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Latest Events

The 9th Session of the Forum's Board

The 9th regular session of the Forum of Slavic Cultures' Board took place at Brdo pri Kranju on 1 and 2 July 2010. The session was attended by the majority of the member states, as well as the two observer states - the Czech Republic and Poland. The meeting commenced in a friendly and unofficial atmosphere with the dinner at the Kokra hotel on 1 July. The next day, the Board members and their deputies, as well as the other participants of the meeting, held the session form 9 AM to 1 PM, discussing the Forum's activity. The main conclusions of the meeting, presided by the Chairperson of the Forum Ms Andreja Rihter, were that the cooperation of the member states in the current projects should be enhanced, while numerous ideas and guidelines for the development of new projects were accepted. After the session, the participants first had a gala lunch at the Brdo restaurant Zois and then went for an excursion to Bled, which was organized and guided by Janez Fajfar, the mayor of Bled, and Igor Teršar, the manager of the Republic of Slovenia’s Public Fund for Cultural Activities.

 

Slavic Embrace 2010

At the fourth international poetry festival Slavic Embrace, which took place in the Bulgarian Black Sea town Varna and was organized by the Slavic Literary and Arts Academy and its president, Ms Elka Nyagolova, the Slovenian poet, Mr Milan Jesih was awarded one of the main prizes – Silver Flying Feather. A collection of his poems will be translated into Bulgarian and published. 37 outstanding poets from eleven Slavic countries took part in the Festival, which was opened by the Bulgarian president Georgi Parvanov. The Forum of Slavic Cultures made possible the appearance of Mr Milan Jesih, the president of the Slovene Writers' Association, and intends to support this annual event.

 

As a part of Studia diplomatica Slovenica series a new collection of historical studies published under the auspices of the Forum of Slavic Cultures

The presentation of the collection of studies on Slovenian diplomats who created political history of Slavic Europe before the emergence of the independent Slovenian state, from Sigismund Herberstein at the beginning of the 16th century to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, took place on 26 May at the Jable castle. Slovenian Diplomats in the Slavic World is the fourth book in the series Studia diplomatica slovenica. The original papers are in Slovenian, but all of them are also translated into Russian and Czech, which gives the monograph a considerable international weight. In the presence of foreign diplomats and scholarly audience, the book was presented by the Minister for Slovenians Abroad Mr. Boštjan Žekš and the several chosen authors: the editor of the series Mr. Andrej Rahten, the University of Primorska professor Jonatan Vinkler, and Mr. Milan Jazbec, head of the Unit for Policy Planning and Research of the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Besides the Forum of Slavic Cultures that contributed the better part of financial means, the publishers were also the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Centre for European Perspectives, which organized the event, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. (more on this in Slovenian)
 

The concerts of Slavic ethno music in Paris and Moscow

The Forum of Slavic Cultures was a joint organizer of two gala concerts of traditional Slavic music that were held on 25 May at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris and on 27 May in Moscow as a part of the Days of Slavic Writing Tradition and Culture, with musicians from Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Poland, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine. Slovenia was represented by Ms Ljoba Jenče with two folk songs, while the president of the Forum Ms Andreja Rihter also participated in the Paris event. The events were warmly received by the audience and the critics alike. 

 
New publications in the 100 Slavic Novels collection

Two new translations into Slovenian were presented on 14 April at the Slovene Writers’ Association headquarters. These are the novels The Farewell Gift – Concerto by Vladimir Tasić, a Serbian writer and professor of mathematics at the Canadian University of New Brunswick, translated by Urban Vovk, and Fate and Commentaries of the acclaimed Serbian author Radoslav Petković, translated by Andrej Jaklić. So far seven works of Slavic novelists included in the collection were translated into Slovenian.

In the last couple of months the Belgrade Publisher Arhipelag issued four more translations into Serbian: Russian novels 2017 by Olga Slavnikova and The First Second Coming by Alexey Slapovskiy, Slovak The End of the Game by Dušan Mitana, and Slovenian Sergij’s Last Temptation by Jani Virk. The Arhipelag published altogether six novels in the Forum of Slavic Cultures’ collection. The whole series was also presented in a one-hour Radio Belgrade programme The Eye of the Balkans, which is the most-listened-to radio programme on culture in Serbia. The editor-in-chief of the Arhipelag publishing house Mr Gojko Božović and the president of the Forum Ms Milena Domjan took part in the live broadcast show.

 

The Event Identity of the Forum's Slavic Film Festival wins two more international prizes

After receiving the prominent red dot design award, presented in Essen by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen for ‘high design quality, expressing aesthetics, innovation and precision in an exemplary manner’ (more at: en.red-dot.org), the event identity of the Slavic Film Festival received two further distinguished prizes, now in Slovenia and in Taiwan.

