The topic of this paper was voluntarily chosen with the intention of becoming familiar with the business systems of public institutions in times of crisis. The numerous aims discussed in this paper are mentioned further. The first aim is to analyze business systems of the two largest cultural institutions in Zagreb, the Croatian National Theater and the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall. Next, focus is given to business processes and mechanisms within the public sector. Other questions that arise along the way are addressed. An explanation is given on how public institutions operate during crisis situations. Lastly, the issues of sustainability of the Croatian National Theater and the KDVL during the Covid pandemic 19 are explained. A survey based on a sample of the population indicates the attitudes of consumers of the two selected cultural institutions on their preferences during the Covid 19 pandemic. The survey results also present in more detail the interests of consumers of cultural institutions during the pandemic and expectations after the pandemic. The indicators of the survey are interesting because they may be the most indicative way of the direction in which the culture could go in the post-Pannonian period. The expectations of the heads of cultural institutions are that the audience will have in increased desire to consume cultural content like concerts and plays, given the long time during which they could not. The survey partly confirms this expectation but an unexpected problem could arise due to financial setbacks.