1988. július (161-183. szám) / HU_BFL_XIV_47_2
| <<H<9NMUAM i (j) ^ ®MÍ Editor: György Krassó * 24/D Little Russell Street * London, WC1A 2HN * Tel. 01-430 2126 (írom abroad 441-430 2126) 175/1988 (E) 21st July, 1988 An Independent Gommittee is Formed to Defend the Jurta Theatre The Budapest Jurta Theatre which has never received state support - a unique independent institute - is threatened with liquidation. The theatre was built in 1986-87 by the Hungárián Theatre Co-operative its aim was to create the first experimental artistic workshop independent of the state. The authorities wish to initiate bank- ruptcy proceedings against the Jurta Theatre because of its 25 millión forint debt which came about because construction was held up and as a result of the non-payment of promised support: the Budapest Bank refused the theatre*s request fór credit. On July 20th an independent committee was formed to defend the Jurta Theatre. The committee - whose six members belong to various Hungárián democratic movements - issued an announcement to all the theatres and art patrons in the world. "The Jurta Theatre - says the announcement - gave space to different autonomous groups including the Hungárián Democratic Fórum, the Rakpart Club, the Network fór Free Initiatives, the Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Friendship Society, the Young Democrats Alliance and the Danube movements. It thus became a fórum which advocated democracy and called fór intel- lectual renewal, that it is why the polit.Lcal leadership made it a target. This proves once more that the new leadership is nőt able to throw off old conditioning. The Jurta Theatre - like a foreign body wedged intő the power structure - was senten- ced to death and an attempt was made to exclude it from cultural life by a leadership which wants to be the only possessor of culture. We protest against this type of bulldózer policy vhich offends humán dignity as it erases the new spirit of freedom and democracy from public conscience. We call upon all the theatres and art patrons in the world to savé the Jurta Theatre which can restore the prospects fór democratic development and artistic freedom", finisheö the Jurta Theatre Independent Defence Gommittee*s announcement which was signed by Géza Buda, Antal Bogád, Peter Bokros, László Szekeres, Imre Mécs and Dóra Debreczeni. The theatre*s address: Jurta Theatre, P.O. Box 629 Budapest 1399. Donations can be sent (in the form of money orders) to the theatre direct or to the Budapest Bank acccunt number BB-208-69977-7014; it is possible to send money from abroad through the Hungárián National Bank. Subscribers can use or quote the Hungárián October newsletters in totál or in detail as long as the source is acknowledged.