At the 4th Biennial of Visual Communication organized by the independent Slovenian Brumen Foundation – which besides the Biennial arranges exhibitions, presentations, consultations, lectures and promotes professional cooperation with cognate institutions – the special commendation of the jury was given to the IlovarStritar Studio for Visual Communications that created the graphic design of the Festival and all the cultural events in Strasbourg that were organized by the FSC.

The IlovarStritar Studio was awarded two golden medals at the eminent Taiwan International Graphic Design Award competition, one of them in the category of event identity for the corporate design of the Slavic Film Festival. The competition is organized under the auspices of the Taiwan Department of Commerce. More than 1,750 works from 41 countries competed in four categories, two for poster design and two for corporate identity. Among the ten well-known judges were Carlo Giannasca, the design director at Frost Design, Australia, the renowned Swiss designer Martin Woodtli, and Connie Birdsall, the creative director of the Lippincott agency. (Read more; the list of winners.)

The members of the FSC Programme Council congratulated the young designers Jernej Stritar and Robert Ilovar and expressed their readiness to continue the cooperation with their studio.

 

 

The Projects of the Forum in 2009

In 2009 the Forum of Slavic Cultures supported an array of small but important international projects.

On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain, the Slovenian Scientific Institute in Vienna organized an international scholarly symposium entitled ‘1989-2009: Religion and the Turnaround in East Central and Southeast Europe’, October 7-9 2009. The symposium, which is the continuation of the dialogue established at the last year symposium on Primož Trubar, was attended by the representatives of Slavic countries (Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Ukraine).

In December 2009, in the City Museum of Ljubljana, the Society for Modern Creativity HCHO presented the project ‘Rearticulation – the Law of Capital: History of Oppression’ (which comprised of an exhibition, a publication and a consultation). The project deals with and analyzes the present and past roles of capital in (de)regulation of all social processes, developing a discursive / intervention platform that includes the art, theory, philosophy and activism with the purpose of opposing racism, exploitation, expropriation and colonialism. The project brought together participants from numerous Slavic countries (Slovakia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and Slovenia). (More at: www.reartikulacija.org.)

The last days of October in Ljubljana, the Slovenian National Theatre Museum held an international symposium ‘Experimental Theatre in the Second Half of the 20th Century’, which was convened as a part of the international project ‘TACE – Theatre Architecture in Central Europe’ that is co-financed by the European Commission. Five countries were involved in the project, four of them Slavic: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Slovenia.

Once more in 2009 FSC lent financial support to the project of the Institute of Slovenian Ethnography (the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts) ‘Academic Journal Studia mythologica Slavica’, dedicated to interdisciplinary research of life, culture and history of Slavic nations and their relations with other European and non-European nations.

The Literary Society IA supervised the 7th International Poetry Translation Workshop ‘Golden Boat’ that took place in September 7-13 in three places (Škocjan near Divača, Cankarjev dom in Ljubljana and in Tomaj). All the translated poems will be published in the Apokalipsa magazine, as well as in several non-Slovenian periodicals in Finland, the Czech Republic, in the Australian literary magazine Southerly, and also as a book collection in Croatia and in England. Among the participants there were authors-translators from Poland, Croatia and Slovenia.

In 2009 the Tourist Cultural Society Moščanci from Prekmurje carried out the project ‘Hey, Slavs, Let’s Dance Together’ that consisted of two parts: a programme in Slovenia (which took place in June) and a programme in Slovakia (in July). The folklore groups from Slovakia, Serbia and Croatia took part in it.

To mark 200 years since the birth of the Slovenian ethnographer, linguist and Pan-Slavic political activist, the Institute of Slovenian Ethnography (the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts) called an international conference ‘From Herder to Slavic Mutuality’ examining the attitudes towards the folk culture from Herder to the emergence of national cultures in the mid-19th century and the growing strength of connections among the Slavs. The researchers came from Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Slovenia, among other countries.

In 2008-09 the play Atelier enjoyed great success with critics and audiences, which was made financially possible by FSC. Therefore the Forum decided to join in co-financing the postproduction and guest performances of the Atelier project by the author Bara Kolenc. (About the performance: www.bunker.si.)

In the summer months the University of Primorska again organized a successful summer school ‘META Humanities 2009’. This time the topic was ‘Waters in the Mediterranean’. The summer school was attended by the participants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Poland and Slovenia. (Find out more.)

