Slovak Music Center Director Says Potential Dismissal Would Be 'Revenge' for Speaking Out

Igor Valentovič, director of the Slovak Music Center, warned that any dismissal by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová would constitute "revenge" for his public criticism of severe budget cuts to cultural institutions. Valentovič said he began speaking openly about what he termed "liquidation cuts" because he wanted to "look at himself in the mirror in the morning." Since February, selected cultural institutions have received drastically reduced funding that threatens major events, festivals, and concerts with long-standing traditions. "We have reached the edge of an abyss. I have no other room to maneuver," Valentovič stated. The Music Center is one of several state-funded cultural organizations under the Culture Ministry that have faced significant budget reductions, forcing directors to choose between remaining silent about financial pressures or risking their positions by publicly defending their institutions' programming and cultural contributions.