Olha: FPU Supports Regional Theatres, But Grants Not Guaranteed

Bratislava, 2 August (TASR) – Grants from the Slovak Arts Support Council (FPU) are not legally claimable, FPU Council Chair Matus Olha said in response to this week's criticism from the Association of Self-Governing Regions of Slovakia (SK8) and the Association of Slovak Theatres and Orchestras (ASTO). Olha dismissed complaints regarding funding cuts and insufficient support for new productions in regional theatres as unjustified. „The FPU has supported institutions run by self-governing regions — not only theatres, but also galleries, museums, and libraries. Support for theatres is proportionate to their importance," Olha told TASR. He also rejected claims that the regions have been "thrown overboard" in terms of cultural funding. „It is the regions themselves that are reducing their cultural contributions while shifting responsibility to the FPU," he argued. On Wednesday (30 July), SK8 and ASTO criticised the reduction of funding for regional theatres under the FPU’s grant call and its sub-programme Creation and Performance of Stage Works. They claim the cut from the original €250,000 allocation to €75,000 will either prevent or significantly limit regional theatres from producing new performances. According to SK8 and ASTO, the FPU Council failed to provide expert justification for the significant reduction and did not notify applicants in advance. mf