14,000 people marched through the streets of Bratislava in the largest-ever protest by cultural workers, held on 31 March 2026 in the streets of Bratislava. The demonstration was organised by the platform Open Culture! in response to a sudden decision by the Slovak Arts Council to cancel previously signed multi-year contracts, despite having no legal basis for doing so.
The decision affects around 35 projects, which have lost approved grants totalling two million euros. Many long-established festivals were impacted, including those focused on traditional culture.
Both the Ministry of Culture and representatives of the Slovak Arts Council stated that inspections of multi-year funding contracts had revealed serious irregularities.
Attacks on culture is an international phenomenon today. Former Slovak Arts Council director Robert Špoták believes that protests like the one in Bratislava at the end of March 2026 can show that there is dissatisfaction and that people are not willing to accept it.
14 000 march for Slovak culture
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