On the morning of March 4, authorities ordered the closure of Turbina Cultural Center for one month, citing a simple verbal report. This is yet another blow to the Budapest scene that so many of us have been passionately building, often against the odds.
In February, the police monitored the venue for several weeks as part of an undercover operation, during which no violations were identified. After the operation, the head of the mission informed our head of security that we should not expect any closure, as they had not encountered this level of professionalism, attention, and exemplary operation at other nightlife venues in Budapest, and they were fully satisfied with how Turbina operates.
In contrast, the current closure appears to be based on a testimony linked to an ongoing procedure, in which someone claimed that they had purchased an illegal substance in our favorite community space.
This action is the consequence of a legal environment that places disproportionate responsibility on cultural venues for a complex social phenomenon. We firmly believe that shutting down spaces like this cannot solve real problems – but it can very quickly destroy communities, creative platforms, and the cultural fabric of a city.
We will do everything we can to prevent the financial collapse of Turbina and to continue the work of more than 100 dedicated colleagues whose mission is to strengthen Budapest’s independent cultural scene. Anyone who holds a cherished memory connected to Turbina is kindly asked to support our survival through this link.
The story does not end here.
We continue.