The Institute of Cultural History (the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts) in collaboration with the Centre for European Perspective runs a large project ‘Studies in Diplomatic History of Central and Southeast Europe’. Research is focused on the Slovenian diplomatic experience in Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe, which is mainly comprised of Slavic countries. With FSC’s support, the Cultural History Institute conducts in-depth biographical enquiry in archives and institutions of various Slavic states, particularly in
the Czech Republic, Serbia and Russia. Among other titles, the book series ‘Studia diplomatica Slovenica’ will include the following ones:
- Slovenian Diplomats in the Slavic World, Personae 5
- International Relations and the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Slovenia, Monographiae 1,
- The Big Five and Yugoslavia – The Emergence of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in the Light of Politics of the Great Powers, Monographiae 2.

 

Presentation of the Forum of Slavic Cultures in Strasbourg, October 8-17

In order to fulfil its mission – introducing Slavic Cultures to the world at large, and within the framework of the Slovenian chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Forum of Slavic Cultures presented three events in Strasbourg this Ocotber, under the auspices of the Council of Europe.

Gala Literary Evening – Slavic Bridge

The first of the three events was the Gala Literary Evening – Slavic Bridge, a reading of Slavic works in the original backed up by a projection of the French translation. The collection 100 Slavic Novels was also on display. The reading took place on October 8, 8pm, at the Salle Mozart, 1 Rue Miroir, Strasbourg. The participants were:

Croatia
Dražen Katunarić

Czech Republic
Václav Jamek

Macedonia
Risto Lazarov

Slovakia
Michal Habaj
 
Slovenia:
Marjan Strojan

The lutenist and composer Boris Šinigoj enlivened the Evening with the compositions of mainly Slavic authors: the Rennaisance composer Franciscus Bossinensis, the Trieste master Giacomo Gorzanis, the Polish Baroque genius Bartłomiej Pękiel, and his own composition.

Poets: Dražen Katunarić, Václav Jamek, Michal Habaj, Risto Lazarov, Marjan Strojan

Boris Šinigoj, musician and philosopher

Evening of Traditional Slavic Music

The second event, taking place on October 9, 8pm, at the Schweitzer Auditorium of the Palais de la Musique et des Congrès, Place de Bordeaux, Wacken, Strasbourg, was the Evening of Slavic Music. The evening commenced with the performance of two Slovenian musicians, Boris Šinigoj who played the lute and Ljoba Jenče who sang several Slovenian folk songs. There followed the folk musicians from almost all other Slavic countries who performed with the noted Russian Academic Folk Orchestra Osipov (www.ossipovorchestra.ru).

Boris Šinigoj and Ljoba Jenče commenced the concert

Osipov Academic Folk Orchestra

Official speakers: Milena Domjan, Chairperson of the Forum of Slavic Cultures (speaking); from left to right: Mihail Švydkoj, the Russian President's Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation; Ambassador Andrej Benedejčič, General Director of the Directorate for policy planning and multilateral relations (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Repubic of Slovenia); the representative of the Council of Europe.

(Link to an external photo gallery of the event.)

 

Slavic Film Festival 2009

The third event was the second annual Forum of Slavic Cultures' Slavic Film Festival that was held at the Cinéma Odyssée, 3 Rue Francs Bourgeois in Strasbourg, October 10-18. The grand opening took place on October 10, 8pm. Each film was repeated to ensure everyone has the opportunity to see it. The Festival’s first film was the Slovenian L... Like Love / A... comme Amour by the young Slovenian director Janja Glogovac. Other directors also attending their individual screenings were Kristijan Milić (Croatia) and Marija Perović (Montenegro). More at: www.slavicfilmfest.eu.

Films 2009:

BELORUSSIAN FILM / БЕЛОРУССКИЙ ФИЛЬМ / FILM BIÉLORUSSE
Small Fugitives / Маленькие беглецы / Les Petits fugitifs/
2004 / 90' / Boris Berzer, Renata Grickova

CROATIAN FILM / HRVATSKI FILM / FILM CROATE
The Living and the Dead / Živi i mrtvi / Les Vivants et les morts
2007 / 87' / Kristijan Milić

MACEDONIAN FILM / MAKEДOНCКИ ФИЛМ / FILM MACÉDONIEN
Happy New 49 / Среќна Нова ’49 /Bonne année '49
1986 /125' / Stole Popov

MONTENEGRIN FILM / ЦРНОГОРСКИ ФИЛМ / FILM MONTÉNÉGRIN
Look at Me / Gledaj me / Regarde moi
2008 / 100' / Marija Perović

РУССКИЙ ФИЛЬМ / FILM RUSSE / RUSSIAN FILM
The Tsar Ivan the Terrible / Царь, Иван Грозный / Le Tsar Ivan le Terrible
2009 / 116’ / Pavel Lungin (Lounguine)

