European Commissioner for Culture meets representatives of Slovakia's cultural sector
European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef met representatives of the Slovak cultural sector at Nová Cvernovka in Bratislava on Thursday, 9 July 2026. He asked about political interference in cultural institutions and public funds, discrimination against parts of the cultural sector, especially LGBTI+ projects, working conditions and the sector's ability to defend itself. At the start of the meeting, Micallef stressed that although he regularly reads about the situation in Slovakia, he wanted to hear the experiences of the cultural sector directly and in person.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Open Culture!, Anténa - Network for Independent Culture, the Association of Museums in Slovakia, the Council of Galleries of Slovakia, Nomantinels theatre and the Slovak Queer Film Festival.
Slovak culture also runs up against the limits of European tools
The discussion repeatedly returned to the question of what tools the European Union has at its disposal when national authorities politically interfere in culture. Micallef pointed to the EU's limited competences in this area and highlighted stronger European funding for culture as one possible route. Representatives of the cultural sector stressed, however, that funding alone is not enough when effective protection mechanisms and avenues for redress are missing at national level.
Co-financing of European projects was a major topic. Slovak cultural organisations warned that after losing support from the Slovak Arts Council (FPU) and other public sources, it can become practically impossible for them to participate in Creative Europe or the planned AgoraEU programme. Micallef said the Commission is discussing ways to address the problem, but no concrete solution is ready yet.
The question of concrete tools remained one of the main themes of the meeting. As Adam Straka of Open Culture! noted, "the cultural sector lacks a tool we can use to defend ourselves against this kind of interference."
Micallef also mentioned the planned State of Culture Report, intended to gradually provide a more regular picture of the state of culture in Member States. He stressed the need for dialogue based on concrete and verifiable information; the cultural sector offered data, expertise and contacts to directly affected organisations.
Asked by the Commissioner whether there was dialogue between the Ministry and the cultural sector, participants described current communication with the Ministry as the worst in years and stressed that officially declared dialogue often does not match reality.
Slovakia's experience as a warning for Europe
The meeting follows Open Culture!'s longer-term advocacy at European level. Open Culture! is part of the RESISTANCE NOW! TOGETHER coalition, which is advocating for the European Artistic Freedom Act (EAFA), intended to make artistic freedom an enforceable right for artists and cultural institutions throughout the EU. The initiative grew out of the Bratislava Declaration, signed at last year's Open Culture! conference in Bratislava. Two meetings on the same issue have already taken place with Commissioner Micallef in Brussels this year, attended for Open Culture! by Matej Drlička and Adam Straka. Both also attended Thursday's meeting, together with Miriama Benková who worked as the manager of strategic and research activities at the Slovak Arts Council (FPU).
The experience of the past two years shows that the rights and working conditions of people in culture can be politically dismantled and abused with relative ease at national level. The actions of Slovakia's government - political interference in public funds, purges in institutions and intimidation of the cultural sector - are seen in Europe as a warning sign for other countries.
Micallef also noted during the discussion that political interference in culture is appearing in other countries, although the situation in Slovakia is particularly intense. The Slovak cultural sector therefore considers it essential that the protection of artistic freedom also be addressed at European level. Micallef described the proposed European Artistic Freedom Act as an ambitious idea.
Media contact:
Adam Hrapko, +421 904 145 558
media@platformaok.sk
