"The talks were a big success....There has not been anything like this in Hungarian cultural life for the past several decades," Hiller told the Hungarian News Agency. Everyone he met with expressed their willingness to cooperate, he said.
New York's Carnegie Hall is prepared to show the entire spectrum of Hungarian musical arts, from classical to folk, and Hungarian actors will have the chance to perform at Lincoln Center, he said. Talks were held on a joint exhibition by New York's Morgan Library and Budapest's Fine Arts Museum. An exhibition of never-before-displayed photographs taken in Hungary in the 20s and 30s by the Hungarian-born photographer Robert Capa was subject of a meeting with representatives of the International Photography Centre on. Hiller also met with representatives of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, one of the biggest supporters of art in downtown Manhattan.
A main theme of Hiller's talks was the possibility of organising a Hungarian cultural season in New York for 6-10 months in 2009. A decision on the matter is expected within two weeks.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Hiller will travel to Washington, where he will visit the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Katzen Arts Center. He will also hold talks with top officials from the Smithsonian Institution. Hiller is scheduled to meet with Hungarian-born US congressman Tom Lantos and sign an agreement with State Department officials on extending an agreement on the Fullbright scholarship programme for another four years.
