Hiller criticised Hungary?s cultural policy over the past 15 years for being "less colourful and potent" than the country?s cultural life itself. In addition to a new cultural policy, a new financing model is needed; one which involves private funding and the ?creative? use of EU monies in addition to central budget funding, he said.
Hiller said he intended to make local cultural and education centres a focus of his work at the ministry. He called cultural and educational infrastructure in Hungary?s cities and towns "shockingly dilapidated". Although there are no plans to use central budget funding to build new cultural centres until 2010, this local infrastructure still needs refurbishment. This could be carried out through changes to the existing method of financing, which encourages overspending by offering different sources of funding for the same aims, he said. For this reason, local governments place e-Hungary points, education facilities and cultural facilities at separate locations, without being able to maintain any of them, instead of putting them under one roof.
It is impossible to achieve change without making some sacrifices, Hiller said, noting plans to cut staff at the merged Education and Culture Ministry 28 percent. The path to reform may be rough, he said.
Hiller confirmed for the committee that he would not run again for chairman of the governing Hungarian Socialist Party (MSZP), a position he currently holds, in order to give work at the ministry his full attention.
Speaking about the fierce debate over staff and programme cuts at the Hungarian State Opera under its new director, Hiller said the opera?s director should take the initiative to start a dialogue at the institution. He added that the opera is unlikely to receive more central budget funding.
Hiller?s appointment as head of the ministry was confirmed by the committed with a vote of ten ayes and eight nays.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
