The artists from the National Theatre in Bucharest are protesting against the proposal of the Ministry of Culture to regulate working hours, which would affect creative freedom.

Tens of actors and employees of the National Theatre in Bucharest protested on Tuesday against the proposal of the Ministry of Culture to regulate working hours for artists, which would involve daily time tracking and reporting of activities. The messages displayed, such as "I am an artist, I create freely, not on a fixed schedule," reflect concerns that these measures would constrain freedom of expression.

The Minister of Culture, András Demeter, announced the withdrawal of the pilot project but emphasized that the underlying issues remain. He explained that the proposal aimed to ensure proof of artistic activity, even in the physical absence from the theatre. Criticism from artists highlights that creative work cannot be measured in hours, and regulation would turn the artistic process into a bureaucratic activity. The Ministry specified that regulation will be mandatory only for institutions under its authority, not for local ones.