Nearly 200 high-profile cultural organizations including opera companies, theatres, festivals, and galleries from 39 countries have signed an open letter to demand the European Parliament protect the autonomy of cultural organizations.

In the open letter titled, “RESISTANCE NOW: FREE CULTURE,” concerns are expressed about the “attacks, bans, layoffs and cutbacks” to cultural institutions in Hungary and Slovakia, which are believed to be designed to undermine a “diverse European culture.” Signers also believe this “acute threat” is at risk of spreading into other European countries, such as The Netherlands, France, and Germany. They cited a recent act of violence at the National Theatre Ivan Vazov in Bulgaria by ultra-nationalist group during the premiere of Bernard Shaw’s “Arms and the Man.”

Alarmed by these threats posed by nationalist movements the Vienna Festival Directors Milo Rau and Artemis Vakianis, Vasil Vasilev, Director of the National Theatre in Bulgaria, and the Dismissed Director of Slovak National Theatre, Matej Drlička, along with several networks including Opera Europa, initiated the public call. Leaders from the Estonian National Opera, Opéra national de Lyon, Staatsoper Hamburg, and Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, to name a few, joined in signing the collective urge to the European Parliament to the implement a “Freedom of Culture Act” to protect artists through the Rule of Law.

The letter was launched with a discussion event on Nov. 30 at Maillon Theatre in Strasbourg. Attendees included the former MEP and former French Minister for Culture, Catherine Trautmann. An adjoining petition is now available for the general public to sign.

Karen Stone, Executive Director of Opera Europa said in a press release, “As cultural institutions, we are committed to amplifying dissenting voices, fostering new ideas, and engaging in meaningful discussions on social issues. Artistic freedom and diversity form the basis of a vibrant and creative culture and must be safeguarded at the highest level.”