Day of Hungarian Culture – Spending on culture up by EUR 397m, says state secy

Budapest, January 22 (MTI) – The budget of the state secretariat for culture stands at 122 billion forints (EUR 397m) this year, up from last year’s 56 billion forints, partly thanks to large investment projects, the state secretary for culture said on Sunday, marking the Day of Hungarian Culture.

Péter Hoppál said the 66 billion forint increase will enable significant infrastructure development in Budapest and other cities around the country, as well as a general renewal in the area of culture.

Large cultural festivals in Budapest will get 1.95 billion forints in state support this year and festivals in other places around the country will get 500 million forints in addition to funding available by application from the National Cultural Fund.

Among the planned significant infrastructure development projects, he highlighted the Liget Budapest project, the renovation of the Opera House, the National Széchenyi Library, the Buda Vigadó, the Museum of Industrial Design, the Open Air Museum of Ethnography and the National Museum, as well as cultural development projects around the country carried out under the arrangements of the Modern Cities Programme.

January 22, the day of Hungarian culture, has been celebrated since 1989. It was on this date in 1823 that Ferenc Kölcsey completed the text of the Hungarian National Anthem.

Source: MTI