INŠTITUCIONÁLNE PERIPETIE SLOVENSKÉHO PROFESIONÁLNEHO DIVADLA PO ROKU 1989

In his study, the author examines changes in the organizational and economic background of the professional theatre production in the Slovak Republic after the late eighties of the 20th century. The socialist regime fully centralized theatrical activities and only Ministry of Culture could approve establishment of new theatre scene. The first step after the social changes in 1989 was replacement of theatre executives active during the previous period and as a result a variety of specialized ensembles began to emerge. After the opening of accession negotiations with the European Union in 1995, the Ministry of Culture under European recommendations implemented the project of decentralization of cultural institutions. The Ministry of Culture established three institutions as the core network guaranteeing general access for financially demanding arts of opera, ballet and musical drama throughout the national territory. After the election, the newly elected Minister Milan Kňažko gradually set aside all transformation measures and all theatres except SND and New Scene were delimited within the scope of county councils. In the autumn of 2003, the Minister of Finance made a first attempt to pass the almost completed new building of the Slovak National Theatre to the private developer and a year later prepared a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Slovak Republic and the investors, who agreed to become the new proprietor under the condition of completion of the object so that in addition to a preserved opera hall, the areas intended for drama would be turned into a commercial gallery and a hotel with convention facilities would be built beside the object. Many prominent personalities of the Slovak cultural and social life opposed such plan. After the 2006 elections new building was completed under the leftist-centre government and in 2007 it became the seat of all three artistic bodies of Slovak National Theatre.