Press Release – Ministry of Human Resources – May 10, 2013

Press Release

State Secretariat for Culture of the Ministry of Human Resources

The State Secretariat for Culture of the Ministry of Human Resources, as maintainer, draws the attention of the general public to the fact that the five-year long mandate of the director of the Ludwig Museum – Museum of Contemporary Art, Budapest expired on 28 February 2013, and in accordance with the procedure provided for by legislation, an invitation to tender for the position of director of the institution was announced by the Portfolio.

The information contrary to this, published in the press by United for Contemporary Art, is incorrect. Accordingly, the Minister of Human Resources will appoint the new director of the Ludwig Museum in line with democratic values. Every piece of news in the press, or content of speeches at demonstrations that are contrary to these facts are unequivocally mistaken and motivated by political interests.

One of the many errors related to the tender published in the press is that the deadline of the decision was extended. This is not true. The deadline for delivery by the committee of its opinion is 12 May 2013, and the Minister of Human Resources shall make a decision by 12 June 2013. In the letter sent to the representatives of United for Contemporary Art, the State Secretariat for Culture of the Ministry of Human Resources invites the leaders of the organisation to a professional consultation in order to clarify the misunderstandings, and to prove that the tender procedure is in accordance with the legislation and with democratic values. In addition, it requests the demonstrators not to interfere in the work of a public institution with their peculiarly understood form of social dialogue.

Budapest, 10 May 2013