Dear Friends,
We are delighted and relieved to inform you that the fate of the Lukács Archive has finally taken a turn for the better.
In the recent months, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences had been preparing for the final eviction of the Lukács Archive and Library from Lukács’s former flat at 2 Belgrád rakpart, as the lease between the Academy and the flat’s owner, the local government of Budapest’s 5th district, had expired and there were no plans to renew it. In this situation, the Municipality of Budapest Capital City intervened and took over the lease of the property.
This decision not only guarantees the preservation of the Lukács Archive, but also further confirms that the capital is an island of freedom in Orbán’s Hungary. In the recent years, the capital has consistently supported critical thinking and academic autonomy. For this reason, the heirs of Ágnes Heller, followed by the descendants of other philosophers associated with Lukács, and the Budapest School, have entrusted their documentary heritage to the Budapest City Archives (BFL). Following their example, the Lukács Archive International Foundation (LAIF) also asked the capital to offer refuge to the Lukács Archive.
The BFL announced the good news as follows:
The goal of the Municipality of Budapest is to make the flat of the internationally renowned Hungarian philosopher György Lukács at 2 Belgrád rakpart accessible to visitors again and, after several years, to reopen its doors to the public interested in science and culture.
The property previously housed the Lukács Archive and Library, which was part of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, but it has been closed to visitors since 2018 and has not functioned as a research institute for several years. In September 2025, the Budapest City Archives took over the lease for the flat at the initiative of the city administration. Among the significant scholarly legacies, the City Archive preserves the documentary legacy of several members of the “Budapest School”, including Ágnes Heller, György Márkus, and Mihály Vajda. Within the framework of the “Budapest School Project”, the institution has organised numerous national and international events related to the Budapest School and Lukács’s students in the recent years, and has also launched a book series entitled “Budapest School Archive”. After the renovation, György Lukács’s private library will be made available to researchers, and the philosopher’s former study will be opened to visitors as a memorial room. As part of the Budapest School Project, the flat is planned to become a centre for academic research on Lukács and the Budapest School, as well as a community space. It will host archival education activities, conferences, seminars, discussions, and exhibitions on philosophy, art, and history.
The BFL look forward to cooperating with LAIF in the future, and we are also delighted to offer our professional support to the City Archives to revive the Lukács Archive.
This outcome is a shared success for all of us. We are grateful to all those who have protested against the closure of the Lukács Archive in recent years, both in Hungary and worldwide, and who have campaigned to preserve Lukács’s legacy.
Please continue to support the work of LAIF and follow the rebirth of the Lukács Archive.
Options for support are by PayPal or bank transfer:
Lukács Archívum Nemzetközi Alapítvány
IBAN: HU90 1070 0691 6987 0820 5110 0005
SWIFT Code: CIBHHUHB
Bank: CIB Bank
Budapest, 5 November 2025
The Board of Trustees of the LAIF