building within the Czech cultural community as nearly 500 artists and academics voice opposition to the potential appointment of Oto Klempíř, a musician and representative of the Motorists party, as the next Minister of Culture. The concerns center around fears of political control over artistic production and the independence of cultural institutions.
The open letter, addressed to President Petr Pavel and likely next Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, argues that Klempíř’s appointment could “undermine a functioning cultural sector.” Signatories, including prominent designer Maxim Velčovský, artist Jiří David, and artist Jiří Černický, are calling for a leader who will uphold “open, impartial, and transparent processes consistent with EU values.” They emphasize the need for political trust and support for a culture sector they describe as underfunded, arguing that this is crucial for maintaining Czech cultural and diplomatic strength.
The protests coincide with broader discord following recent elections and ongoing coalition talks. The situation has escalated as Klempíř himself invited artists who publicly criticized his potential appointment at a recent demonstration supporting President Pavel to discuss the matter at the Ministry of Culture. This invitation followed Klempíř’s statement that such demonstrations represent “democracy in its purest form,” where everyone can express their opinion.
However, the artists responded with a request for a public debate at the Palace Theatre in Prague, a proposal Klempíř rejected. He stated his intention was to discuss the future of culture, not politics, and reiterated his invitation for the artists to meet him at the Ministry. The artists are reportedly standing firm on their demand for a public forum.
In a joint statement, the artists explained their position, stating, “Our performance was a political expression of critical civic attitude. Similarly, your subsequent reaction and offer of a meeting represent a political response to this criticism. We therefore believe that the subject of the debate should be political issues related to the performance of your function.”
The unrest within the Czech cultural landscape extends beyond this specific appointment. , the situation remains unresolved. Recent actions by the current Culture Minister, Antonin Staněk, have also sparked protests. Last week, Staněk dismissed Jiří Fajt, director of the National Gallery, Prague, after five years of service, and Michal Soukup, head of the Olomouc Museum of Art. Staněk justified the dismissals as being based on the results of public administration controls.
Separately, Robert Jindra, the chief conductor of the Košice State Philharmonic in Slovakia, resigned from his position after publicly criticizing Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová’s recent dismissals of two directors. This incident highlights a broader trend of concern regarding political interference in cultural institutions across the region.
These events are unfolding against a backdrop of wider political and social issues in the Czech Republic, including debates over the financing of public media and ongoing attempts to trigger a vote of no confidence in the government.
