Dismissed Director Reappointed to Lead Key Renovation at National Museum in Hungary

  • 8 Dec 2025 2:57 PM
  • Hungary Around the Clock
Dismissed Director Reappointed to Lead Key Renovation at National Museum in Hungary
Two years after his dismissal as director of the National Museum, László L. Simon has been appointed to manage the near Ft 800 million renovation of the room containing St. István’s coronation mantle, Mandiner reports.

The room, long known to be in poor technical condition, will receive new climate control, ventilation and fire-resistant display cases an escape chest, as well as updated visuals.

Simon originally proposed the project and secured almost Ft 1 billion in state funding, which has remained unused for two years, according to HVG.

Several sources claim that Szilárd Demeter, the recently deposed head of the Public Collections Centre, had prevented Simon from moving forward with the mantle project.

Current museum director Gábor Zsigmond has now asked Simon to oversee the renovation, which will require high-standard mechanical systems.

A single special display case may cost nearly Ft 200 million, while mechanical and construction work is expected to reach about Ft 300 million.

Simon was dismissed from the museum in 2023 after then-culture minister János Csák upheld a complaint by Our Homeland’s Dóra Dúró regarding LGBTQ+-related photographs in the World Press Photo exhibition.

The museum refused to check whether visitors were 18 years or older, leading to Simon’s removal.
 

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