SLOVAKIAN FILM / SLOVENSKÝ FILM / FILM SLOVAQUE 
Soul at Peace / Pokoj v duši / La Paix dans l'âme
2009 / 97’ / Vladimír Balko

SLOVAKIAN DOCUMENTARY FILM / SLOVENSKÝ DOKUMENTARNY FILM / FILM DOCUMENTAIRE SLOVAQUE
Other Worlds / Iné svety / Les Autres mondes
2006 / 74’ / Marko Skop

SLOVENIAN FILM / SLOVENSKI FILM / FILM SLOVÈNE
L... Like Love / L ... kot Ljubezen / A... comme Amour
2007 / 97' / Janja Glogovac

Slovenian director Janja Glogovac, with Milena Domjan, the Ambassador Marjetica Bole, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Slovenia to the Council of Europe, and Faruk Günaltay, manager of the Cinéma Odyssée

 

Montenegrin director Marija Perović with Ksenija Popović, author of the novel that the film was based on, and Faruk Günaltay, manager of the Cinéma Odyssée

 

New Slovenian translations in the 100 Slavic Novels

As a part of the project 100 Slavic Novels, a presentation of the two new Slovenian translations took place September 1, 2009, at the headquarters of the Slovenian Writers' Association. Two novels were published - Divja liga (The Wilde League) by the Macedonian writer Vlada Urošević, translated by Namita Subiotto, and Luč, (The Lamp) by the Slovak author Dušan Kužel, translated by Zuzanna Govednik Krasko.

Slavic film festival visual identity receives RED DOT award

Studio IlovarStritar received the prestigious RED DOT Communication Design Award for the design of the Forum of Slavic Cultures' Slavic Film Festival's 08 visual identity. more...

Constructive session in Skopje

On May 5 the Forum of Slavic Cultures held a meeting of the Programme Council and of the Board in Skopje, Macedonia. The framework has been set for the grand presentation of the FSC in Strasbourg during the Slovenian presidency over the Council of Europe. Apart from the second Slavic Film Festival accompanied by an exhibition of Slavic Film Posters, the FSC will also organise Literary Readings of Slavic authors.
The future of the project 100 Slavic Novels was also discussed, and the goal of translating and distributing the entire collection in English.
The meeting also touched upon the importance of promoting Slavic Beaux Arts and Music. The option of organising an Orchestra of the Forum of Slavic Cultures was also discussed.

Macedonia - links:

Macedonian Ministry of Culture

time.mk

vecer.mk

vreme.mk

preminportal

mia.mk

 

First of the 100 Slavic Novels in Macedonia

In February 2009 the first novel of the 100 Slavic Novels project was translated into Macedonian. It is a Slovenian novel by Feri Lajnšček entitled "Ki jo je megla prinesla" (She Who Was Brought by the Fog).

 

 

ARCHIVE

Documentaries published by FSC

FSC published two DVD documentaries in 2008. The first film - Illusions Lost, Matija Majar Ziljski by Andrej Mlakar focuses on the subject of inter-Slavic cooperation both in the past and the present.

The second film made in co-production with the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts by Naško Križnar entitled Les Slaves de l'Europe sheds light on the ethnographic exhibition Slavs of Europe which was repeated in the organisation of the FSC the Royal museum of history in Brussels and the Russian Ethnographic Museum.

 

Cat Walls of Karla Bulovec Mrak - Dance Performance "Atelier"

The Forum of Slavic Cultures helped in the realization of the dance performance entitled »Atelier« (Cat Walls of Karla Bulovec Mrak).

The author Bara Kolenc presented the premiere within the “Mesto Žensk” festival on October 10, 2008 in the Old Power Station in Ljubljana. Through intercultural dialogue the project opens up the questions of politisation and mithisation of artists. The performes hail from Slovenia, Serbia and the Czech Republic. Through the tied work of these artists as well as through the message of the project inter-Slavic relations and intercultural dialogue were furthered.

 

 

 

Studia mythologica Slavica 2008

The Forum of Slavic Cultures supported this year’s edition of the scientific journal Studia mythologica Slavica. The journal is the only one of its kind in Slovenia, examining the field of Slavic mythology which is by all means in need of profound research.

 

Symposium “Reformation in Central Europe”

The Forum of Slavic Cultures co-financed the realization of the international symposium: “Reformation in Central Europe” organised by the Slovenian Scientific Institute in Vienna. The symposium deals with countries tied to Protestantism at the same time as Slovenia: Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and the two non-Slavic countries that played an important role in this process: Hungary and Austria.

location and time: Vienna , October 15 – 17, 2008.

