The executives of the Slovak National Gallery are leaving due to alleged destruction

Source: FCB, Martina Šimkovičová

Bratislava - Executives at the Slovak National Gallery (SNG) have resigned because they refuse to witness the alleged "destruction of the institution." This was announced today by a group of dissatisfied SNG executives in a statement that sharply criticizes the new organizational structure of the institution and its management under the leadership of Jaroslav Niňaj, who has been the acting director for the third time since summer. More resignations are expected to follow later this month. According to the statement, SNG is also facing a reputational scandal that has already resulted in foreign institutions withdrawing from collaboration on an international exhibition planned to be held in Bratislava, and there are reportedly threats of withdrawing loaned exhibits from current exhibitions.

Slovak Minister of Culture Šimkovičová dismissed the directors of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), the national theater, and the national museum last year. The dismissed director of SNG, Alexandra Kusá, has also been supported by representatives of Czech cultural institutions.

Among those who have resigned are Zuzana Gažíková, the director of the Ľudovít Fulla Gallery in Ružomberok, Erika Trnková from the Zvolen Castle, and Veronika Němcová from Schaubmar's Mill in Pezinok. Under Niňaj's leadership, they stated that they are "experiencing pressure, chaos, and disintegration of the institution," the departing executives of SNG said.

The Slovak National Gallery has a new organizational structure as of January 1. Many employees have been transferred to entirely new positions without new employment contracts, gallery workers complain. Employees reportedly do not know whom to turn to as their superior and are forbidden from communicating with the public without Niňaj's consent. The acting director is said to have ignored recommendations from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Finance to postpone the organizational changes.

Employees remind that last year they warned the Ministry of Culture that they would submit mass resignations at the beginning of this year if incompetent interventions in the functioning of SNG and purpose-driven dismissals were not stopped and if at least a temporary director with appropriate qualifications was not appointed. According to them, the demands were not met.

The resignations of executives, including Mária Bohumelová, director of the collection management and funds section, and Gabriela Hamalová, director of financial operations and infrastructure, will paralyze activities related to the management of collection items, warning the discontented.

According to them, SNG is also facing damage to its good name and international reputation. On Thursday, the Mining and Gothic Museum in Leogang, Austria, and the State Art Collections in Dresden announced that they were withdrawing from the agreed collaboration on the traveling international exhibition "Red Gold - A Miracle from Španá Dolina." The exhibition planned for March in Bratislava will thus not take place, as it depends on the import of exhibits from abroad.

The Slovak Ministry of Culture, under Šimkovičová's leadership, has also pushed through a new law on Slovak Television and Radio, which resulted in the government coalition achieving the departure of the director of this public media from office. Government lawmakers also enabled the Ministry of Culture to gain greater control over funds that distribute grants in culture by changing the laws.

Former television presenter Šimkovičová is an advocate of so-called traditional Slovak culture, positioning herself against liberalism and LGBT+ issues. Several demonstrations have already taken place in Slovakia against Šimkovičová's policies.