Statement Regarding the Cultural Reorganization in Miercurea Ciuc

The undersigned, leaders of Hungarian Theatre Union (MASZÍN), leaders of institutions, independent theatre artists, company leaders, and cultural managers, solidary with our collegues from Miercurea Ciuc, it is with great concern that we follow the developments and press articles with reference to Csíki Játékszín Theatre, and especially the phenomenon which gave rise to this situation.

Csíki Játékszín Theatre, founded in 1998, under the leadership of its founder Miklós Parászka, has become an important institution in the world of Transylvanian, Romanian, and Hungarian theatre, one in which many acclaimed artists have worked these past years. It was the host of the 2014 edition of Ifeszt, a theatre festival of national importance, and its theatre festival for children and youth, Lurkó Fesztivál, already at its fifth edition, is an important meeting point for our theatres and puppet theatres.

We consider that cultural institutions such as Csíki Játékszín Theatre – just like Hargita Székler National Ensemble, or Figura Theatre, founded by László Bocsárdi, also thematized in the press – represents a value for the restructuring of which must only be done with the utmost discretion, prepared by elaborate studies, and, last but not least, intense debates involving the founders, managers, artists, and employees concerned, but also the audience of Miercurea Ciuc, professional organizations, and persons of competent authority. A wide consultation is also necessary in order to avoid the risk of damaging the decades of dedicated and valuable work done by these institutions, as well as the indisputable results of their development so far.

As cultural managers, leaders of companies and institutions, responsible theatre professionals, we realize how hard the situation of local authorities sponsoring cultural institutions is in cases when the lawmaker doesn't supply financial sources for some of its measures that demand substantial supplimentary costs – either pay-raises or tax hikes on contributions paid by the employer after the employees –, leaving the finantial burden of these measures exclusively to the local or county authorities.

We understand that similar measures put local governments of small and middle-sized towns into an extremely difficult situation. At the same time, we don't see any alternative to honest dialogue with those concerned, deep studies preceding an intense preparation, in the case of an institutional system that represents some of the greatest values of a community, not even in the case of major crises.

On the other hand, we would like to draw the attention of local and county authorities that sponsor cultural institutions to this unfortunate situation, prompting them to act consciously of their historical responsibility, with thoughtfulness and professionality, if, due to government measures or for the protection of their own budget balance, they are ever forced to decide on the fate of cultural institutions, so that the institutional autonomy, the valuable work and development possibilities of these institutions do not suffer the consequences of their actions.

At the same time, we would like to express our sincere solidarity with all our theatre artist and dancer colleagues from Miercurea Ciuc, wishing them, in this moment of incertitude, the power and dedication needed to continue their work in the service of the local audience, and also the art of theatre and dance.

 

Faithfully,

in the name of the leadership of MASZÍN – Hungarian Theatre Union:

 

Balázs Attila, president,                                                         Bessenyei Gedő István, ügyvezető

Csiky Gergely Hungarian State Theatre Timişoara                Harag György Company Satu Mare

 

Czvikker Katalin, secretary                                 Nagy Pál, vice-president for external relations

Szigligeti Theatre Oradea                                         Tomcsa Sándor Theatre, Odorheiu Secuiesc

 

Tapasztó Ernő, vice-president for internal relations

Aradi Kamaraszínház Theatre