THE FORUM OF SLAVIC CULTURES IN THE YEAR OF THE SLOVENIAN EU PRESIDENCY

Slovenia is the first Slavic country to preside over the EU, and at the same time the location of th seat of the Board of the Forum of Slavic Cultures. This is why, in the spirit of the Slovenian presidency over the EU, the FSC has planned a series of events to take place specifically in Brusselles, the administrative centre of the European Union.

 

Forum of Slavic Cultures' Slavic Film Festival

Between the 30 May and the 4 June 2008, the Forum of Slavic Cultures organized The Forum of Slavic Cultures' Slavic Film Festival in the Maison de la radio Flagey in Brusselles. This small film festival is intended to become an annual event. The internet site dedicated separately to this film festival is at: http://slavicfilmfest.eu.

films:

30.5. 2008
7:30 pm,Izgubljene iluzije - Matija Majar Ziljski (Illusions Lost - Matija Majar Ziljski), Boris Andrej Mlakar, Slovenia
Kratki stiki (Short Circuits), Janez Lapajne, Slovenia

31.5. 2008 
1pm, Ostrov (The Island), Pavel Lounguine, Russia
3pm, Pred dozhdot (Before the rain), Milčo Mančevski, Macedonia

1.6. 2008 
1pm, Sedam i po (Seven and a half), Miroslav Momèiloviæ, Serbia
3pm, Obecná škola (The Elementary School), Jan Svěrák, Czech

2.6. 2008
7pm, Pazachyt na myrtvite (Warden of the Dead), Ilian Simeonov, Bulgaria
9pm, Put lubenica (The Melon Route), Branko Schmidt, Croatia

3.6. 2008
7pm, Pogled sa Ajfelovog tornja (A View From the Eiffel Tower), Nikola Vukčević, Montenegro

9pm, Tajnata kniga (The Secret Book), Vlado Cvetanovski,  Macedonia

4.6. 2008
1pm, O dve slabiky pozadu (Two Syllables Behind), Katarína Šulajová, Slovakia
3pm, kratki (pred)film Bezi zeko bezi (Run Rabbit Run), Pavle Vučkovič, Serbia
--- Delo osvobaja (Labour Equals Freedom), Damjan Kozole, Slovenia

 

Exhibition Slavs of Europe

In cooperation with the Slovene Ethnographic Museum, the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the Russian Ethnographic Museum the Forum of Slavic Cultures organised an exhibition of Slavic national attire entitled "The Slavs of Europe". The exhibition is based on an earlier (19th century) exhibition and was updated to mirror the present situation where the Slavic nations each hold their own country while continuing the multicultural dialogue, aware of common cultural ties and separate political entities. The grand opening was on June 5 at the Musee royal d'art et d'histoire which is part of the Musee de Cinqantenaire in Brussels.

Slovenian theatre posters exhibited at the EU parliament

Under the patronage of Ms Ljudmila Novak, a Slovenian member of the EU parliament and the patronage of the Slovenian office of the FSC an exhibiton of Slovenian theatre posters was organised in the EU parliament by the Slovenian Museum of Theatre and Cinema. The opening night on the 10th of June was a great success with many visitors from around the world.

The Fabula - Stories Festival

The Fabula Stories Festival is a literary festival dedicated to international literature organised by Beletrina and aided by the Forum of Slavic Cultures. This year the emphasis was on Macedonian literature. Among other renowned guests were the noted Macedonian authors: Venko Andonovski, Ermis Lafazanovski and Aleksander Prokopiev. The central event this year, in relation to the FSC, is the Publication of the first three books of the FSC (Forum’s) project – 100 Slavic Novels.

 

100 Slavic Novels

The first three novels of the FSC 100 Slavic Novels collection have been published: the Russian - Aleksej Ivanov: The Geographer Drank Away the Globe, translated by Lijana Dejak; Aleksej Slapovski: The First second Coming, translated by Drago Bajt; and the Macedonian Venko Andonovski: Alphabet for the disobedient translated by Namita Subiotto. Acting as publisher was the Slovenian Writers' Association. Alphabet for the disobedient was presented already at the opening of the Fabula- stories festival, on February 4 at the Club of Cankarjev dom. The entire collection was presented on February 5 at a press conference. The collection, its mission, and its history was related to the general press by the representatives of the Slovenian Writers' Association and the Forum of Slavic Cultures. The next translations of the 100 Slavic Novels are planned in Macedonia, Slovakia, Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

International Symposium on Languages and Identity

In June, 2008 a three day symposium at the occasion of the 5th centennial of the birth of Primoz Trubar the author od the first book in Slovene and an intellectual who worked throughout Europe. The symposium is being organised by the Scientific Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts with the cooperation of the Forum of Slavic Cultures.

