Left: An outrageous departure from the commitments on cultural development

Ljubljana, August 11, 2026, The Ministry of Culture has announced its withdrawal from the tripartite agreement establishing the Public Institute for Contemporary Dance, which was signed earlier this year with the municipal authorities of Celje and Nova Gorica. This decision has sparked immediate criticism from the Left Party, which accused the ministry of breaking its commitments to cultural development. The announcement came during a press conference held by Minister of Culture Ignacija Fridl Jarc. According to reports, the move marks a departure from the state’s obligations regarding the promotion of culture. In response, the Left Party issued a formal statement condemning the decision as an unheeded withdrawal from the country's commitment to fostering contemporary dance. They warned that the dissolution of the institute would have irreversible consequences for generations of dancers, both locally and internationally. In the official response, the Left Party emphasized that the Public Institute for Contemporary Dance is not a project of the current government, but rather a national commitment to stable working conditions, the development of top-tier creativity, and accessible art for people from all parts of Slovenia. The party argued that the closure will result in hundreds of individuals being left without access to cultural and artistic education in the field of dance, and thousands of visitors denied the opportunity to attend high-level dance performances over the coming years. Asta Vrečko, coordinator of the Left Party and former minister of culture, added that modern dance continues to be a target whenever the Social Democrats (SDS) take control of the Ministry of Culture. She described this as a recurring pattern of their attitude toward contemporary art, stating that instead of recognizing its importance to Slovenia’s cultural development, they view it through an ideological lens as something to be rejected and undervalued. Vrečko pointed out that modern dance is not merely a form of elite art, it plays a crucial role in cultural education, bringing together children, youth, and seniors. It contributes significantly to rehabilitation and mental health, and offers quality leisure time for people of all ages. She highlighted that during her previous mandate, after years of neglect, the government had finally established the necessary conditions for systematic development of the field, ensuring public funding, more stable financial support, a nationwide network of venues, and European funds. Therefore, the decision to dismantle these efforts is particularly alarming. The Left Party further criticized the ministry for lacking any substantial analysis or expert discussion behind its decision. They noted that just weeks prior, officials claimed there was no money in the budget for the public institute, yet today they assert that the funds will be redirected elsewhere. The party pointed out that this contradicts their earlier statements, as the money was always available. Additionally, they accused the ministry of failing to recognize that employment opportunities for dancers were planned through cohesion funds, which were subsequently eliminated along with the cultural and artistic education program for modern dance, resulting in the loss of four million euros. The party also questioned the credibility of Minister Fridl Jarc, who has been known to send taxi drivers to assist musicians, painters, actors, directors, writers, and dancers in creating better culture. They argue that she has no right to claim herself as a champion of creativity. The Left Party stated that the SDS’s approach is clear: destruction of everything that is critical, contemporary, creative, and independent thought. If the state fails to uphold its strategies, laws, decisions, budgets, and agreements, it signals a step towards a state where the government relies solely on stronger legal authority. Thus, they urge the public to ask: where does this end? As part of their response, the Left Party announced that they will demand an extraordinary session of the Cultural Council in the National Assembly.