We are pleased to announce the release of AFI’s latest advocacy report, Early Warning: The Politicization of Slovak Arts and Culture, produced in partnership with Otvorená Kultúra! (OK!).
Following the election of Robert Fico’s populist coalition government in October 2023, Slovakia has experienced a rapid regression in democratic norms, with the cultural sector emerging as a key battleground for ideological control. Under the leadership of far-right Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová, the government has weaponized cultural policy to undermine artistic freedom, dismantling institutional safeguards, defunding critical voices, and consolidating power over key cultural institutions.
Drawing on original research and interviews with 19 Slovak artists and cultural workers, Early Warning documents the alarming impact of these political shifts on the country’s creative landscape. By exposing the early warning signs of authoritarian cultural control, the report underscores the urgent need for intervention to protect democratic values and cultural pluralism.
Early Warning is accompanied by the release of a limited audio series of the same name. This three-episode series captures the key findings of the report and features the voices of several Slovak artists and cultural workers who were interviewed for the report. Listen to the story now.
About the Artist: Jozef Gl’aba
AFI and OK! are delighted to feature the work of Slovakian visual artist Jozef Gl’aba throughout Early Warning: The Politicization of Slovak Arts and Culture. The illustrations Jozef created for the report reflect themes of political interference, cultural erosion, and the suppression of artistic freedom in Slovakia’s shifting cultural landscape. Read more about Jozef and his work here.
