Alarm signal regarding the passage of the Cultural Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mircea Cărtărescu: undermines the autonomy / Radu Vancu: AR DEARIA CAN TERMATIVE ICR

Important voices from the Romanian culture argue why, in their opinion, the passage of the Romanian Cultural Institute (ICR) in the subordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could mean “a catastrophe”. “The culture is an image of freedom of thought and creation and can only be promoted by a free institution, independent of decision makers that have no connection with living culture ”, considers Mircea Cărtărescu.

Culture people are unanimous against the “full integration” of the ICR in the Foreign Ministry, concludes Mircea Cărtărescu, after a debate on the future of ICR, which took part in almost 20 artists, writers, managers of cultural institutions.

Mircea Cărtărescu: “The new governors should leave the autonomous and free culture ”

After the debate from the Parliament, attended by the Foreign Minister, Oana Țoiu, the writer Mircea Cărtărescu also warned in the public space, on Facebook, that the passing of the Romanian Cultural Institute subordinated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would lead to the “slow death” of the institution.

Three “essential problems” that Mircea Cărtărescu says they signaled “very important and heavy names”:

• “
• 2. The revolting underfinancing of this institution. Applying the policy of austerity in culture (because, in the end, that is why ICR is desired to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: some positions disappear …) E, after an old saying, “more than a crime – it is mistake.”
• 3. The politicization of the personnel employment: the competence is replaced, in many cases, by political clientelism that leads to sinecles, nepotisms, etc. ”.

“Mrs. Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu finally said that today, following the recent elections, an opportunity window to reform the ICR. I hope it is so. The new governors should repair the unfortunate phrase from their governance program and leave the autonomous and free culture, because, as Mr. Cărtărescu.

Ioana Nicolaie: S.per as ICR can do its cultural job

The writer Ioana Nicolaie, who was also at the debate generated by the Government's decision to reorganize the ICR, also warns that the ICR's passage to the subordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would lead to the loss of cultural autonomy.

In his opinion, the criterion of aesthetic representativeness will be replaced by art with ideology, which serves a political direction.

Ioana Nicolaie. Photo: Facebook

“… people will be completely unprepared when it comes to choosing the living, competitive, artistic art, according to what is done in the world. What do I think would be good? The ICR will return under the president's patronage.

What was the model of performing cultural institute I reported to? The one built impeccably by Horia Roman Patapievici, Tania Radu and Mircea Mihăieş and destroyed for political reasons in 2012. During that period there were employment competitions for each position, the appointments were not political, they were teams inside the artistic guilds that were consulted by the artists included in the programs, there were more money.

I hope that the ICR will be more financially supported in the future (it has about half of the funds in 2012!), To be able to do its cultural job, to have specialists, to be a small priority, ”adds the writer.

Radu Vancu: “The ICR crossing to the MAE would damage it permanently”

“Absolutely everyone invited has agreed that the ICR should be repaired after the terrible destruction of 2012-but that the transition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would amputate the autonomy of the ICR and it would be definitive,” says Radu Vancu about the conclusions of the future of the Romanian Cultural Institute.

He lists four “pillars” that he thinks the authorities have to “repair” the way ICR works today: “the budget (it was double at a time as it is now), the human resource (highly qualified, engaged through difficult & demanding competitions), the autonomy (provided by the president), the strategy (conceived by the Romanian market international) ”.

“If we want to repair what is still dysfunctional in the ICR, we have to strengthen each of these 4 pillars. The transition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can possibly strengthen the budget-but eliminate autonomy. And, at the same time, the strategy (because the strategies of classical diplomacy are quite something other than the cultural strategies itself. Of the ICR periods. The pillars are reinforced – and that the ICR autonomy is extended and protected ”, draws the attention of Radu Vancu.