The Jazz Prešov festival. (source: Korzár)
Do you remember the 2004 film "The Terminal", in which Tom Hanks plays a man desperate to get the autograph of saxophonist Benny Golson? That same Benny Golson, whose compositions have become jazz standards — widely recognised pieces that form a core part of many musicians’ repertoires — performed in 2012 at Slovakia's Jazz Prešov festival, also known as Prešovské Jazzáky.
This international festival, held in eastern Slovakia, has welcomed both Slovak and world-renowned artists, including guitarist Mike Stern, drummer Dennis Chambers, and bassist Christian McBride.
"He's a huge name in the music world. They should google him. I could name more — Ralph Towner, Regina Carter, Nik West, Bill Evans. They've all played at our festival, absolute world class," says musician and festival co-organiser Peter Adamkovič, responding to the news that the Slovak Arts Council (FPÚ), a state-funded agency that supports arts and culture across Slovakia, has withdrawn its financial support, as quoted by Korzár daily.
Despite expert recommendation, the board withheld funding
The FPÚ board, which has come under increased political and ideological influence from the Culture Ministry, overruled independent experts who had recommended a €18,500 grant for the festival. According to the Denník N daily, board chair Matúš Oľha opined that "in 34 years, the festival has never exceeded its regional significance".
The festival's co-organiser, Adamkovič, strongly disagrees. "I wonder in what way we have not exceeded the region? Is it the artists, or the impact on people? If it's the artists, that’s nonsense. We've had world-class stars," he said, adding that the festival's mission has always been to serve local audiences while also providing a stage for internationally renowned acts and emerging Slovak talent.
The funding decision came at the end of March, when the FPÚ finalised its grants. Notably, half of the cut or reduced subsidies for music events affected projects in Prešov. Several board members, including Oľha, are either from the town or have personal ties to it.
Jana Pitková from the PO Art association, which helps organise the festival, expressed her disappointment as well. "The saddest thing is that independent experts finally proposed a higher grant than before, and the board rejected it entirely," she said. "It's a shame that in 33 years, they never found time to visit the festival."
Despite the setback, organisers confirmed that this year's Jazz Prešov festival will go ahead, albeit with a scaled-down programme to reduce costs. Adamkovič remains undeterred. "I thought it was time to end it and rest. But no," he said.
Unknown agency gets money
Meanwhile, the Prešov town organisation PKO, which organises the Prešovská Hudobná Jar and Prešovská Hudobná Jeseň festivals, will receive only half of the amount it requested for each event this year. The board did not provide any explanation for the decision. Culture centre Christiana, which regularly hosts club concerts, was denied funding altogether — despite a positive recommendation from independent experts.
The Milan Šimečka Foundation, an NGO frequently criticised by the ruling coalition and the Culture Ministry, was also refused funding for its 2025 Konektiv [fjúžn] Night event.
The board did, however, allocate funding to several projects that had not been recommended by experts. Among them was the Jazz Pop Festival, submitted by Umelecká Agentúra Alex, a Rožňava-based agency in southern Slovakia. Many figures in the local cultural scene said they were unfamiliar with the agency.
