Opera Europa is playing an increasingly active role in advocating for the protection of culture and artistic freedom across Europe, as our sector faces mounting political, economic, and ideological pressures. Two significant events this year reflect our commitment to standing alongside members and cultural allies in defending the core values of our work.
The Open Culture! International Conference, taking place on 29–30 May in Bratislava, will confront the growing challenges faced by cultural institutions in Slovakia and across Europe. Key topics include threats to artistic freedom, deepening ideological divides, and severe public funding cuts. The conference aims to strengthen collaboration among EU member states, exert collective pressure on policymakers, support cultural networks, raise public awareness, and propose practical responses to the crisis facing the creative industries.
The event is led by Matej Drlička, a member of the Open Culture! platform and former General Manager of the Slovak National Theatre (2021–2024), whose recent dismissal by Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová has raised serious concern both nationally and internationally. He is joined by Milo Rau, Director, Author, and Artistic Director of Wiener Festwochen, who launched the RESISTANCE NOW TOGETHER movement in August 2024 as a response to rising cultural repression.
As Rau wrote in The Guardian, cultural diversity is under increasing threat in countries like Hungary, Slovakia, and Serbia, where governments are working to dismantle open, pluralistic societies. RESISTANCE NOW quickly gathered momentum following Drlička’s dismissal, with 13 events in 11 countries held in 2024 alone—from New York to Taipei—garnering coverage in 32 countries and more than 300 media reports.
The European Theatre Convention also joined the effort, with events and statements from over 70 member theatres. By November 2024, RESISTANCE NOW had joined forces with Drlička, the Prospero network, and Opera Europa to launch an appeal to the European Parliament. The resulting manifesto, RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE, has been endorsed by more than 200 cultural institutions across Europe.
Looking ahead, Opera Europa is honoured to participate in the 125th Anniversary of Lviv National Opera, from 9–12 October 2025. The celebration will open with an international conference, Opera Theatre in Times of Historical Challenges, and feature a vibrant artistic programme, including the opera Mazepa by Oleksandr Rodin, Ukraine’s acclaimed 2024 production of Dialogues des Carmélites, and the ballet premiere Solaris, based on the novel by Stanisław Lem.
Members are warmly invited to attend this milestone event. Opera Europa is happy to connect interested colleagues with General and Artistic Director Vasyl Vovkun.
