New Scandal at HNK Split: Acting Directors Awarded Large Fees for 'Giselle'

The Croatian National Theatre (HNK) in Split is embroiled in a new controversy over payments made to its acting ballet director and set designer for the production of "Giselle."

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Are these in accordance with the law, given that they are employees who regularly receive salaries at this institution?

Mirna Sporiš Miani, the acting ballet director, and Slaven Raos, the head of technical services, reportedly signed author contracts for their roles as choreographer and set designer, respectively. Miani is said to have received a net fee of 10,000 euros, while Raos received 6,000 euros. The core of the controversy lies in whether these payments are legal, given that both individuals are already employed by the HNK and receive regular salaries.

Theater officials maintain that the payments are lawful, asserting they are for independent artistic author works related to the "Giselle" production. They argue that choreography and set design constitute original intellectual creations. The theater's website notes that the new production is based on classical choreographic settings by Jules Perrot, Jean Coralli, and Marius Petipa. However, the article suggests that Raos reused old set designs from "The Devilish Girl" for "Giselle," questioning the originality and necessity of the fee.

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The Festival Council of the 72nd Split Summer Festival foresaw this cost for modifications!

Further complicating matters, the financial plan for the 72nd Split Summer Festival allocates 13,750 euros for the "Giselle" production's author team. It remains unclear if Miani and Raos will receive this additional sum. The theater administration explained that this cost was budgeted for modifications needed to stage the ballet outdoors, a common practice for festival performances. Acting intendant Božo Župić stated that the payments to Miani and Raos are legal and were necessary for the timely production of "Giselle." He also noted that he and the acting opera director are contracted for a symbolic fee of 1 euro.

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The paid fees to our employees Mirna Sporiš Miani and Slaven Raos do not contradict the law and it was necessary to react quickly to stage Giselle.