Culture Ministry's absolutism will not destroy culture

Optimists believe that there are very few bad things that do not have a positive side. It may be difficult to find it, but in difficult times it is an inevitable and necessary activity. But not to falsely comfort ourselves that everything is actually fine.

There are at least two reasons why it is necessary to look for the positive side even in times of misery. The first is the need to have a comprehensive picture, the second is hope. Without both, you can neither continue to work nor exist.

But can something like that be done in the current state of culture in Slovakia?

In less than a year, since the government handed over the ministry to the greedy Slovak National Party (SNS), public institutions have been destroyed, continuity in the restoration of monuments disrupted. There has been silent censorship, intimidation and insults of people who create and receive culture. All this is happening in an attempt to ideologically conquer the freest and most open ministry.

Let's not kid ourselves, the situation does not bode well for looking for what positive has been done in regards to culture by this government. And searching for good things carried out by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová herself, might as well be the thirteenth task of Hercules.