 

The Forum on Diversity

The Forum of Slavic Cultures is supporting the project »The Forum on Diversity«, which is headed by the Celje Education Centre. The project falls within the »Youth Exchange« project group.
The project's aim is to better the intercultural dialogue among the three participating Slavic nations in terms of professional discourse in the field of engineering and engineering education. The focus of the project is on the open debate between the young students of engineering from Novi Sad, Skopje and of course Celje. The project concludes with the participation at the engineering competition held in Novi Sad in the spring of 2008.

 

FSC cooperated in this year’s Sarajevo Zima (Winter) Festival. Which began in 1984, and has been held without interruption every year since inception, a symbol of freedom of creativity and familiarization with different world cultures and civilizations. Every yar the festival overflows Sarajevo with cultural creativity. The festival lasts for a period of two months with at least one cultural event held every day. This year the festival begins in February.

 

 

The Slavic Bridge Festival 2008

Slovenia is a Slavic state which is also an EU member and presently even presiding. This lends an opportunity to work as a cultural bridge between the Slavic countries inside and outside the EU. To this end the Forum of Slavic Cultures, Cankarjev Dom and K.U.D. Apokalipsa is hosting the central literary event – a festival dedicated to Slavic cultures presenting notable Slavic literati both from within and without the EU. The Slavic Bridge Festival will help to acquaint the youth with not merely the gems which have been enriching the European cultural treasury for centuries, but especially with the newest additions to it.

Programme from Feb 28 to May 15:

28. februar
Mihajlo Pantič (Srbija)
Gordana Čirjanić (Srbija)
 
6. marec
Ognjen Spahić (Črna gora)
Fadila Nura Haver (Bosna in Hercegovina)
 
17. marec
Vladimir Sorokin (Rusija) - je odpadel iz osebnih razlogov
 
20. marec
Kica Kolbe (Makedonija)
Vlada Urošević (Makedonija)

27. marec
Vladimir Zarev (Bolgarija)
Volha Ipatava (Belorusija)

3. april
Ewa Schilling (Poljska)

10. april
Etela Farkaševa (Slovaška)
Dušan Dušek (Slovaška)

17. april
Pavel Brycz (Češka)
Radka Denemarkova (Češka)

24. april
Daša Drndić (Hrvaška)
Milorad Stojević (Hrvaška)

8. maj
Jurij Koch (Lužice)
Svitlana Pyrkalo (Ukr)

15. maj
Lidija Sičjova (Rus)

Slavic Bridge festival - linking Russia and Slovenia

May 15, 2008 saw the last of the talks on international Slavic cultural cooperation at the FSC offices at the Jablje castle. The Russian author Lidiy Sichyova was joined by Sergey Ivanov, a representative of the Embassy of the Russisan Federation in Ljubljana.

The 'Slavic Bridge' festival of Slavic cultures at Cankarjev dom (Ljubljana) concluded with the evening of Russian literature presenting Lidiya Sichyova, the final guest of the festival. The author concluded the festival with overwhelming self confidence.

Ukranian and Lusatian Sorb Writers at the Slavic Bridge festival

May 8, 2008 - As customary the two authors (Svitlana Pyrkalo - Ukraine, Jurij Koch - Lusatia) appearing at the Slavic Bridge Festival thursday evening event visited the FSC headquarters at the Jablje castle, adding their individual perspectives on past, present and future cooperation of their nations within the FSC.

(a link an article in Osservatorio Balcani online journal on the 'Slavic Bridge Festival')

Slavic Bridge to the neighbouring Croatia

On Thursday, April 24, 2008 the guest at the Slavic Bridge festival was Milorad Stojević, a Croatian author. Madam Drndić had unfortunately had to cancel due to health reasons. Mr Drndić also attended the informal talks on Slovenian-Croatian cultural cooperation and ties.

(Iztok Osojnik- the festival selector, Milena Domjan - the president of the FSC, Milorad Stojević - Croatian author)

Slavic Bridge as far as the Czech republic

On Thursday April 17 2008, the Slavic Bridge festival presented Radka Denemarkova and Pavel Brycz from the Czech Republic. Beforehand, in the early afternoon they both attended informal talks at the FSC headquarters at Jablje castle. They expressed their interest in the work of the FSC and the desire to firm the bridge of cultural exchange between the Czech republik and the rest of the Slavic world. Special emphasis of the talks was on dramatics, animated film and partly also great names like Jože Plečnik, Josef Ressel and Alfons Mucha.

Slovakia to Slovenia - Slavic Bridge part VI

On Thursday April 10, 2008 Cankarjev dom hosted the sixth evening of the 'Slavic bridge' festival preapred in cooperation with the FSC and the selector Iztok Osojnik. The appearance of Etela Farkaševa in Dušan Dušek, Slovakian writers, was well received. The day after both attended informal strategic talks at the headquarters of the Board ofthe FSC at Jablje castle.

