How Can Culture Respond to Periods of Social, Political, and Environmental Uncertainty?
A discussion held as part of the Opening Weekend of Trenčín 2026 – European Capital of Culture will bring together voices from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary to reflect on the role of art, cultural institutions, and civil society in times of crisis. Special attention will be given to how the cultural sector can preserve its independence and creative freedom in the face of political pressure, particularly in the context of current developments in Slovakia and Hungary.
Together, we will speak about solidarity, memory, freedom of expression, and the ways culture can strengthen community resilience and create space for open cross-border dialogue. The discussion will offer both a reflection on the present and a vision for the future of the Central European cultural landscape.
Moderator: Michal Hvorecký
About the Speakers
Michal Hvorecký
Writer and translator from German, born in 1976. He writes books for both adults and children, and his work has been translated into many languages. He heads the Department of Culture in Bratislava’s Old Town. His children’s book Lebopreto was named the most beautiful children’s book of 2022 by Bibiana. His latest publication is the graphic novel Comrade Dissident. In March 2026, his first book written in German will be published. He lives in Bratislava with his family.
Matej Drlička
Cultural and creative industries manager, dramaturge, producer, and organizer of cultural and social events. He is the founder of the Viva Musica! festival and has long contributed to major cultural projects in Slovakia and abroad. From 2021 to 2024, he served as Director General of the Slovak National Theatre. He is the recipient of several awards, including the French Order of Arts and Letters.
Anna Hořejší
Creative Director of the České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028 project. She has been part of the organization since 2021 and co-authored the winning bid book and the overall (Perma)culture concept. Previously, she worked at the Arts and Theatre Institute (now the National Institute for Culture), including with the Prague Quadrennial team and the Creative Europe – Culture Desk. She serves on the board of the Federation of Cultural and Creative Industries, contributing to strategic and advocacy work supporting the cultural and creative sector in the Czech Republic. She has long focused on connecting culture and environmental sustainability.
Paweł Potoroczyn
Director General of ECoC Lublin 2029. He is a diplomat, producer, and writer. In 1992, he began his career in public service as President of the Polish Information Agency Interpress and later served as Cultural Consul at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles. He is the founder and first director of the Polish Cultural Institute in New York and became Director of the Polish Cultural Institute in London in 2005. From 2008 to 2016, he led the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, and from 2016 to 2018, he served as Director General of SWPS University. His novel Ludzka Rzecz was nominated for the NIKE Literary Award, and his texts have appeared in Tygodnik Powszechny, Rzeczpospolita, Forbes, and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
Bettina Bencze
Independent curator and art educator based in Budapest. Since 2022, she has worked at the Ludwig Museum, contributing to contemporary art programs. She focuses on workshops, community projects, and curatorial initiatives, mapping new artistic trends and researching contemporary Gothic. In 2022, she co-founded the online database hely[i], which highlights Hungarian independent and artist-run spaces. Since 2020, she has been active in the online community radio Lahmacun, where she hosts her own program and serves as a board member, actively supporting the visibility of the independent cultural scene.
