Of particular concern are the delayed and insufficient communication by the Ministry, ambiguously formulated evaluation criteria, the possibility that certain funding areas may not be assessed at all, the transfer of significant financial risks to applicants, the newly defined conflict-of-interest rules, and the weakening of both professional and disciplinary diversity within the expert committees. These are not merely minor administrative changes but adjustments that may have a fundamental impact on the credibility of public administration, the effective use of public resources, and the continuity of publicly supported cultural services.
In addition to their professional and institutional implications, these changes also have direct economic consequences. The unpredictability of grant decision-making threatens the financial stability of cultural organisations and may lead to the cancellation or reduction of projects, increased sunk costs, the loss of co-financing, and, in extreme cases, the loss of jobs or the inefficient use of public funds already allocated.
We therefore call for:
- The immediate suspension and substantive review of the problematic conditions of the grant programmes, particularly those that limit independent expert evaluation, allow unjustified deviations from professional recommendations, or transfer disproportionate financial risks to applicants;
- The establishment of predictable, transparent, legally sound, and economically sustainable rules, including a clear definition of the role of expert committees, evaluation criteria, conflict-of-interest regulations, decision-making timelines, and the binding nature of approved funding allocations;
- Guarantees that the recommendations of expert committees will be respected and that approved public funds will be distributed to applicants in a timely manner, in appropriate amounts, and in a way that does not jeopardise project continuity, employment, or already contracted obligations.
We do not question the need for proper oversight of public funds or the responsibility of the state towards the public. However, we believe that oversight mechanisms must not replace expert evaluation or create conditions that lead to financial uncertainty among beneficiaries and reduce the effectiveness of public support.
We consider the current situation serious enough that some members of the expert committee have already resigned from their positions. Our aim is to draw attention to what we regard as an unprecedented intervention into a functioning system that ensures the stability and continuity of the entire dance sector. Should the current situation be remedied and conditions for the independent and professional functioning of the committee restored, we are prepared to reconsider our position and resume our cooperation.
We therefore ask you to facilitate an urgent meeting involving representatives of the expert committees, the leadership of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, and relevant representatives of the cultural community no later than 27 October 2026. We consider a timely resolution essential to mitigating risks whose consequences could affect not only the functioning of the cultural sector but also regional economies, supply chains, employment, and public access to cultural services.
We are convinced that it is in the shared interest of the Government of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Culture, and the professional community to preserve a stable, transparent, and professionally governed system of cultural support as a public service and an important component of a democratic society.
Yours sincerely,
Members of the Expert Committee of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic for Professional Dance, Movement and Non-verbal Arts:
Mgr. MgA. Josef Bartoš, Ph.D. – Editor-in-Chief of Taneční aktuality, researcher at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, dance psychologist and psychotherapist, member of professional panels, committees and advisory boards
Zuzana Bednarčiková – cultural project manager, fundraiser in the cultural sector
Jana Hniličková Bartůňková – theatre scholar and journalist
BcA. Petr Husička, Dis. – cultural manager, dramaturg, grant specialist, and expert in international cooperation
Mgr. Jan Kodet – choreographer and lecturer at HAMU (Academy of Performing Arts)
MgA. Mgr. Daniela Machová, Ph.D. – cultural manager, dance theorist, journalist
Markéta Hrdlička Málková – cultural manager, curator, Chair of REZI.DANCE Komařice, member of the dramaturgical board of the Jižní Svéráz Festival, member of international grant committees, Chair of Vize tance
Assoc. Prof. MgA. Hana Strejčková, Ph.D. – university lecturer, scholar in movement theatre and non-verbal arts, theatre dramaturg and director, journalist and author, member of international professional associations, committees, and professional platforms
Markéta Perroud – dance curator and cultural manager
Alena Pešková – director, choreographer, performer, and educator
MgA. Jana Ryšlavá – dramaturg, performer, member of the Board of the Czech Association of Contemporary Circus
Mgr. Jan Žůrek – Head of the Arts Management Studio at Tomas Bata University in Zlín, cultural manager, former regional councillor for culture.