Bridge to Poland - Ewa Schilling

On April 4, 2008, the FSC office at the Jablje castle hosted informal talks with the Polish author known as Ewa Schilling (pseudonim). She came to Slovenia to participate in the FSC/Cankarjev dom project 'Slavic Bridge'.

The good reception and a substantial number of visitors at the Slavic Bridge festival in spite of the fact that this time there was only one guest author instead of two attest to the fact that the Slovenian people have a continuing interest in Slavic cultures.(photo: J. Žunko)

Bridge linking countries from Bulgaria to Belarus

March 28, 2008 - the fourth evening of the festival of Slavic cultures 'Slavic Bridge' in Cankarjev dom was a great success. The numerous visitors had a chance to listen to excerpts from the works of the Bulgarian writer Vladimir Zarev and Volha Ipatava from Belarus followed by a debate on the state of cultural life in both countries. Particularly interesting was the discussion on the topic of the clash between politics and culture in Belarus today. This was also one of the topics on the informal gathering at the FSC office in Jablje Castle earlier the same day. The FSC representatives, the two literates and the selector for the 'Slavic Bridge' festival Iztok Osojnik agreed that in addition to the official channels a communication directly with the cultural workers of both countries would yield the best results.

Slavic Bridge - Macedonia

On March 20, 2008 the FSC hosted the third talks under the heading of the Slavic Bridge (between cultures). This time a well known Macedonian writer and professor Kica Kolbe (currently residing in Germany) and Vlado Urošević, a Macedonian writer and professor, shared their opinions on Macedonia's role in bringing Slavic cultures closer together. The meeting was also attended by Namita Subiotto of the department of Macedonian studies of the faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana, who expressed her desire to deepen the collaboration between the FSC and the Faculty of Arts. Also present as a special guest of the FSC was Ms Bogatinova - Kostovska, a representative of the Macedonian Embassy in Ljubljana. The talks were held in both Macedonian and Slovenian language and no translating was neccessary.

In the evening the two writers read excerpts from their work and introduced certain aspects of Macedonian modern literature. A Slovenian translation of Kica Kolbe's book "Snow in Casablanca" is planned to be published in the summer of 2008 by the Tuma publishing house.

The first two stones of the "Slavic Bridge" lain (Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzegovina)

The second evening of Slavic culture has taken place in Cankarjev dom on thursday March 6, 2008. The two guests: Ognjen Spahić (Montenegro) and Fadila Nura Haver (Bosnia and Herzegovina) gave excellent strating points for a profound and indepthe debate.

The next event of the "Slavic Bridge" project is planned for March 20. The guests of the evening will be the noted Macedonian writers Kica Kolbe and Vlada Urošević. All interested are welcome to attend. This time the talks at Jablje castle - on the nature of Slavic intercultural dialogue - will take place in the afternoon preceding the event at Cankarjev dom.

Serbian participants in the "Slavic bridge" at Jable

On February 29, 2008 the Seat of the Board of the FSC hosted the two guest lecturers who appeared the evening before at the Slavic Bridge festival of Slavic cultures. The topic of the discussion was the place of Serbian culture among Slavic cultures.

The initial stones of the Slavic bridge

The project lead by the Forum of slavic Cultures and Cankarjev Dom and coordinated by Iztok Osojnik is underway. On Thursday, February 28, 2008, the Club of cankarjev Dom hosted Mihajlo Pantić and Gordana Čirjanić, accomplished Serbian literates.

 

FSC helped in the realisation of the 2nd Congress of the Slavic Linguistic Society organised by Boštian Dvořák and Elena Gorishneva within the Zentrum für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft Typologie und Universalienforschung. There were over 120 participating academics from around the globe and over 100 lectures took place. more...

The Forum of Slavic Cultures is financially aiding in the making of "Illusions lost"- a documentary on the life of Matija Majar Ziljski, an ethnologist, national revivalist and linguist. He dedicated his life to achieving Slavic cultural unity; however, after 1848, when his fellow Slovenes still hadn’t been able to reach a common political entity, he moved to the ‘Slavic’ Prague, where he passed away. The documentary follows in his footsteps on his life’s journey through several Slavic countries. By supporting this film, the Forum of Slavic Cultures is endeavouring to contribute to the late Ziljski’s efforts towards greater Slavic cultural unity.  more...

Studia mythological Slavica publishes detailed analyses of Slavic epic and narrative traditions, and comparative studies on the mythology and religious notions of older Slavic, Eurasian and other civilizations. The character of the publication is both international and interdisciplinary, covering ethnology, philology, history, archaeology, religious studies, history of literature and philosophy. First published in 1998, the journal is published annually. The Forum of Slavic Cultures has aided the publishing of the 2007 edition. more...

