Kategorie: News
13.05.2024
Expression of Solidarity with Artists and Cultural professionals in Slovakia
The European Alliance of Academies (EAoA) is observing with great concerns the current cultural-political developments in the EU-member-state Slovakia. Since the elections of the new government in October 2023, Robert Fico is again prime minister and created his 4th cabinet in a coalition with his party Smer, as well as Hlas and the nationalistic party SNS. The new government addresses openly their conservative, nationalistic, anti-EU and pro-Russian positions, and already proofs to be a great danger for the freedom of art and culture in Slovakia.
New Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová (SNS) showed with first actions the direction cultural policy is now taking in this small EU-country:
- Revoking the funding and therefore closing Kunsthalle Bratislava, the only state-funded contemporary cultural institution in Bratislava known for its progressive focus,
- refusing any further support to LGBTQ+-projects,
- threatening cultural professionals by implementing plans that any head of state-funded cultural institutions can be replaced at any time, as it happened already with the sudden dismissal of the director of Bibiana-International House of Art for Children, and the director of the Slovak National Library,… .
These are only some examples of the beginning of a deep change in Slovakia’s cultural policy landscape. While the minister herself describes these actions as “return to normality”, the Slovak cultural scene and civic society worries for good reason to face from now on similar restrictions as their neighbours in Hungary. A petition with more than 170 000 signatures – a current record – to force the resignation of Šimkovičová, remains without success.
The Slovak EAoA partner Slovenská akadémia vied (Slovak Academy of Science) expressed that they are currently not affected by the governmental decisions on culture.
If this becomes the “new-old normality”, Slovakia’s artistic and cultural freedom is truly endangered. Institutions and projects depending on state funding won’t have any chance but follow the directions of the new government, while we can only imagine from other examples which restrictions will follow for the independent artistic sector.
The Slovak example highlights again the importance of the fight of the European Alliance of Academies for democratic values and artistic freedom, as they are not to be taken for granted for all of us in Europe! We stand with the people of Slovakia who are suffering because of the new government’s decisions and are currently protesting in thousands to protect their democratic rights.
We all must keep fighting for democratic values and stand for the freedom of arts and culture in Europe.
As the most basic step, don’t forget to promote and to go vote for a democratic Europe in June!
2.05.2024
In a world where physical borders are often the focus of our attention, it’s all too easy to overlook the invisible boundaries that exist within our societies. These intangible lines can be just as impactful, if not more, in shaping the lives of individuals and communities across Europe.
The Atlas of Invisible Borders is an online platform that presents a comprehensive collection of videos, serving as a digital forum for reflection, amplifying diverse perspectives, and shedding light on the persistent invisible barriers shaping Europe today. It showcases the results of our first Call for Contributions, featuring 23 selected videos from 12 European countries. Each video offers a unique perspective on invisible borders, organized by concept and country to facilitate exploration and engagement.
Our aim is to prompt reflection on these often-overlooked divisions and foster a deeper understanding of their implications. The Atlas online platform serves as a space where voices from all corners of Europe can converge to share their insights and experiences.
Our contributors represent a vibrant mix of voices from diverse ages and backgrounds, including artists, writers, philosophers, cultural managers, journalists, and more. They cover a wide array of topics, ranging from new technologies to global conflicts, community inequalities, migrations or the value of cultural heritage and nature.
But our project doesn’t end here. As we grow, we invite you to take the time to explore the diverse narratives presented here and to engage in the dialogue they inspire. Stay tuned for regular updates as we continue to add new content to our platform, providing you with even more opportunities to explore, learn, and connect.
The Atlas of Invisible Borders is an initiative of the European Alliance of Academies, a transnational network of 70 art academies and cultural institutions advocating for the freedom of artistic expression, a pivotal element for social cohesion in Europe.
At the core of this project lies the collaborative effort of the Círculo de Bellas Artes – Casa Europa and many other Alliance members who have contribute to create a virtual space aimed at exposing and raising awareness about the invisible borders that persistently divide Europe.
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15.04.2024
With a strong voice for a democratic Europe
From 25-26 March, 41 members from 17 countries of the European Alliance of Academies met at the Akademie der Künste in Berlin on Pariser Platz.
