Losses in SND, despite record state subsidies
Culture Minister Ľubica Laššáková (Smer) recently dismissed Marián Chudovský, director of the national theater SND, for mounting losses. Last year, SND lost €0.7m, mainly due to soaring costs and low visitor numbers to its opera house, despite receiving a record €20m state subsidy. The subsidy accounted for 80% of its revenues; in Prague, the figures were 66% and €0.6m profit, and 50% and €2.3m profit in Vienna. The opera’s sales have fallen by 20% since 2006, while those of ballet rose 200% and drama 100%. In the last season, the opera house produced several costly flops. The opera house was just 61% full on average, while the figure was 80% for ballet and 88% for drama; it was 99% in Vienna.
