The Open Society Foundations (OSF) are providing a 1.1 million-euro grant to support independent arts and culture in Hungary, despite growing concerns over the influence of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s ruling Fidesz party in arts funding decisions.
The funding will be administered by Summa Artium, a Budapest-based organisation set up in 2003 to develop private and business funding for Hungarian arts programmes. The main goal of the initiative is to create a role model for Hungarian entrepreneurs and other private donors that can make the arts thrive.
“Hungary’s government is a generous funder of the arts,” said OSF president Patrick Gaspard. “Unfortunately, its support comes with political strings attached. We are proud to contribute to funding for supporting independent artists, those who help show us the world through the eyes of others, and expect to be surprised, delighted, and challenged by the possibilities they show us.”