Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Prague

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Prague is the official representative body of the Slovene Government in the Czech Republic. The embassy maintains and strengthens the relations and contacts with Czech state institutions and their representatives and promotes cooperation and bilateral political, economic and cultural relations. It also provides consular assistance.

Cultural co-operation

The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Prague is active in different fields of culture. In cooperation with the competent institutions, it promotes Slovene culture and science in the Czech Republic and provides assistance in establishing links between Slovene and Czech partner institutions. The Embassy organises cultural events and represents a meeting place for all (Slovenes and Czechs alike) who promote Slovene culture.

Among the most important anniversaries in recent years have been the 100th anniversary of the birth of Czech film director and screenwriter František Čap (author of some of the best Slovene and Czech movies before WWII) in 2013.

In 2012 was the 140th anniversary of the birth of Slovene architect Jože Plečnik, the 80th anniversary of the construction of one of his most known structures – the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in Vinohrady). In this regard several important events took place during 2012, such as the opening of the renewed Plečnik's south gardens at Prague Castle, concerts, movies (also documentary), a new guide through the church in Vinohrady and a guide through the buildings of Jože Plečnik in the Czech Republic. The last guide is a book by Jiří Podrazil and Zdeněk Lukeš. In 2014 Mr. Lukeš received a decoration from the Republic of Slovenia, the Medal for Valour for his contribution in the promotion of the work of the Slovene architect Jože Plečnik.

Slovenian language education

Charles University in Prague and Masaryk University in Brno both have a chair in the Slovenian language. In 2005, a chair in the Czech language was established at the Department of Slavistics at the Faculty of Arts [Filozofska fakulteta} of the University of Ljubljana.

In 2014 we are celebrating another important anniversary – 100 years since the establishment of the Slovene Lectorate at Charles University in Prague.

Visual arts, design and architecture

In the area of architecture the relations by both nations have been marked by the role and work of the above mentioned architect Jože Plečnik, a professor of Architecture at the College of Arts and Crafts in Prague between 1911 and 1920.

Following the creation of an independent Czechoslovakia in 1918, Prague Castle became the place of residence of the President of Czechoslovakia. The first president, Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, entrusted the modification of the castle complex to Slovene architect and urban planner, Jože Plečnik (1872–1957), who then remained the Prague Castle architect until 1934. Cooperation between Masaryk and Plečnik resulted in a number of modifications to the interiors and exteriors of Prague Castle.

One of Plečnik's remarkable works in Prague is also the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord in Vinohrady, the most beautiful modern church in Prague (and according to National Geographic Magazine, one of the most beautiful churches of the 20th century in Europe). The broad, 42m high bell-tower, with its copper dome and crucifix, can be seen in the Prague panorama from as far away as Prague Castle. There is another interesting exhibition connected with Plečnik, namely the exhibition of Plečnik's Sacral Art that has been travelling the territory of the Czech Republic for some time.

In 2012 and 2013 Slovene designer Ajda Balderman Plesnik presented an interesting exhibition Jewellery, which was inspired by the work of Slovene female architects who were Plečnik's students.

Slovenes have also left an important footprint in the educational sphere of art. Professor Aleksandra Vajd has, together with her husband, Hynek Alt, been the head of the photography studio at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague since 2008. Both of them are exhibiting their own work regularly, they are also included in the overviews of the contemporary art of the Czech Republic.

It is also due to the important footprint, that Plečnik left in Prague, that the promotion of contemporary Slovenian architecture has made further steps in the Czech Republic. There were several interesting exhibitions in the last years in the Jaroslav Fragner Gallery in the centre of Prague, such as: Blow Up by Bevk Perović Arhitekti, OFIS_open_files by Ofis Arhitekti studio and exhibition Architecture and Wine in Central Europe. Jaroslav Fragner Gallery is owned by the Czech Architecture Foundation and is one of the few galleries in the Czech Republic that pays continual attention to contemporary architecture as well as to the history of architecture.

In the area of design it is worth mentioning that since 2013 the legendary chairs and table by one of the most famous Slovene designers, Niko Kralj, have been permanently installed in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague.

Slovenes in the Czech Republic

There are two Slovene associations working in the Czech Republic. One has headquarters in Brno, the other one in Beroun near Prague.

Several young people from Slovenia have studied at the eminent Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, or FAMU, one of the oldest film schools in the world, located in Prague. Several of the FAMU alumni from Slovenia got international acclaim (e.g. Janez Burger, Janja Glogovac, Olmo Omerzu). Some pupeteers studied at the Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre of the DAMU (e.g. Silvan Omerzu or Matija Solce with his PhD studies).

External links

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia Prague

Contents

Cultural co-operation

Slovenian language education

Visual arts, design and architecture

Slovenes in the Czech Republic

See also

External links

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