In the face of multiple crises on the continent, Academy President Jeanine Meerapfel recalled the origins of the European idea: „Europe was and is a utopian project. Numerous European states joined forces, overcame former enmities and renounced part of their sovereignty in order to create the European Union peace project. Even today, many of us dream of Europe as an open continent. And we are not just dreaming: three and a half years ago, we founded the European Alliance of Academies to work together for the freedom of art and the creation of a democratic Europe.“
In the run-up to the European elections, which will take place in Europe from 6-9 June, the members of the European Alliance of Academies decided to publish an election appeal to all Europeans: Diversity, respect and solidarity are the core elements of vibrant democracies. The European Alliance of Academies calls on European citizens to fulfil their responsibility to protect these values by exercising their right to vote.
Read the full call to vote here
The diverse programme offered pupils, young artists, civil society actors, climate experts and members of the Academy of Arts the opportunity to contribute their ideas about Europe and democracy. Contacts already established with artists and cultural professionals from Hungary and Poland were deepened. New structures and projects of the transnational network were discussed in internal consultations. The fight against right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and the defence of artistic freedom are the focal points to which the Alliance members would like to continue to dedicate themselves.
Ferenc Czinki, President of the Hungarian Writers‘ Association Szépírók Társásagá, which has been excluded from any state funding since 2024, confirmed the solidarity effect of the alliance: „You have supported us, you have given us ideas and courage. Your solidarity has saved us through difficult times.“
Keynote speaker Meron Mendel summarised in his speach at the opening evening: There is nothing left for us but to believe in people. And believing in people is also believing in art. Art has a humanistic mission in the deepest sense of the word. This is precisely why art is under threat.
Hungarian Film director István Szabó commented in his input on the second conference day: What should a film be about? About today’s reality, because we can only improve it by confronting it. We also want to preserve European culture, as well as the desire to be free, which is what Europe stands for.
At Café Climate, Academy members Ulrike Draesner, A. L. Kennedy, Esther Kinsky, Dagmara Kraus, Ursula Krechel and Cécile Wajsbrot read specially written texts for the Atlas of Change, dealing with the impacts of climate change on their lives. Afterwards, the audience had the opportunity to share their perspectives and discuss with the artists and invited climate experts Dagmar Haase, Claudia Kemfert, Damien Bright, Eckhard Roelcke and Marco Clausen about important aspects like climate justice & civil resistance, transformation strategies, urban solutions and local activism – important impulses how to become active against climate change as individual in our society.
Nine artists from across Europe – all associated to institutions of the European Alliance of Academies engaged with poems by a young generation of Hungarian poets, all members of the Szépírók Társasága, and created multidisciplinary artworks that respond, comment and reflect on the social and political reality of today’s life in Hungary. Yese Astarloa, Matei Bejenaru, Lucija Bogunović, Sayaka Fujio, Paul Michels, Mariano Ortega, Dimitrina Popova and Laura Stojkoski presented their artistic project published on LOOM – Interweaving the Arts in Europe
In their video messages, Minister of State for Culture and the Media Claudia Roth and UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights Alexandra Xanthaki emphasised the importance of the European alliance and assured the European Alliance of Academies that it would be able to continue its work.
Photos by Reinhardt & Sommer
27.03.2024
Europe has never been in greater danger of being deprived of its achievements and democratic values as it is now. Or, in other words: Never before in the three decades since the foundation of the European Union have its citizens been more called upon to go to the polls than for the upcoming elections to the European Parliament between 6 and 9 June 2024.
While Europe is going through challenging times, right-wing populists are gaining a growing impact on our societies – with fatal consequences for the freedom of expression in the media, in the political and the public debate, in the arts and culture. Each of us is affected.
The hateful discourse delivered by far-right parties erects walls instead of building bridges. Diversity, respect and solidarity are the core elements of lively democracies. The European Alliance of Academies appeals to the citizens of Europe to assume their responsibility in protecting these values by exercising their right to vote.
31.01.2024
Nine brand new digital artworks have been published on LOOM – Interweaving the Arts in Europe, the digital platform for artistic collaboration of the European Alliance of Academies.
