Declaration of Solidarity with the University of Theatre & Film Arts Budapest (SZFE)
09.09.2020
Press release
Viktor Orbán's right-wing nationalist government is abolishing university autonomy in Hungary. A government-appointed board of trustees has taken over virtually all management powers within the hitherto self-governing Budapest University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE). The president of this board of trustees is Attila Vidnyánszky, artistic director of the National Theater and Orbán's advisor on all cultural matters. Since Orbán took office, he has been instrumental in bringing the Hungarian theater landscape under government control through reshuffling.
We look with horror at the latest developments in Hungary's cultural and educational landscape: a government-appointed board of trustees has taken over the management powers of the Budapest University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) and abolished the university's autonomy. In doing so, the Orban government is taking another drastic measure to eliminate critical positions and to transform Hungary's cultural and educational landscape, which has already been underway for years, into an instrument for the propagation of a nationalist nationalism. At the same time, it is moving further away from European fundamental rights with this autocratic and undemocratic action. We are highly concerned about the elimination of the democratically elected organs of SZFE and emphasize the non-negotiable freedom in art, science and education, which is a cornerstone of European self-understanding. A concept of art and education oriented towards nationalism, on the other hand, belongs definitively on the scrap heap of the disastrous history of the 20th century. We stand in solidarity with the students, the resigned lecturers, the resigned rectorate and the resigned senate of the Budapest University of Theatre and Film Arts SZFE and demand the full restoration of the university's autonomy. We expect the governments of all EU countries to influence the Hungarian government to return all its competences to the governing bodies. Prof. Elisabeth Gutjahr (Rector)
Univ.Prof. Christoph Lepschy (Chairman of the Senate)
Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
Univ.Prof. Christoph Lepschy (Chairman of the Senate)
Universität Mozarteum Salzburg
