Czech curator Dostál is the new artistic director of the Slovak National Gallery

Bratislava - Czech curator Martin Dostál is the new artistic director and chief curator of the Slovak National Gallery (SNG). This was announced today according to local media by the SNG, where some employees had previously announced resignations in response to the actions of the Ministry of Culture and the now-former interim head of the gallery.

"I am glad that Martin Dostál accepted my offer and will become part of the new team, with whom my primary goal is to stabilize the situation in the gallery, prepare world-class art exhibitions, and restore SNG's credibility at home and abroad,” said SNG general director Juraj Králik, who has been managing the gallery since mid-April.

Králik described Dostál as one of the most recognized Czech curators of modern and contemporary art, also pointing to his collaboration with galleries in the Czech Republic and professional activities in other countries.

Dostál stated that his goal is for the SNG to become a cultural institution of European significance.

Slovak Minister of Culture Martina Šimkovičová last year dismissed SNG director Alexandra Kusá, as well as the directors of the national theater and the national museum. The dismissed director of SNG received support not only from Slovak artists but also from representatives of Czech cultural institutions. Protests against Šimkovičová's actions took place in Slovakia. Some SNG employees then complained about the interim head of SNG Jaroslav Niňaj and announced resignations.