The nine selected artists – all associated to institutions of the European Alliance of Academies – engaged with the poems of Szépírók Társasága members and created multidisciplinary artworks that respond, comment and reflect on the social and political reality of today’s life in Hungary.
Many thanks to poets Réka Borda, Renátó Fehér, Mónika Ferencz, Róbert Laboda, Zsófi Kemény, Dénes Krusovszky, Márton Simon, Balázs Szálinger and Ádám Vajna to embark with us on this artistic journey.
With their work, Yese Astarloa, Matei Bejenaru, Lucija Bogunović, Sayaka Fujio, Iosif Király, Paul Michels, Mariano Ortega, Dimitrina Popova and Laura Stojkoski added another layer of meaning to the poetry selection, thereby creating a pan-European artwork.
Several alliance members were involved in the design of the project. We would like to express our sincere thanks to Ferenc Czinki (Szépírók Társasága), Kristoffer Gansing (former International Center for Knowledge in the Arts – The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts), Anca Poterasu (Romanian Association for contemporary Art), Geertjan de Vugt (Akademie van Kunsten), Nikki Petroni (Arts Council Malta) and Josip Zanki (Croatian Association of Fine Artists).
Artists and poets will have the opportunity to present their work at the next conference of the European Alliance of Academies entitles The Climate We Live In. An Alliance Against the Far Right takes place on 25-26 March 2024 at Akademie der Künste in Berlin.
13.11.2023
Support Szépírók Társasága
At the beginning of the year, we reported on the critical situation of the Society of Hungarian Authors Szépírók Társasága. After another agressive budget cut the independent Society will receive zero funding from the National Cultural Fund for the upcoming year. At this point, the political decisions can be claimed to be an open attack against independent Hungarian culture.
Writer Czinki Ferenc, president of Szépírók Társasága, one of the founding members of the European Alliance of Academies describes in an Interview with Cornelia Geißler from Berliner Zeitung the difficulties the Society of Hungarian Authors if facing right now (in German language).
Development of the current situation
33%
In 2022 the National Cultural Fund radically reduced the funding of the Society of Hungarian Authors leaving the organisation with about 33% of its usual annual budget and even blocked the bank transfer for 6 months reasoning with the then starting economic crisis.
0%
Receiving the latest news from NCA’s literature committee meeting, the board of the Society learned that for the year 2024 the budget will be cut entirely creating a most likely impossible task for the Society to even survive. The decision of giving the Society zero state fund is an obvious and open attack against the independent cultural scene of Hungary.
Short and long-term solutions
The organisation is therefore trying to find a solution through a variety of means:
- contacting international literary and cultural advocacy organisations,
- approaching private sponsors to build a stable and growing sponsorship
- negotiating the expansion and continuation of ongoing national and international projects.
In addition to this, a fundraising campaign through community funding is necessary to ensure a stable operation.
Subscribe for the future of independent contemporary Hungarian literature and support the crowdfunding campaign of the Society of Hungarian Authors!
Please find more information and data in the Fact Sheet
The Society was established in 1997 to promote contemporary literature and democratic cultural policies. Its almost 400 members include some of the internationally most acclaimed Hungarian writers as well as cultural journalists and cultural managers from across Hungary, and also writers and critics of the Hungarian minorities and diasporas, along with international translators and scholars of Hungarian literature.
3.07.2023
Photo: Gergely Oláh
Cécile Wajsbrot, author and member of the European Alliance of Academies, summarises the concerns of Alliance members about the situation for art and culture in Hungary.
The Mathias Corvinus Collegium – originally founded in 1996 as a private university for art and social sciences – has over the years become an institution to shape the elite of Orbán’s society as well as helping to create an international network of right and far-right forces in Europe. Last May the MCC bought 90% shares of the private Modul University in Vienna. It will not infer with the University curricula or academics, was the announcement from MCC. But on the Kahlenberg* many were concerned about the future.