Between August 29 and September 1 2007 International Festival of Choir Music ORFEST took place for the first time. The cultural pulse of Prekmurje was livened by choir ensembles from four Slavic countries. more...

August 28 and 29, 2007 - the Forum of Slavic Cultures aided the realisation of three concerts of the Russian youth choir Vesna (spring) from Moscow. The choir was lead by Alexander Ponomariov and accompanied by the pianist Ivan Velichek, and the concerts were ogrhanised by JSKD (Public Fund of the Republic of Slovenia for Cultural Activities). The concerts took place: August 28, 2007 at 20.30, Gorica, Kulturni center Lojze Bratuž; August 29 10.30 - 11.00, Postojna, in front of the Postojna Cave; August 29 at 19.00 Ljubljana, Franciscan cathedral.The choir is made up of children from ages 11 to 15 schooled in the Choir School in Moscow. Apart from winning first prize several times on many prestigious stages of the world, Vesna won 1st place at the European Grand Prix for Choral Singing in 2000. more...

Ljutomer August 6 – 11, 2007 – from 2005 until today the Grossmann Film Festival has shown close to 25 feature film and over a 100 short film premieres from as many as 12 countries. The Festival is also an opportunity for young film makers and amateur productions. The Festival and the accompanying musical events and wine presentations is fast becoming one of the central and certainly the most renowned events in Prlekija – Slovenia. The Forum of Slavic Cultures has supported the festival which has included many authors from several Slavic countries of the world. more...

Between July 23 and August 4, 2007, when summer weather dictates vacation time, using the long-since-modern technology and internet communication, the correspondence session of the 5th meeting of the Board of the Forum of Slavic Cultures was carried out. Confirmed were: the Financial plan of the FSC, the minutes of the 3rd Regular Meeting of the FSC Programme Council and, last but not least, the new Business manager of the Board who is now dutifully writing this text. Presented and confirmed were also the new members of the Programme Council, and the new members of the Board of the FSC.

On 28 and 29 July, 2007 The Forum of Slavic Cultures has financially aided the project: Monografija o srečanjih pri Ruski kapelici na Vršiču (1992-2006).  The focus of the book are the meetings that took place at a Russian orthodox chapel in the last 15 years and their impact on both the relationship between church and laity and the relationship between the Orthodox and the Catholic Church. more...

27.7. 2007 Slovakia officially acceeded to the Forum of Slavic Cultures. Alexander Halvonik was appointed as the new member of the Programme Council and Ing. arch. Martin Sarvaš was nominated as the new member of the Board of the Forum of Slavic Cultures.

7.6.2007 - Delo newspaper printed an article on the recent activities of the Forum of Slavic cultures. The article was aptly entitled: Not only did it (Forum of Slavic Cultures) survive, it is striding forward.

1.6. 2007 the 3rd regular session of the Program Council of the Forum of Slavic Cultures took place in Moscow. Preceeding the Program Council Session was a constitutive session where the Macedonian member of the Programme Council Mr. Senko Velinov was named the new president of the Programme Council of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, the Croatian member dr. Sanja Nikčević was named deputy president and the Slovenian member Dr Andrej Rozman was named the Forum of Slavic Culture's program council secretary. The guidelines for the projects of the rest of the year were set. The Forum of Slavic Cultures will proceed with smaller, realizable projects. Strategic ideas were also presented as were the immediate projects that will be taking place in 2007.

on May 31 -in the scope of the Days of Slavic Literacy and Culture a traditional conference – International Symposium “Slavic World in the Third Millennium” was organised in Moscow by the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Slavic Studies. Russian scientists researching various Slavic countries participated. Experts from the countries in question were be invited as well. The Forum of Slavic Cultures was represented by dr. Andrej Rozman, a member of the Programme Council of the Forum of Slavic Cultures, with a research paper entitled “What Options does the Third Millennium offer to the Slavic World?”

21 May – 25 May, 2007Ms Milena Domjan, chairperson of the Board of the FSC and mr Jože Poličar, member of the Honorary committee responded to the personal invitation from Alexander Sergejevič Sokolov, the Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, and took part in the celebration of the Days of Slavic Literacy in the city of Kolomna 150 Km east of Moscow. Annual celebration accompanying the day of St Cyril and St Methodius has become traditional and receives the attention of top Russian state and Church officials. By including representatives of other Slavic nations the Russian Federation wishes to stress Slavic unity and a common tradition reaching back  to the 9th century – the time of St Cyril and St Methodius.

 

 

 

 

 

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