Ein Protest, wie ihn die Slowakei noch nie erlebt hat? Heute gibt es in Bratislava eine große Mobilisierung. Dahinter stecken viele Persönlichkeiten

Thousands of artists and cultural workers took to the streets of Bratislava on Tuesday in what organizers describe as the largest cultural protest in years, demanding the resignation of Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová.

The protest, called “Great Cultural Mobilisation,” was organized by the platform Otvorená Kultúra! (Open Culture!) and took the form of a city march without speeches or stages. Demonstrators moved through the capital, stopping at institutions they hold responsible for what they call a growing crisis in Slovak culture.

The main trigger is a series of controversial decisions by the Fond na podporu umenia (Art Support Fund), including the cancellation of funding for projects with already signed multi-year contracts. The cuts have affected festivals, regional cultural centres, and even children’s magazines.

Protesters also criticize developments in public broadcasting (STVR), pointing to layoffs and alleged censorship of critical content. Responsibility is widely attributed not only to the minister but also to senior officials at the ministry.

The protest has drawn support from prominent figures across the cultural scene, as well as former president Zuzana Čaputová, who warned that weakening culture undermines society’s ability to understand itself.

The organizers are not only demanding the minister’s resignation, but also larger changes – for example, that cultural institutions be free from political influence and have stable funding. They see the protest as a fight for artistic freedom and the importance of culture in a democracy.

Such protest in country shows dissatisfaction beyond the politics. Will this momentum leads to change in Slovakia or fades over time ?