MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, CULTURE AND SPORT OF ZENICA-DOBOJ CANTON: BNP Zenica is an autonomous institution, censorship is prohibited

(Patria) - The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Zenica-Doboj Canton reacted to the cancellation of a play within the Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama at the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica, stating that it is important to objectively inform the public, calm tensions, and preserve mutual respect.

The Ministry states that they continuously provide institutional, material, and financial support to the work of BNP Zenica, which they consider one of the most significant cultural institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

At the same time, they emphasized that the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica operates as an independent and autonomous institution with full freedom in creating its repertoire, program content, and selecting plays participating in the Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama.

The Ministry also recalled the legal provisions that define artistic freedoms and prohibit censorship.

"Theatres are completely free, autonomous, and independent in their creative and artistic work. Any form of censorship in the preparation and public performance of a stage work is strictly prohibited. No one has the right to illegally restrict the freedom of preparation and public performance of a stage work," the statement reads.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Zenica-Doboj Canton also states that issues of security assessments and organizational decisions should not be linked to the Ministry or to specific organizations or groups without relevant facts and grounds.

"It is irresponsible to publicly direct responsibility towards entities that did not participate in making decisions about staging or canceling a play," they pointed out.

At the end of the statement, the Ministry expressed its full support for the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica and the Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama, assessing that the event has been an important segment of the cultural identity of Zenica, the Zenica-Doboj Canton, and Bosnia and Herzegovina for years.

"We believe that culture must remain a space for free artistic expression, dialogue, understanding, and mutual respect, and we call on all actors of public life to engage in responsible, measured, and correct communication," concluded the Ministry.