Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre

Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre with a monument to Ivan Cankar (by Slavko Tihec) on the main platform, 2013. The centre was designed by Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar in 1977, and constructed in the early 1980s.

Cankarjev dom (CD), situated in the heart of Ljubljana, is the country's largest cultural and congress centre, and one of the largest in the Balkan and SEE region. It provides around 36,000 square metres of space, and holds over 1,200 events annually. CD opened in 1980 and was the last part of the Revolution Square (Trg revolucije) complex to be completed. Like the rest of the complex, it was designed by renowned Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar, who had been a student of Jože Plečnik and, briefly, Le Corbusier in the late 1930s.

In common with most state-funded national cultural centres elsewhere in the world, CD provides a space for almost all major art forms, with a particular emphasis on music and the performing arts. It is also Slovenia's premier conference and congress centre.

History

The proposal for a national cultural centre was first put forward in 1975 when preparations were being made to mark the centenary of the birth of writer Ivan Cankar (1876–1918), after whom it would be named. Despite considerable bureaucratic and financial obstacles, ground was broken on the project in January 1978, with the site occupying land that had formerly been owned by the Ursuline Monastery in Ljubljana and nationalised in 1960. In his design, which was nevertheless striking, Ravnikar was keen to avoid overwhelming the proportions of the rest of the square. This led to a sizeable portion of the auditoriums being placed underground.

CD's first events were held in the spring of 1980 (in Linhart Hall), although it was not until 1982 that the site became fully operational. The famous monument to Cankar by sculptor Slavko Tihec, which stands adjacent to one of the main entrances, was unveiled in 1982.

Sprehod po Cankarjevem domu by Cankarjev dom on YouTube

Over the years, CD has established itself as a major tour stop for world-class ensemble and individual performers in almost all branches of music and the performing arts, with younger experimental artists also gaining an ever-stronger foothold. It has also become a prolific organiser or host, alone and in collaboration, of a wide variety of festivals; these include the Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe), Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Bi Flamenko International Flamenco Festival, the Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration and the Slovenian Book Fair.

Organisation and funding

CD is constituted as a public institute (javni zavod) providing a public service in the area of arts and culture; as such, its main programme is funded by the state via the Ministry of Culture, as well as, at various times, by the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme, foreign embassies based in Ljubljana, the French Institute in Slovenia and the Goethe-Institut Ljubljana, among others.

The centre is also free to pursue market-funded activities in the form of fairs, conferences, conventions and certain international projects, as long as they accord with its general policies, and to raise funds through ticket sales, merchandise, donations and sponsorship. In 2018 these non-budget funds accounted for just under 47% of total income.

CD is led by a director-general, of which there have been only three since 1980: Miran Kert (1980–1982), Mitja Rotovnik (1982–2014) and Uršula Cetinski (2014–). Programming takes places across six departments, each with its own director: classical music, opera and ballet (Ingrid Gortan), theatre and contemporary dance (Andrej Jaklič), jazz and world music (Bogdan Benigar), exhibitions (Nina Pirnat-Spahić), film (Simon Popek) and cultural education/humanities (Barbara Rogelj). The director-general is supported in their work by the institute's council (svet zavoda) and expert council (strokovni svet). The latter ensures that CD operates in accordance with all relevant legislation.

Programmes

Music

CD's Music Programme spans a wide variety of genres and styles, with a particular emphasis on classical music, jazz and world music. It has been the main organiser of Ljubljana Jazz Festival since 1982 (although the festival's roots go back much further, to 1960), and stages at least one large-scale opera or ballet co-production each year. There is also an ever-increasing number of single (non-festival) music events being staged in the fields of world and experimental music. A range of season tickets are available for various strands of CD's music programming, with the prestigious Gold Subscription Series (Zlata abonma) delivering world-class international orchestras, conductors and soloists to Ljubljana.

Theatre and dance

An extensive, year-round Theatre and Dance Programme is another major feature of CD operations, with a particular focus on new works in domestic and international dance, physical theatre and puppetry. CD is also a member of the Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM).

Film

With Ljubljana well-served elsewhere by arthouse and world cinema, the Film Programme is free to specialise in festival-based offerings, which are mostly staged in Linhart Hall and the smaller Kosovel Hall. It organises and co-hosts Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe) and Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival (in November and March, respectively) and, since 2007, has co-hosted the Mountain Film Festival, which takes place in February. CD is also one of the main distributors of art film production throughout Slovenia, a member of the Europa Cinemas network and a founder member of the Slovenian Art Cinema Association.

Exhibitions

Major exhibitions are held in the Cankarjev dom Gallery, as is the Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration, while the Small Gallery has a long tradition of staging photography exhibitions. Exhibitions are also held in the Europlakat Gallery, which is located in the First Foyer, one of the centre's main fair and reception spaces.

Literature

Literary events are held year-round, with the Slovenian Book Fair, which takes place in November, being one of the most important dates in the centre's calendar. CD also co-produces and provides some of the venues for the annual Stories Today storytelling festival.

The Lili Novy Glass Hall, previously the Lili Novy Club, holds smaller-scale talks, readings and book launches. It is named after one of Slovenia's most distinguished 20th century poets, and was renovated in 2019.

Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre Ljubljana by Cankarjev dom on YouTube

Venues

Exhibitions

Cankarjev dom has two main visual arts and exhibition spaces: Cankarjev dom Gallery (364m²) and the Small Gallery (303m²). Exhibition space is also available in the Europlakat Gallery, situated in the First Foyer (1,576m²).