Two weeks ago, the same MCC has acquired a 98,41% stake in Libri, which is, along with Lirà, one of the two main players in the Hungarian publishing landscape. The MCC had already acquired 25,4% of Libri in 2020, enough to block decisions. Libri, as well as other commercial or most prestigious publishing houses featuring authors such as Péter Nádas, Colm Tóibín or Carlo Rovelli, possesses about sixty bookstores all over Hungary. Despite reassurances, a few authors already informed they would step out from Libri. The very official Hungarian Writers’ Union on the contrary welcomed the news.
And now the Parliament is considering a new set of restrictions in order to diminish professional autonomy for teachers in response to their demands for higher wages and reduced centralization.
We all know or should know how it works. At the beginning, dictators tends to offer a rather friendly face. But in the secrecy of offices and departments, they are carefully preparing the coming assaults against every kind of freedom – education, art, culture. And they later or earlier show their true faces. This is happening in Hungary, it is happening now in Poland, it is beginning to happen in Italy. Who will be the next in line?
Having just come back from Budapest, going soon to Cracow, the European Alliance of Academies wants to express its great concern about increasing aggressions against freedom of expression and creation in Europe, all the more as it happens under cover – without too much noise, without too much publicity.
More information on the Alliance’s activities for artistic freedom in Hungary:
Event Solidarity with Szépírók Társasága, May 2023
Event Battle with the Empty Sky: Language, nationalism and freedom of art in early 21st-century Europe, October 2021
Declaration Hungary beyond all Hope, December 2020
Report Freedom of Art and Autonomy of Cultural Institutions in Hungary, February 2021
Letter of Complaint to the UN Special Rapporteur for Cultural Rights, May 2021
Online Petition to the European Parliament, May 2021
* Where the university is located
5.04.2023
The pan-european group, which came together in 2020 to mark the founding of the European Alliance of Academies, is receiving rave reviews for its newly released CD „Live at Pariser Platz“ available at Evil Rabbit Records
eyal hareuveni, 8 december 2022, salt peanuts
true to the spirit of free improvisation, as well as the meeting of the alliance of the european academies, music aoa impro group builds bridges between seemingly distant musical heritages and legacies, beyond national and geographical borders, and seeks solidarity and collective creativity.
manthos giourtzoglou, 21 january 2023, keepjazzin.gr
προκειται για ενα φουλ free impro liveτο οποίο αναμφίβολα έχει πολλή ενέργεια και απευθύνεται κατευθείαν “στην καρδιά” των φίλων του είδους. το σοπράνο σαξόφωνο και το μπασο κλαρινέτο του φλώρου φλωρίδη συνδιαλέγονται ρμονικά και “παιχνιδιάρικα” με το κόρνο της ελενας κακαλιάγκου, στο “ελληνικό” ντουο πνευστών αυτής της πενταεθνούς μπάντας, με τα σχεδόν απόκοσμα φωνητικά της almut kuhne να ταράζουν τα “νερά” της ακρόασης και το δίδυμο του ιταλού κοντραμπασίστα και του νορβηγού ντράμερ να γεμίζουν με το μεστό τους παίξιμο το άκουσμα.
this is a full free impro live which undoubtedly has a lot of energy and is addressed directly „to the heart“ of the fans of the genre. the soprano saxophone and bass clarinet of Floros Floridis interact harmoniously and playfully with the horn of Elena Kakaliagou, in the „Greek“ wind duo of this five-year-old band, with the almost eerie vocals of Almut Kühne stirring up the „waters“ of the listening and the duo of the Italian double bassist and the Norwegian drummer filling the listening with their hearty playing.
dolf mulder, dec 2022, vital weekly number 1367
it may not be entirely coincidental that this group has different european nationalities on board. however, international lineups are often the case in collaborations of this kind of – by definition – border-breaking music. (…) together they create a harmonious and balanced atmosphere where everybody can contribute in their free and abstract improvisations. a very positive and poetic work.
