On March 27, 2024, Kunsthalle Bratislava hosted a poignant farewell event, marking the end of its existence as an independent institution.This closure resulted from a directive by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic to merge Kunsthalle Bratislava with the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), effective April 1, 2024.
The decision to dissolve Kunsthalle Bratislava was announced in early 2024. On January 16, 2024, the institution’s director, Jen Kratochvil, resigned following the Ministry’s revocation of funding for the 2024 artistic and educational program. Subsequently, on February 9, 2024, the Ministry issued an order to merge Kunsthalle Bratislava with the SNG, citing reasons related to programmatic content and financial management.
The farewell event on March 27 served as an opportunity for the Kunsthalle team to present their activities from 2023 and to highlight the institution’s contributions to contemporary art. Held in the exhibition space “A Window” on the ground floor, the presentation included collaborations with national and international artists and curators. The team also addressed concerns about the future of the institution’s premises and the lack of continuity under the SNG’s leadership.
Following the presentation, members of the Slovak art community conducted a short artistic intervention. The Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava initiated a collective mourning over the loss of Kunsthalle Bratislava. Participants dressed in black, brought wreaths and flowers, and shared their opinions and memories of the institution.Messages were pasted on the glass of the “A Window” space, symbolizing the importance of Kunsthalle Bratislava to Slovak society.
The closure of Kunsthalle Bratislava has been met with criticism from various quarters. Employees and supporters have expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process and the potential impact on the independence and freedom of contemporary art institutions in Slovakia. The Ministry’s actions have been perceived as an attempt to discredit the institution and undermine its contributions to the cultural landscape.
The farewell event on March 27, 2024, marked the end of an era for Kunsthalle Bratislava as an independent platform for contemporary art. While the merger with the Slovak National Gallery signifies a new chapter, the circumstances surrounding the closure have sparked a broader debate about cultural policy, artistic freedom, and the preservation of independent art institutions in Slovakia.
