Party-oriented interpretation of the law
After the changes of local authorities in Serbia the practice of replacing the directors of cultural institutions continued in early December in Sabac - one of the few cities where the Serbian Progressive Party (SPP) was not in power. Since they became heads of a theater and a museum during the rule of the Democratic Party, Milena Bogavac and Nela Tonkovic bothered the new ruling majority, despite the fact that they are an award-winning playwright, and an art historian, who achieved notable results in institutions that they were heading in the past two and a half years.
The local parliament decided to dismiss them by referring to the Law on Culture, which implies the possibility of replacing a director before the expiration of their mandate, but also specifies in which situations this is possible. Milena Bogavac and Nela Tonkovic were replaced without any explanation provided by the law, and acting directors were appointed thus replacing them - actor Vladimir Vasilic at the Theater of Sabac, and artist Jovana Stojanac at the National Museum.
The Assembly of the municipality of Sabac- founder of the local theater and museum, has not had any objections to their work so far - neither written nor oral.
Milena Bogavac and Nela Tonkovic held a joint press conference to point out the illegality of the dismissal, and pointed out that they are doing so out of responsibility towards the public and all citizens of Sabac, but also towards society in general - to emphasize that the law must be abided equally by all and encouraged colleagues to speak up every time something similar happens. They reminded that in 2016, the director of the Cultural Center of Pozega, Sladjana Petrovic Varagic, a prominent art historian and curator, was fired in a similar way, after she refused to resign at the request of the new SPP government.
The dismissal of Milena Bogavac and Nela Tonkovic provoked strong reactions from the professional and general public.
The Serbian PEN Center assessed that the new government in Sabac has demonstrated that they are essentially not interested in the quality of work of cultural institutions, but their goal is for them to be managed by verified personnel from the party. The dismissal of Milena Bogavac and Nela Tonkovic "is dangerous political interventionism in culture that endangers the professional level of cultural institutions and their artistic achievements. Because of such a policy and practice, we are further and further away from successful institutions and European standards,” the Serbian PEN stated.
The Independent Cultural Scene of Serbia association (ICSS) assessed that this is just another one in a series of incidents involving violence towards cultural workers, artists and their works.
"This is yet another act of persecution of artists and cultural workers, motivated by political ineligibility this time, which is not and cannot become a legal criterion for a dismissal from working positions, the criteria must be the expertise and the quality of work, for which no objections were made in this case ", stated the ICSS and called upon the Ministry of Culture and Information to oppose the violation of the Law on Culture and to publicly express support for colleagues who performed their duties professionally and with conscience.
(SEEcult.org)
*Support: International Relief Fund of the German Federal Foreign Office, the Goethe-Institut, and other partners
