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. The largest cultural and congress centre in Slovenia, the multipurpose building of Cankarjev dom is situated in the heart of Ljubljana, providing over 36,000 square metres of events space and staging over 1,200 events each year. It was opened in 1980 and was built as the last part of the Trg revolucije architectural complex conceived by renowned Slovene architect Edvard Ravnikar.

Festivals organised by Cankarjev dom include the Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration, Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe), International Documentary Film Festival, Ljubljana Jazz Festival and Transgenerations Festival of Youth Creativity.

Programmes

The centre presents music events across all musical genres in its Music Programme. It holds a jazz festival and hosts one large-scale opera or ballet co-production each year. The Golden Subscription Series brings world-class international orchestras, conductors and soloists.

An extensive programme of dance, physical theatre and puppetry is presented through the centre's Theatre & Dance Programme. New works from Slovene artists are presented along with international artists.

Cankarjev dom's Film Programme also organises a varied and high-quality film programme which takes place at Linhart Hall (616 seats) and Kosovel Hall (220 seats). It also hosts the annual International Documentary Film Festival and the Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe). The centre is also one of the main distributors of art film production throughout Slovenia.

A varied visual arts programme takes place at the Cankarjev dom Gallery, including also a Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration. Cankarjev dom Small Gallery has a long tradition of photography exhibitions.

Cankarjev dom, Cultural & Congress Centre Ljubljana, (official video) by Cankarjev dom on YouTube

International cooperation

Next to meticulously selected international concerts, performances and exhibitions as well as international festivals, every year a Festival of Remote Culture is organised. Up to now it has featured arts and culture of the following regions: Australia (2003), Western Africa (2004), Japan (2005), Argentina (2006), Turkey (2007), Egypt (2008), Mexico (2009), Armenia (2010) and South Korea (2012). Cankarjev dom is also a member of the Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM).

Venues

Cankarjev dom has two visual arts spaces: Cankarjev dom Gallery (364m²) and Cankarjev dom Small Gallery (303m²).

The performing arts venues are available for hire, yet the the centre reserves the right to decide how such events comply with their programme vision. The venues are described below:

Cankarjev Dom Gallus Hall (Galusova 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;

Cankarjev Dom 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

Cankarjev Dom 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

Cankarjev dom 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;

Other facilities

Hall TR3 (1,127m²)
Grand Reception Hall (1,127m²)
1st Foyer Hall (997m²)
2nd Foyer Hall (720m²)
Conference Rooms (60m², 74m², 75m², 90m², 92m², 106m², 117m², 120m², 229m², 280m²)
Videotheque, literary and culture club facilities

External links

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