Minister Ignacia Fridl Jarc: The expert services have already warned Minister Vrecko in February that there is no money on certain items

Slovenian Culture Minister Ignacija Fridl Jarc stated that professional services within her ministry warned her predecessor, Asta Vrekko, as early as February that specific budget lines lacked funding. In an interview with the Slovenian Press Agency, Fridl Jarc addressed ongoing controversies regarding cultural policy, infrastructure projects, and agency efficiency. She emphasized that culture cannot be categorized as left-wing or right-wing, nor can it belong exclusively to one political faction. The minister noted that the misuse of culture for political combat has been prominent throughout history, particularly after World War II, and declared that it is time for such practices to cease. The discussion centered heavily on the Ljubljana Drama theater building. The ministry plans to publish a tender for a new conceptual solution for the dilapidated structure by the end of the year. Renovations will proceed within the existing building footprints, excluding underground parking facilities. Concurrently, officials intend to establish a new theatrical center at a different location. Fridl Jarc explained that during the handover process to Minister Vrekko in 2022, her team submitted a proposal to renovate the Drama theater in its current dimensions while seeking suitable space for a new center. She expressed regret that the land formerly occupied by the Sumija facility was not secured in a timely manner. That site would have allowed a new building to connect directly with the Drama theater, potentially resolving all current issues. She suggested that other interests prevailed, leaving the current administration to manage the inherited situation. Despite impressive predictions made by the previous government and Minister Vrekko, a construction site did not open over four years. The project saw no physical progress. Fridl Jarc argued that this status quo is unsustainable for several more years. Consequently, she identified the immediate renovation of the existing object as the only rational decision. She believed the broader public agrees with this approach. Simultaneously, the ministry continues searching for a location for a theater center dedicated to modern projects. She cited Zagreb as a comparable example, where two separate institutions, HNK1 and HNK2, operate successfully. Fridl Jarc also addressed questions regarding the Public Book Agency, known as JAK. She voiced doubts about the agency’s operational effectiveness. The agency was established during the first term of Minister Vasko Simoniti to strengthen the book sector through independent promotion tasks, improving reading literacy, and establishing Slovenian literature internationally. At its inception, Fridl Jarc feared the agency would become another entity consuming significant funds for staff salaries and operations, money that should have gone directly toward books. She believes these fears have materialized. The agency employs an increasing number of staff and requires accounting and legal departments, functions that could be handled by existing employees within the ministry’s book sector. Beyond financial concerns, the minister questioned whether JAK fulfilled its core missions. Recent results show a sharp decline in reading literacy, indicating failure in that area. She asked if Slovenia had established itself as a relevant country for translating its works into foreign languages. Miha Kovac, who led the project making Slovenia an honorary guest at the Frankfurt Book Fair three years ago, expressed doubt. He noted that the long-term benefits were not fully utilized because translations of Slovenian works into foreign languages have not increased. Comprehensive data on JAK’s success in other segments is currently unavailable, though the mentioned issues remain problematic. Regarding administrative reform, Fridl Jarc promised less bureaucracy and more focus on culture at the start of her mandate. This includes merging four film-related institutions into a unified audiovisual center. These entities are the Slovenian Film Center, the Slovenian Cinetheque, Viva Film, and the Film Archive. A law for this unified center is currently in preparation. The goal is to merge all services related to film art. By rationalizing support services, more resources will remain available for artistic production. Large centers are significantly more communicative, including for foreign producers filming in Slovenia. The minister concluded her remarks by reiterating that culture serves everyone and must be freed from partisan struggles.