The government is spending two and a half times as much money on culture compared to 2010: in 2019 it spent 453 billion forints (EUR 1.37 billion) on this field, and this year the funding available could reach 578 billion forints (EUR 1.75 billion).

According to Eurostat data, Hungary spends the highest ratio of its GDP on cultural development projects, making it the frontrunner in Europe within this field. Compared to previous years, Budapest’s theatres will be receiving 500 million forints (EUR 1.52 million) in additional funding, rural theatres are receiving 30 percent more funding, and in the capital the government would like to continue one of the western world’s largest cultural development projects, the Liget project.

In 2019, the Csiky Gergely Theatre in Kaposvár was refurbished using domestic funding, and several cultural development programmes belonging to the sector are expected to be completed in 2020, including amongst others the refurbishment of the Kertész Imre Institute, the Kállay Mansion in Nyregyháza and Veszprém Zoo, in addition to which the renovation of the Szigligeti Theatre and Artist Colony in Szolnok will be completed, and the National Cultural Institute will also be opened as part of the Lakitelek Folk High School project, as will the Star Fort in Komárom. The establishment of the exhibition space designed to house the life’s work of Imre Schrammel will be completed in Szombathely, as will the investment project aimed at the refurbishment of the József Attila County and City Library in Tatabánya. The renovations included within the framework of the Imre Makovecz Programme will also be continuing.

In 2020, a total planned budget of 7 billion forints (EUR 21.22 million) will be available for cultural projects that fall within the sphere of competence of the Ministry of Human Capacities. This sum is further increased by the funding made available to the Liget Budapest project and the Hungarian State Opera House, and to the cultural development projects included in the Modern Cities Programme.

The Ministry’s State Secretariat for Culture will continue to fund music teaching and the purchasing of musical instruments for young people who play Christian pop music, and the Lázár Ervin programme will also be continuing, which provides cultural opportunities for elementary school students.

Thanks to the replacement of the TAO funding by additional funding for the performing arts, 500 billion forints (EUR 1.52 million) in additional funding will be available to Budapest’s theatres compared to previous years. The government is providing some 30% in addition funding to rural theatres and some 20% in additional funding to independent, alternative theatres. Dance organisation will be receiving twice as much funding as they did last year, while musical organisations have been awarded three times as much funding as they received in 2019.

(MTI)