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Márton Méhes |
How did you take over the Collegium Hungaricum? What will continue and what will be new?
It was a pleasant experience to peacefully take over the post from Zoltán Fónagy, who is an old acquaintance and who sees eye to eye with me on the matter. He introduced me to his contacts and I came here on November 24, 2009, so he could be seen off and I could be introduced. One of the most important things Zoltán said was that under his watch, the Collegium Hungaricum opened its doors wider, and I fully support that. We have to speak to a variety of groups, make the work of the collegium more visible and bring in new programmes, not just for a small group of people. I am fortunate that such new themes are on offer that not only bring the two countries together but their regions too. The European Capital of Culture programme is such a thing: Pécs doesn't have to be explained here, because Linz handed over the baton [for the European Capital of Culture title, which Pécs is taking in 2010], but we can do promotion. That is one of the things that will come up several times in the collegium, through artistic productions too. The other thing is that Hungary will hold the revolving European Union presidency in 2011 and attention will be drawn to us. A strategy for the Danube region is in the marking that will be a good framework for any kind of cooperation.
That sounds a little like nostalgia for the monarchy.
Of course, the idea is not new, but it's about a bigger area. It has to involve the entire length of the Danube, though the upper Danube affects more the German-speaking areas and the collegium too, so it is with these regions and states that I can conceive of a serious cooperation. There's another great thing in this, that Bratislava is so close. We can make joint programmes with the Slovakian culture institute and establish a framework for cooperation among the Danube countries.
Is easing political tension a goal?
Yes, I'm convinced that all of this will lead to that. The collegium opened an exhibition of work by many young artists on the 20th anniversary of the change of system just a few days ago. Such an exhibition could also be organised on the theme of the Danube region. Other institutes could be involved and it could be shown in many places.
What other activities are going on at the collegium?
Our profile as a supporter of scholarship is an old tradition. In the 1920s, the Collegium Hungaricums were established for the assistance of Hungarian scholars, only later did they get a cultural function, organise events or do promotion. The cultural function menas organising events, exhibitions and concerts, but also trying to promote these things. I don't think it's worth it to take only the biggest events into consideration, rather it is the many little things, the less visible tasks that we need to concentrate on. For example, helping to establish a cooperation between two music schools....The collegium is not limited to Vienna in terms of cooperation. For example, we established cooperation with Linz on the Pécs project...and because of us, Austrians will obviously be more inclined to give a good reception to programmes in Pécs and elsewhere in Hungary.
I imagine you organised the passing of the baton here because you once worked for the Pécs2010 project. How does it feel to have left there?
That definitely play a role, but perhaps more important is that I am from Pécs and gladly represent the city in this matter. It is a basic task of an institution such as this to engage in the best sense of cultural promotion. Because of a confusion of competency and a troubled management in Pécs after 2007, I could no longer be active in the 2010 matter. 2006 was my first year, and the next year I became artistic director. Then the financing structure came together. That was the first year when we could put serious money toward new programmes. We successfully started one or two things that remained in the programme and could even be decisive parts of it. The one is a Balkan world music festival and the other is a literary artist in residence project which has brought a number of contemporary authors as guests. An anthology has been put together and the project continues to run.
What is the difference between the Hungarians in Berlin and Vienna seen from the point of view of the Hungarian culture institutes there?
At first glance, the structures are the same here, and there is a similar local Hungarian historical background, even though there are obviously the East Berlin Hungarians in the German capital. One can hear similar stories. In Vienna, and there too, the local Hungarians can help the cultural institutes by acting as multipliers. They're welcome, and we are glad to see them, but they also have to see that such an institute isn't primarily for them, rather Austrians and Germans have to be reached through them, their acquaintances, colleagues and friends.
Speaking about the Linzer torte shaped in the form of Hungary at the passing of the baton, you noted that life in Pécs is sweet. What did you mean by that? What can Pécs give the next recipient of this baton?
We have to wait. I can't know what kind of cake it will be, but you wouldn't have to convince me to say something like this, because I have always fell good in Pécs. There is always a good mood in the city, in spite of what they say about Hungary being depressive. If an even bigger openness starts with the culture year and if the city's residents like their city even more, there's can't be a problem there.
Interviewer: sisso / Photo: Dániel Kováts
