FPU to Provide Greater Support for Cultural and Artistic Centres in 2017

The Culture Ministry assessed the first year of the work performed by the Art Support Fund. According to Culture Minister Marek Madaric, the fund has demonstrated that it's viable and capable of fulfilling its mission - to promote culture and art in an independent, flexible and meaningful way. Madaric appreciated that the setting up of the fund enabled to depoliticise the process of grant allocation for cultural and artistic projects. The culture minister also outlined the key priorities of the fund for the next year including supporting cultural and artistic centres, preparing anniversaries in 2018 - such as the 100th anniversary of Czechoslovakia's founding, the 25th anniversary of the Slovak Republic and the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jozef Miloslav Hurban. FPU director Jozef Kovalčik added that in 2017, the fund will focus on the systematic promotion of independent theatres, galleries, dance groups as well as support for small and newly set-up cultural and artistic centres.