Preserving Value In A Changing World – New General Manager At The Helm of the Palace of Arts

2011. March 17.

Imre Kiss, general manager of the Palace of Arts requested to be relieved of his position on account of his deteriorated health. His term as General Manager ended on March 16, 2011. In the future, he will assist the work of the Palace of Arts’ management in cooperation with his successor, as Senior Advisor to the General Manager from March 17, 2011. The new management will be able to fully rely on his guidance, know-how and professional experience, as well as his domestic and international network of professional contacts.

The specialist—who was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Civilian Division on the occasion of the March 15th national holiday in recognition of his work—expressed his gratitude to colleagues for support during his illness, particularly to Deputy General Manager András Csonka, who is currently tending to operative matters. Addressing Hungary’s cultural scene, he commended his successor as a safekeeper of created values and a manager duly capable of maintaining established quality.
Csaba Káel is the General Manager of the Palace of Arts as of March 17, 2011. He has been the editor of operatic events ever since the institution was established and has directed several successful productions himself, such as the opening performance of the Festival Theatre, Monteverdi’s Orfeo. He has cooperated with the Palace of Arts’ management and staff from the very beginning in efforts aimed at developing the institution’s artistic image; he will continue to build upon the foundations and values that have been created, and will continue to rely greatly on the senior advisor’s guidance in the future, as well as the on the work of the former deputy general manager, who will exercise operative control.
He considers the community and events created while establishing the Palace of Arts world brand to be the starting point for continuing, and thus for his own work. In addition, he considers the recognition of changing market factors to be necessary. He will continue to strive to invite world renowned artists to perform at the Palace of Arts, while increasingly focusing on family events for shaping future audiences. As his motto he chose Keith Jarrett’s words of farewell uttered after his autumn 2007 performance at the Béla Bartók National Concert Hall: “Save your culture!”
András Csonka will continue to supervise uninterrupted operation and ensure the standard of daily administration, events and services as Deputy General Manager, in agreement and in cooperation with the general manager and the senior advisor. He considers the values outlined during the past six years, as well as the teamwork that was realised through Imre Kiss to be the basis for the Palace of Arts’ success; these must also determine the direction taken during the coming period.
The new management will commence work on March 17. Following the handover/takeover period it will start drafting a new strategic plan, which will greatly rely on the foundations and accomplishments articulated during the previous 2007-2010 plan, and shall also designate new directions. This strategy will determine the professional substance of the institution (its artistic image) for the years ahead, taking into account the changes observed in the environment and the economy. Continuous rejuvenation based on the preservation of values will be given a particularly important emphasis in the future.

17.03.2011