jean-michel van schouwburg, march 2023, orynx
une musique aérienne et jouée / exécutée lentement et toute en finesse. un groupe à l’instrumentation rare : la voix humaine d’almut kühne, le french horn d’elena kakaliagou, la contrebasse d’antonio borghini, la batterie de dag magnus narvesen et le sax soprano et la clarinette basse de floros floridis. pivotant autour ou par-dessus la contrebasse puissante et discrète d’antonio borghini, la voix pure et magnifique d’almut kühne étire patiemment des vocalises d’une exquise finesse avec autant de précision que de pureté. la voix idéale pour une expression contemporaine épurée, retenue et exprimant l’essentiel. filet de voix aigu vif argent, ses capacités de chanteuse lui permettent d’incarner bien des émotions et de revêtir une multiplicité de rôles avec une technique sans faille et une sûreté impressionnante. le moindre son de sa voix suggère la vocalité, un substrat mélodique, une inflexion musicale magique. et lorsque le besoin se fait sentir elle peut « déraper » outre mesure par des excès expressifs.
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rigobert dittmann, nov / dec 2022, bad alchemy 117
was für ein bunter haufen. so unsäglich kann berlin gar nicht sein, wenn man sieht, wer sich alles dort sucht und findet: eine deutsche vokalistin, der man an der seite von gebhard ullmann oder joke lanz begegnen konnte, eine griechische hornistin mit anschluss an zeitkratzer, ein kontrabassist aus mailand im hoch mit tristan honsinger und die hochstapler, ein norwegischer drummer mit knowhow durch aki takase japanic oder das bauer/bauer/narvesen trio, und mit dem sopranosaxer & bassklarinettisten aus thessaloniki ein pionier des nowjazz in hellas. er gibt gleich tirilierend das türöffnende a, das waldhorn schließt sich als tutender schatten an und übernimmt mit sonorem o die nächsten schritte in katakomben, in denen kühne magische formeln anstimmt zu dunklen bogenstrichen, dunkler bassklarinette und flackerndem getrommel. der helldunkle sing- sang in zunehmend glossolalem delirium umfasst durch zickige spitzen mehrere oktaven, die griechischen orakler kauen und schmauchen am tiefen ende mit. in den hades, ad fontes, das horn und kühne als gurrende seelenführerin besänftigen kerberos? so wie sie ihn zudem mit puckischen lauten verwirrt, so versenkt sie alles und alle in oberons gefilde. ploppende, windig blasende, plonkende und bassklarinettendunkle töne weben traumstoff, der bass rumort und schnarrt, kühne keckert und keucht kehllaute zu per- kussivem geflicker, die bassklarinette heult. zum tutenden horn, sprudeliger klarinette und strammem pizzikato beginnt kühne nochmal überkandidelt zu scatten, halb schon jenseits vom hohen c, doch halb auch noch als rauhkehlchen. viel vogeliger geht es kaum.
24.02.2023
The European Alliance of Academies condemns the Russian war of aggression since its outbreak one year ago, and declares its ongoing solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
The National Academy of Arts of Ukraine is the newest member of the European Alliance of Academies. You can find the profile of the Academy here.
The transnational alliance wants to provide support for artists, journalists, cultural institutions and people working in the cultural sector. From within our 70 partner institutions across Europe, we collect and share information that can be helpful within the current situation.
If you can provide further information or offers please contact us:
allianceofacademies@adk.de
T +49(0)30 200 57-15 46
+++ this list is frequently updated +++
The University of Art and Design in Linz, Austria offers support and help here
The Czech Literary Centre offers residencies for translators of Czech, foreign Czech studies specialists, and Ukrainian writers/translators.
The Arts and Theatre Institute in Prague organizes Czech language courses for Ukrainian students of art colleges. turned the entire residency program into residencies for Ukrainian artists and set up a special website where jobs and other offers are available and Ukrainian artists and other cultural workers can post their needs. https://www.culturenet.cz/
The Akademie der Künste offers a collection of support inititiatives for artists and cultural actors in Ukraine
Furthermore, the Akademie der Künste actively supported the Network for Protection of Cultural Assets in Ukraine https://www.dug-ww.com/Kulturgutschutz_Ukraine
The University of Arts in Berlin has created an overview of several programmes and initatives to provide support, help and solidary for Ukraine.
The Technische Universität in Berlin offers help and support via their Academic Advising Service.
The Freie Akademie der Künste in Hamburg organized the installation Die Tafel 2 of Ukrainian artist Maria Kulikovska in order to support her and her family. The artist will be present on March 7.
