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.

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 Plečnik's important presence that he 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.

Film

In the film sphere, the cooperation between Slovenia and the Czech Republic is rich. Slovene films have been regularly represented at several international film festivals throughout the territory of the Czech Republic. Probably the most famous of them – the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival has presented several fresh Slovene films in past years.

Under the support of the Embassy of Slovenia in Prague and the Slovenian Film Centre, Slovenia also participates in the film festival The Days of European Film, held annually in Prague, Brno and some other smaller cities in the Czech Republic. Among film festivals, the one in Plzen has to be mentioned as well. The Finale Plzen is originally the Festival of Czech Films, but in its Industry and ZOOM sections, films from other countries, such as Slovenia, are also represented.

The Slovenian Film Centre plays important role in the promotion of Slovenian films in the Czech Republic. Among the activities, special film retrospectives are organized regularly. One recent retrospective took place in November 2013 in Prague and in December 2013 in Ljubljana and was devoted to František Čáp, Czech film director and screenwriter, who directed 32 films between 1939 and 1970. He was active also in Slovenia where he shot some of the most famous Slovene movies of all time, such as: Vesna (1953), Ne čakaj na maj [Don't whisper] (1957) in Naš avto [Our Auto] (1962). With the cooperation of the Czech National Film Archive, these films were part of the retrospective held in Prague and screened for the first time Czech subtitles.

Another important name in the area of film is definitely the young Slovene director and writer Olmo Omerzu. Omerzu graduated from Prague's FAMU (Film and TV School, an integral part of The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague) and in 2013 won the RWE (annual Czech Film Critics Awards) Award for Discovery of the Year for his intimate debut, Příliš mladá noc [A Night Too Young], the only Czech representative at 2012 Berlinale.

Literature

The sphere of literature is a vivid example of interaction among both cultures. There has been a variety of Slovene authors translated into Czech languages. In 2013 Peter Kuhar and Lenka Daňhelová issued an extensive anthology of contemporary Slovenian poetry S petdesetimi glasovi govorim/Padesáti hlasy hovořím/I Speak in Fifty Voices. The above mentioned authors are also the organisers of the International Poetry Festival Stranou which takes place every year in Beroun, Krakovec (Castle), and Prague (Václav Havel Library).

One of the most active publishers of translations of Slovenian authors into Czech language is Větrné mlýny from Brno. The publishing house organises “Months of Authors'” reading literary festival in July every year, travelling from Brno to Ostrava, Košice in Slovakia and Krakow in Poland and representing literature of the three countries. The guests of 2012 were Slovenian authors. Thus far the event has been the biggest presentation of Slovenian literature in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.

Numerous other important Slovenian authors have visited the Czech Republic in recent years, such as Boris Pahor, who was in Prague at the end of 2012, and Maja Haderlap in May 2013. Many of the visits are successfully organised by three lectorates of Slovenian language mentioned above.

Svět Knihy is the biggest book fair in the Czech Republic, taking place annually each May in Prague. Slovene authors have been regular guests at this important event.

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

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