AUDIENCE,

In the face of the series of challenges in recent years, which regularly proved themselves to be significantly testing, we have often said: these are difficult times. It’s no secret that the events around us sometimes remind us of Cicero’s poignant words: “when arms speak, muses are silent ” However, our task and our goal – as the country’s leading cultural institution – is to use all of our strength to keep the muses alive so that our visitors can recharge and relax, even in times of trial and tribulation. Hand in hand with our colleagues, we set out to create exceptional conditions for domestic and international artists to continue to present their performances on the Müpa Budapest stages to the outstanding standards they are used to delivering.

Now more than ever, it is important for everyone to have an island of peace where they can find tranquility, a community from which they can draw strength, a space where they can find relaxation, liberation or inspiration. It has perhaps never before been so vital to reach as many people as possible with art and culture – as it helps us all to understand the challenges we face day after day. This situation has an impact not only on us, but also on the community that has come together over the past 18 years. We understand and appreciate that the difficult economic situation is also making our visitors plan more carefully and make more prudent choices. The almost daily changes that surround us teach us resilience and patience, and new habits and influences encourage new approaches and new ways of thinking for all of society – from individuals to small communities, all the way up to powerful businesses. This also holds true for cultural institutions, including Müpa Budapest. Therefore, in response to the fact that for a significant proportion of our visitors, a long-term commitment may now be too much of a financial burden, we have decided to replace our usual arrangements for the 2023/24 season with a thematic but flexible ticketing system for productions, until the end of the year at present, and not put our traditional season tickets on sale. This means that everyone is still free to choose from a wide range of genres and styles, in line with their interests and financial opportunities. We hope that this will help both old and new members of the Müpa Budapest community. Hang in there and join us in the 2023/24 season as well.

Csaba Káel CEO