Heads of Slovak National Gallery (SNG) departments announced they will tender their mass resignations, seeing as they're unable to bear responsibility for running the institution under current conditions, pointing to prevailing tension, demotivated employees, disappointment and instability, according to an open letter sent to Culture Minister Martina Simkovicova (SNS nominee), which SNG press department manager Zuzana Dzurdzikova shared with TASR on Tuesday.
According to the letter, the outgoing department heads cannot carry out their jobs under the leadership of Jaroslav Ninaj. "Our first meeting with him flew in the face of your reassurances - it was infused with intimidation, threats and investigation," reads the letter.
Signators of the letter are SNG director of fundraiser and funds department Maria Bohumelova, marketing and communication department director Bohdana Hromadkova, financial operations and infrastructure department director Gabriela Hamalova, buildings administration department director Monika Kazimirova and expositions and exhibitions production department director Lubica Orechovska.
Ninaj was appointed to head the SNG as a temporary director as of Tuesday. According to the ministry, the change in the SNG management post is part of efforts to ensure that the conditions under which the gallery will function and its future development will be nurtured will be as good as possible. It pointed out that SNG is an important cultural institution and declared that it will continue to support its vision. "We believe that the new management will contribute towards fulfilling the ambitious goals of the gallery and its further successful development," it stated.
Ninaj graduated from the Film and Television Faculty of the Prague-based Academy of Performing Arts. According to the ministry, he is known for his many years of work in the field of audiovisual creation, and was engaged in the production of many film and television projects.
At his press conference on Tuesday, Ninaj announced consolidation changes, aimed at stabilising the situation in the SNG and preventing protests by disgruntled employees.
Source: TASR