Performing arts

The performing arts venues are available for hire, although the centre reserves the right to decide whether a proposal complies with its programme vision.

Gallus Hall (Gallusova dvorana)

type of venue: Large multipurpose theatre;
main use: symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet, drama, dance, jazz, entertainment, recitals, multimedia events, conventions;
seating: 1,403 seats total, seating capacity may be increased by 150 when forestage lifts are set at auditorium floor height;
proscenium opening: 20m W x 12.5m H;
performing area: 20m W x 18m D x 26m H to grid, flat stage floor incorporates 18m W x 6m D lift with 12m drop for under-stage scenery preparation, dance floor available;
forestage: three forestage lifts with max 0.9m drop;
wing spaces: 6m W x 18m D SR, 6m W x 18m D SL;
side stage: 13.5m W x 18m D SL;
suspension equipment: 24 electric lines, max load 500kg each, 24 counterweight lines, max load 500kg each, plus electric lines for 6 lighting bars, fire wall and house curtain, 12 point hoists, max load 150kg each;
soft hangings: gold house curtain, black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama, panorama;
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from eight languages;
audio-visual equipment including slide and video projections, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission; Karl Schuke 87-stop pipe organ, 2 Steinway D concert grand pianos, 2 Genies;
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;

Linhart Hall (Linhartova dvorana)

type of venue: Small multipurpose theatre
main use: dance, film, entertainment, multimedia events, poetry readings, conventions, lectures
seating: 616 seats total, comprising 400 stalls, 116 balcony
proscenium opening: variable, 8m-13m W x 6m H;
performing area: 13m W x 15m D x 7.5m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available
orchestra pit: 13m W x 3m D area in front of proscenium for musicians
wing spaces: 3.2m W SL only
suspension equipment: 32 counterweight lines, max load 300kg each
soft hangings: maroon house curtain, black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from six languages, audio-visual equipment including slide, 35mm film and video projectors, cinema screen, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total

Kosovel Hall (Kosovelova dvorana)

type of venue: Studio theatre
main use: experimental theatre, film, video, congress events
seating: 250 seats total on bleacher unit retractable from rear wall
performing area: flexible within total area 13m W x 22m D x 6m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting
soft hangings: black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from four languages, 16mm and 35mm film and video projectors, slide projectors, cinema screen, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total

Štih Hall (Štihova dvorana)

type of venue: theatre-in-the-round
main use: concerts, theatre, literary events, congress events
seating: 250 seats total
performing area: stage area 5.4m diameter (116m), flat stage floor, dance floor available
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of lighting and sound equipment
soft hangings: none
stage equipment: audio-visual equipment including slide and video projections, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission
back stage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total

Duša Počkaj Hall (Dvorana Duše Počkajeve)

type of venue: black box theatre
main use: experimental theatre, dance, congress events
seating: 60 seats total on bleacher unit retractable from rear wall
performing area: flexible within total area 9m W x 11m D x 5.25m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting
soft hangings: black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama
back stage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total

CD Club (Klub Cankarjeva doma)

Other facilities

Hall TR3 (1,127m²)
Grand Reception Hall (1,127m²)
First Foyer (997m²)
Second Foyer (720m²)
Lili Novy Glass Hall (90m²)
Conference rooms (60m², 74m², 75m², 90m², 92m², 106m², 117m², 120m², 229m², 280m²)
Videotheque, literary and culture club facilities

External links

CD website
Online presentation of CD facilities
Annual reports, organisational details, legislation (in Slovenian)
CD programme, 2020/21 (in Slovenian)
CD programme, 2020/21 (in Slovenian)
Ravnikar's Republic Square, Architectuul
Preview of CD's 40th season, Dnevnik, September 2019 (in Slovenian)
Interview with DG Uršula Cetinski upon her appointment, MMC, March 2015

Gallery

Festival of Slovenian Jazz Creativity Snowdrops and Primroses in Cankarjev dom, 2020.

The opening of the 25th Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival, Ljubljana 2023.

6th Festival of Slovenian Jazz Creativity Snowdrops and Primroses in Cankarjev dom, 2020.

eVenti Verticali performing Wanted on the Cankarjev dom facade. Ana Desetnica International Street Theatre Festival, 2013

eVenti Verticali performing "Wanted" on the Cankarjev dom facade as part of Ana Desetnica International Street Theatre Festival, 2013

The Linhart hall at Cankarjev dom, 2018.

Peter Bratuša at Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, 2018.

Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre with a monument to Ivan Cankar (by Slavko Tihec) on the main platform, 2013. The centre was designed by Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar in 1977, and constructed in the early 1980s.

A monument to Ivan Cankar by Slavko Tihec on the main platform in front of the Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, 2013

Photonic Wall, Katja Goljat and Andrej Firm's exhibition at Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, 2018.

Secret Chiefs performing at CD Club, located high up on the 6th floor of Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre, 2018.

Secret Chiefs at CD Club, 2018.

Master Janez, the Gutenberg-style print-maker from the Bled Castle, offering his services at the Cultural Bazaar in Cankarjev dom, 2014

The 25th Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival, Ljubljana 2023.

Wimme Saari (Finland) performing at Cankarjev dom during Druga godba Festival in Ljubljana, 2010

Rdeča kapica: da te bolje vidim [Little Red Riding Hood: I see that this is better] performed at Cankarjev dom, choreographed by Matej Kejžar, produced by Emanat Institute 2007