The Hungarian government decided in principle on the establishment of three new Hungarian Institutions, said Monika Balatoni, Minister of State for Cultural Diplomacy to the Hungarian News Agency this Thursday.
As disclosed by the Minister of State, the expansion includes Baku, Cluj-Napoca and Ljubljana; tasks and costs arising with the opening and maintenance are taken into account in the design of the central budget of 2015.
Monika Balatoni said that new locations are fitting well with the policy of Eastern Opening, as well as with the strengthening of regional engagement in Central and South Eastern Europe; demonstrating the commitment of cultural diplomacy after the recently opened institutions in Beijing, Belgrade, Zagreb and Istanbul.
The Minister of State also reported that in order to ensure sustainability and to increase efficiency of the system of Balassi Institutions, major structural and organizational changes are under consideration. According to her words, it is important to see what makes host countries “resonate” to and receptive for Hungarian culture. As Monika Balatoni enumerated, there are places where innovation, science, development of technology and start-ups are the main buzzwords on the side of the host and countries, where these expressions are being classic cultural diplomacy, elements of art, fine arts, design, animation, theatre and classical music culture.
She considered suggestions of Hungary on itself in host countries as being important and she added as well that there is consensus in all areas on the fact, that there are several values in the present and not just in the past, and young Hungarian talents are able to cope both on terms of art and science in any “market” of the world.
The institutions should create forums for the exploitation of opportunities in host countries collaborating with Hungarian embassies and should represent national and foreign economic interests of Hungary – phrased her expectations the Minister of State.
Currently 23 Hungarian Institutions operate in 21 countries.