Online seminars: Artists’ organising in times of upheaval – Learning from Slovakia

Following the parliamentary elections in 2023, Slovakia has entered a new political phase marked by a shift from a reform-oriented, pro-European and anti-corruption agenda toward a more centralised and sovereignty-focused mode of governance. The previous period was characterised by efforts to strengthen transparency, institutional accountability and the rule of law, even if these ambitions were often challenged by political instability. The current government signals a reorientation in political priorities, with a more confrontational stance toward independent institutions, critical media and civil society, as well as a recalibration of Slovakia’s position within the European Union. These developments are already affecting the public sphere and raise questions about the future of institutional autonomy and democratic oversight.

In this context, the seminar examines how these very recent shifts may reshape the relationship between the state and the cultural field, with implications for funding structures, institutional frameworks and the conditions under which artists and cultural organisations operate.

Bringing together perspectives from political analysis, cultural policy and artistic practice, the seminar explores these developments from several vantage points. Adam Hrapko will outline the broader political shift following the 2023 elections and its implications for governance and the public sphere. Mária Beňačková Rišková will reflect on how these changes are unfolding within the cultural policy field, including shifts in priorities, institutional frameworks and support structures. Olja Triaška Stefanović will address how artists and cultural actors are responding to these developments, and what forms of organising and collective strategies are emerging.

Through these perspectives, the seminar aims to open a conversation about the immediate and longer-term implications of political change for cultural institutions and artistic practice, and what can be learned from the Slovak context in a Swedish perspective.

A joint collaboration

The seminar series is produced by Statens konstråd and CAPIm – The Centre for Art and the Political Imaginary (HDK-Valand, University of Gothenburg, and the Royal Institute of Art), and is organised in collaboration with Bildkonst Sverige and Konstnärernas Riksorganisation.