The Akademie van Kunsten runs a series of artists meetings to discuss „Art in Times of War“
The Committee of Architecture and Town Planning of the Polish Academy of Sciences informs that each student of architecture from any Ukrainian school of architecture could apply for enrolment in one of the Architecture Departments at Universities of Technology in 9 locations: Warsaw, Gdańsk, Wrocław, Cracow, Gliwice, Szczecin, Łódź, Białystok, Poznań. www.kaiu.pan.pl/en/
Art Newspaper has published a list of 10 organisations and initiatives in Europe, that provides supports. It gives information concerning funding, shelter and emergency resources for artists affected by war in Ukraine.
Filmmakers for Ukraine is a contact point for filmmakers and their families from the Ukraine. The website collects and publishes information throughout Europe: www.filmmakers-for-ukraine.com
The UKRAINE Funding Line by the Ernst von Siemens Kunststiftung will offer support by covering staff costs in public museums and collections that employ either refugee scholars from Ukraine or Russian scholars who were forced to leave Russia due to their opposition to war in Ukraine.
ELIA is a globally connected European network that provides a dynamic platform for professional exchange and development in higher arts education. They offer a list of initiatives throughout Europe.
The European Cultural Foundation offers the Culture of Solidarity Fund- Ukraine special edition. The fund is now open to individuals, collectives and organisations from all sectors and civil society at large that propose short-term or mid-term European cultural initiatives.
The Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk hosted around 23 students from several Ukrainian Academies (art schools from Lviv, Kiev and Kharkiv) and provided them the opportunity to work in their studios with housing, clothes, food and pocket money.
The weissensee school of art and design berlin is offering refugees from Ukraine: its Foundation Class 2022/23, a programme designed to help people who are fleeing from conflict prepare for their studies, guest studentships for refugees that are free of charge and the oportunity to embark on a regular programme of study via the admission exams, or to start in Berlin in a higher semester having started to study at a university at home, or – for students with a bachelor’s degree – the opportunity to progress to an MA course via the master’s admission procedures. Contact: Susann Lipp at studienberatung@kh-berlin.de
Support for cultural institutions
In order to protect cultural heritage from Ukrainian libraries, museums and archives and to digitally save it Sebastian Majstorovic calls via Twitter to collect digital collections from the Ukraine in order to secure these digitally. These institution have been reported so far. Further institutions and their online collections can be reported here.
24.01.2023
The National Cultural Fund in Hungary has cut the annual subsidy of the largest independent Hungarian writers‘ organisation by a third, making it impossible for the Society of Hungarian Writers to operate.
The Society was established in 1997 to promote contemporary literature and democratic cultural policies. Its almost 400 members include some of the internationally most acclaimed Hungarian writers as well as cultural journalists and cultural managers from across Hungary, and also writers and critics of the Hungarian minorities and diasporas, along with international translators and scholars of Hungarian literature.
Almost all of the Hungarian NGOs apply to the National Cultural Fund on a yearly basis, and then get more or less the same amount of donation every year. This time, the Fund radically reduced the funding by 66% and blocked the bank transfer for at least 4-5 months reasoning it with the current economical crisis. It means the possibility of a bankruptcy and it threatens the operation of the association in the very near future.
Inflation and the international increase of oil and gas prices effect all the European countries, but there is a strong belief that the Hungarian government uses this situation to eliminate local independent civil societies, or at the least makes it almost impossible for them to survive. Which means it is not only an economical but mostly a political question in Hungary.
The organisation is therefore trying to find a solution through a variety of means:
- contacting international literary and cultural advocacy organisations,
- approaching private sponsors to build a stable and growing sponsorship
- negotiating the expansion and continuation of ongoing national and international projects.
In addition to this, a fundraising campaign through community funding is necessary to ensure a stable operation. Subscribe for the future of independent contemporary Hungarian literature and support the crowdfunding campaign via ko-fi.com/szepiroktarsasaga
Writer Czinki Ferenc, president of Szépírók Társasága, one of the founding members of the European Alliance of Academies describes in his article for Kulturaustausch Magazine the difficulties of independent teaching and art in Hungary (in German language).