Institutiile culturale si artistice timisorene in “epoca” autofinantarii (1984–1989)

Abstract

The economic crisis in Romania, in 1984–1989, deeply touched the Romanian culture too, the Communist authorities requiering the cultural and artistic institutions a policy of austerity, once with the Decree 476/ 1983. Given the continuous reducing of the statal allocations, the theatres, philarmonic orhestras, opera houses, museums, etc. needed to find outliving solutions. In Timişoara, The National Theatre, German Public Theatre, Magyar Public Theatre, Puppet Theatre, and Romanian Opera House, or the Philarmonic Public Orchestra “Banatul” went over a difficult period while the Banat Museum had a better financial situation. Those above were obliged to increase the number of their shows, to present them in industrial units, rural localities, schools, faculties or stadiums and sports halls, as well as to organize gambles, to collect scrap iron, etc., some of those works being degrading for the actors and artistis in Timişoara. In spite of all their efforts, they couldn’t materialize such unrealistic plans, and so the artistic staff were diminished or delayed payed. The financial crisis also touched the quality of performances, the amounts to staging having been reduced. The three theters and the Opera House also had not enough money for wardrobe or, in the case of the National Theatre, to set the necessary reparations of the building. The gas or electricity using restrictions made some shows being adjorned and the audience decreasing. Despite all those great straitened circumstances, the actors and artistis in Timişoara, with their professional devotion, succeeded to offer shows of a high quality and keep so the prestige of thier institutions.