Open letter opposing the dismissal of Slovak National Gallery Director – Announcements

Minister of Culture of the Slovak Republic,

We write you this public letter as professionals working in museums, arts organisations and universities, as well as supporters of Slovak art and culture. We urge you to reconsider your decision to dismiss the Director General (DG) of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), Alexandra Kusá, following the dismissal of the Director of the Slovak National Theatre, Matej Drlička. This decision has undermined the independence of the cultural field in your country and damaged the trust in and reputation of Slovak culture internationally.

As the main reason for the dismissal of the Director General of the SNG, you cite your impression of a conflict of interest between the DG and the contractor. It is not for us to judge such a connection. But we would ask that you allow the case to proceed according to the legal frameworks of European democracies and their independent judiciaries and auditors. The rule of law applies to state cultural institutions and decisions about the guilt or innocence of cultural directors should not be made solely on the basis of political expediency. Your statement says that “the department is preparing to file a motion for reconsideration” but we understand that the review has not been initiated. Your action undermines a fair trial and violates the principle of innocence until proven guilty that is the basis of our European legal framework.

We write this letter also in full awareness and appreciation of the dedicated and highly successful directorship of DG Alexandra Kusá. Her period in charge has focused entirely on enhancing the SNG to the benefit of visitors to the museum and to the Slovak and international art field more generally. Since 2010, she has opened the largest Slovak art museum to the public with free admission, modernised visitor services including a renovation of the building, opened a new museum shop and provided digital access to the collections. The SNG has become an important reference point within Europe in terms of collection display and temporary exhibitions. She has motivated the expert team under her leadership and together they have successfully nurtured Slovak art and artists, presenting them in international institutions and important narratives of contemporary international art. Under her directorship, Slovak artists have had solo exhibitions at Tate Modern London (M. Bartuszová) and Mumok Vienna (J. Koller) and have been included in many international collections and exhibitions.

Your decision threatens these crucial developments for art and culture in Slovakia. It also makes us very concerned about the future. We ask you to assure us publicly that we will continue to be able, as European cultural institutions, to trust collaboration with Slovak institutions in the years ahead. We ask you to respect the cultural diversity of the audience for art and the freedom of museums, theatres and cultural institutions to program independently. We ask you to reject the direct political control of cultural institutions and defend the right of art and artists to freedom of expression.

We are encouraged to read in your press release that you hope that the SNG “will become a recognized and respected cultural organization at home and around the world.” Under the directorship of Alexandra Kusá, the SNG has long been on exactly this path. Thus we ask you to take steps to ensure that the SNG can continue to do so, starting with a clear statement that, should Alexandra Kusá be found not guilty of a conflict of interest, you will immediately reinstate her as Director General.

Read the signatories here.