Zvolen Castle in Zvolen, central Slovakia. (source: Ján Krošlák)
In the last six months, the National Gallery (SNG) has had three acting directors following the dismissal of Alexandra Kusá in August last year by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, who is a nominee of the far-right Slovak National Party. The decision sparked criticism from the cultural community and protests against Šimkovičová at the time.
The goings-on in the gallery over the past few months have resulted in, for example, a hundred employees filing their resignations at the end of January.
This means that from April, digital services and the bookstore will cease to operate, the activities of the art library will be at risk, the gallery's educational and accompanying programs, as well as visitor services will be weakened, reflected in the reduced offer, quality, and comfort of services.
But that is not the end of it. Due to the situation, several foreign intuitions and platforms have already ceased cooperation with SNG, meaning that several of this year's exhibitions will not take place. Furthermore, because among the employees that are leaving are curators as well, there is a high chance that more exhibitions will not be prepared in advance in order to take place.
Here is an overview of the exhibitions, projects in question.
1) Mining exhibition cancelled
In early January, three foreign institutions withdrew from cooperation with the SNG, a first in its history, which led to the cancellation of an international exhibition slated for March.
The Museum of Mining and Gothic Art Leogang in Austria and the Dresden State Art Collections announced that they are withdrawing from cooperation on the "Red Gold. Miracle from Špania Dolina" exhibition. Both institutions were to loan important objects, among which was a collection of hand-drawn maps that had never been on display elsewhere before. SNG would have received rare silver and copper bowls, 70 goldsmith's items from medieval mining towns, Gothic panel paintings, and more.
"Unfortunately, the international standards of the joint exhibition are no longer guaranteed," Andreas Herzog and Marius Winzeler, respective directors of the institutions, wrote in an open letter to the SNG management
2) Professional handling in question
The international exhibition "Futurotopia: Chronicles of Hope" slated for June was to showcase works by 30 renowned artists, mainly from Eastern Europe. SNG wanted to borrow works of contemporary art from the well-known collection of the German company Deutsche Telekom – Art Collection Telekom. However, the exhibition is being postponed indefinitely.
In January, current acting director Jaroslav Niňaj received a letter from two curators who were overseeing the exhibition on behalf of the German side. They told him that after many personnel changes, they had serious concerns about whether the gallery could still guarantee professional handling of the loaned objects.
3) Czech end cooperation after nine years
After nine years, the final exhibition of an international projects for students held by the Czech platform Máš Umělecké Střevo (Do you have a knack for art?) will not take place this May in the gallery. The student projects will be displayed on the Internet instead.
"Our organisation teaches young people to make decisions freely, be creative, and adhere to truth and basic moral values. The recent situation at SNG clearly shows that we perceive these values differently," Ondřej Horák, founder of Czech platform, wrote in January. "It is for this reason that we are withdrawing from further cooperation with the institution."
This is not the only project intended for public that is endangered. The "Otvorený Ateliér" (Open Studio) project, which allowed anyone to come to the gallery studio every Saturday to work is also at risk as its organiser filed a resignation.
4) Departing curator's own work
An exhibition dedicated to painter Ester Šimerová-Martinčeková slated for June may not be finished in time. The exhibition is a curator Zuzana Gažíková's own authorial work. Due to other commitments in the gallery, is it possible she might be able to finish it by the end of March when she is to depart the gallery.
5) An empty floor
A new exhibition is also being prepared at Zvolen Castle, Zvolen, central Slovakia, slated to open in later April. However, five curators that are working on it are to depart at the end of March, running the risk that an entire floor of the castle will be empty.
The management has yet to say they have a plan to supplant the cancelled activities and exhibitions.
