RESOLUTION OF THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF THE ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS IN PRAGUE ON THE UNPRECEDENTED BUDGET CUTS BY THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Resolution of the Academic Senate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague on the unprecedented budget cuts by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic
The Academic Senate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague is appaled by the budget cuts by the Ministry of Culture, the questioning of the activities of its expert committees, and other steps taken by the new leadership of the Ministry of Culture. It therefore joins the resolution of the Academic Senate of DAMU, fully supports the protest initiatives of the students, and calls on the Minister of Culture to act in the interests of his department.
STATEMENT BY THE ACADEMIC SENATE OF DAMU
The DAMU Academic Senate expresses its support for the initiative of DAMU students, who are organizing a demonstration called WE STAND FOR CULTURE! on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. on Malostranské náměstí. The protest will take place before the session of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic, which will discuss the budget. The planned cuts in the culture budget for 2026 are drastic and contradict the Program Statement of the Government of the Czech Republic. The rhetoric of the current leadership of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic is unacceptable and cannot go unanswered. The DAMU Academic Senate stands with the cultural and artistic community. Culture is not a luxury or an extravagance, but a fundamental part of a democratic society. We therefore call on political representatives to fulfill their obligations to the cultural sector and ensure dignified conditions for its continued existence and development.
To remain silent at this moment would mean giving up on the values that culture is supposed to defend. We will not remain silent.
