Index – Culture – From a nightly bill to the chain of life: the story of the change in the SZFE model

Our story does not begin with much elegance: it was presented on May 26, in the middle of the night Zsolt Semjén Deputy Prime Minister the bill by virtue of which the University of Theater and Cinematographic Arts became the property of the foundation as of September 1. The case had already provoked strong reactions from the university management, claiming that the press had informed them that the change of model would take place in the autumn instead of the previously scheduled deadline of January 1, and that this time he considered rearranging terrifying.

According to the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, which had been the maintainer until then, the change of model was necessary to make the Performing Arts a more competitive institution that better responds to the challenges of the socioeconomic environment. Although the university leadership protested against the transformation and current and former students spoke out, a bill was passed in early July.

At the end of July, the Ministry appointed the board of trustees of the new owner, the Foundation for the Arts of Theater and Cinema, headed by Attila Vidnyánszky, became director general of the National Theater. Although there was a promise in the past that the Performing Arts directorate could also nominate members to the board of trustees, no one from the list compiled by the university ended up on the five-member board: Attila Vidnyánszky Zoltán Rátóti actor-director, Tamás Lajos cinematographer-producer, György Bacsa, Strategic Managing Director of MOL and Secular oscar, replaced by the Chairman and CEO of the SLOVNAFT Board of Directors.

Everybody lacks professional dialogue, but there is a political debate.

In addition to recalling the facts in chronological order, it is worth making a brief detour: instead of the professional arguments in favor of the transformation of the Performing Arts, which has already been seen in the debate of the bill, the political battle will play a key role. From speeches in parliament to comments by pro-government and opposition politicians, to speeches by the theater actors involved, the focus was on the cultural struggle. Although there is consensus between the parties about the need for a change in one of the most important art schools in the country, they no longer agree on the basic issues. Although a consultation was organized on the subject, the actors fully narrated side by side.

The training of actors, directors, playwrights, cinematographers, film and television professionals costs terrible sums, and so far the state has provided the necessary resources. This will not end in the case of the founding model either, it will not become a private university in the classical sense, that is, a paid institution operating on a purely market basis. However, the new organizational framework will make it easier for the university to access private funding in the future and, instead of civil servant status, it will be possible to hire professors in traditional jobs, which will facilitate the negotiation of market salaries (if there are resources) . Thus, in terms of funding, the university may be in a better position due to the change in model.

The self-determination of the foundation-owned university is another matter. Unlike the previous structure, all important economic and personnel decisions were transferred from the university’s highest body, the Senate, to the five-member board of directors. As of September 1, the Vidnyánszky family can decide on the operating rules of the university, the budget, the rector of the university, the directors of institutes and the directors of departments.

May be the result of resistance

Here we return to the most important events of the last week. Last Monday, acting students held a large-scale demonstration to protest the transformation of the university. However, after the demonstration organized on the eve of the change of model, the students did not return home, but barricaded themselves in the building on SZFE Vas Street and stated that they would not allow new leaders into the institution. The following afternoon, press conferences were held where they also articulated their specific demands, the fulfillment of which would be linked to the lifting of the blockade. The university occupants demanded the resignation of the current board of trustees and the restoration of the abstract powers of the Senate. Over the next few days, countless organizations and artists stood at the border from here and beyond for students and the university, and on Sunday tens of thousands joined the chain of life from SZFE’s Szentkirály Street building to the Kossuth square, where the actors made their demands for the Parliament building. also to send a message to decision makers.

Two key phrases from recent weeks László Upor Deputy Rector and Ervin the Great formulated actor. The former told a press conference that the strong promotion of the students mobilized forces that they had not been able to before. And the latter told the Index that if right-wing people and actors defended the University of Theater and Cinema, Viktor Orban the prime minister must listen to it too. Indeed, if college students are able to accommodate masses and individuals that their professors, who have become divisive due to their political, professional and personal conflicts, have not been able to do, then decision makers must respond. We are waiting for that answer now.

(Cover image: The chain of life from the SZFE to Parliament will be organized by the students who will occupy the university on September 6, 2020. Photo: Attila Trenka / Index)