Exorbitant Price Increases at Devlet Tiyatroları Are Blocking the Public's Right of Access to Art!

As the Culture Workers' Union, we condemn the exorbitant ticket price increase imposed as of 1 April by the State Theatres — an institution of the non-profit social state — and we want to state clearly that this decision obstructs the public's right of access to art! Tickets for regular plays have risen from 70–110 TL to 330–450 TL, and tickets for musicals from 115–170 TL to 450–660 TL. These increases have made access to the theatre nearly impossible for working people who live by their labour and their sweat. One of the founding purposes of the State Theatres is to offer quality art across the country at prices every citizen can afford. These increases cast a shadow over the institution's long history and openly violate its founding mission. Moreover, although only a handful of our venues are suited to differentiated seat pricing, introducing different pricing within every hall without reason is unjust. In children's plays especially, this will create a class divide and prevent children from different social backgrounds from mingling. These hikes mean ticket prices rise at the same rate in every region, further penalising art lovers in lower-income areas. Our people already keep the state's art institutions alive indirectly through the high taxes they pay; demanding an exorbitant fee from them on top of that is incompatible with the principle of the social state. This decision, which tramples on the public's cultural rights, is a cruel stance against working people and is unacceptable! OUR PROPOSED SOLUTION: As the Culture Workers' Union, we demand that this exorbitant increase be withdrawn immediately! Instead, we propose that ticket prices be raised only at the rate of public-servant salary increases. In this way, both the public's right of access to art will be protected and the sustainability of our theatres will be secured. The State Theatres are the people's theatres, not the theatres of a privileged few — and they must remain so! Listen to the voice of working people and art lovers! We expect this shameful decision to be reversed at once; otherwise, we declare that all culture workers will carry our just struggle through to the end. We stand together for the people's right to art! CULTURE WORKERS' UNION