Since the beginning of September, the steering bodies of the Budapest University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE) were disempowered and replaced by a board whose members were appointed by the Hungarian government under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The University committees and many teaching staff members who didn't have any say in the process, resigned in protest. Students are now keeping the university occupied.
The AEC has taken note with dismay of what happened at the Budapest University of Theatre and Film Arts. Together with our partner associations, we are protesting against this arbitrary interference in the institution's legal rights to autonomy.
The solidarity statement is available here.
AEC, Cumulus, EAAE, ELIA and GEECT stand in solidarity with colleague institutions in Hungary and SZFE Budapest in particular.
As European higher arts education networks, we express our deepest concerns regarding the recent direction and implementation of Hungarian policy, which is severely affecting free development of education in the arts. We particularly condemn the undermining of the autonomy of the University of Theatre and Film Arts (SZFE), a renowned 155-year-old higher arts education institution. Free development of education in the arts, together with freedom of artistic expression and freedom of research, are cornerstone values of European societies and cannot be negotiated.
We urge the Hungarian government and policymakers to guarantee freedom of development and organisational autonomy for SZFE and all higher arts education institutions in the country.
