Dávka - Your daily dose of Slovak news
Last refreshed: 08/06/2026 21:38 · 54 articles added
Stories are refreshed at 05:30, 10:30, 15:30, and 21:30 UTC.

Culture

View all1388 stories
Culture

Prešov to Fund Historic City Wall Repairs After Ministry Rejects Project

The city of Prešov will proceed with repairs to its historic fortification walls using municipal funds after the Slovak Ministry of Culture declined to support the project. The restoration work on the protected monument is estimated to cost 400,000 euros. Prešov, located in eastern Slovakia, is among the country's oldest cities and contains significant medieval architecture, including remnants of its original defensive walls that date back several centuries. The city's decision to self-fund the project demonstrates local commitment to preserving cultural heritage despite the lack of state financial backing.

|
Culture

National Cultural Monument Shows Two Faces: County Half Crumbling While Private Section Houses Luxury Apartments

A national cultural monument in Slovakia presents a stark contrast between its two halves, with the county-owned portion deteriorating while the privately-owned section has been converted into luxury apartments. The building was nationalized during the 1950s under the communist regime, which divided ownership and led to the current disparity in maintenance and use. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in preserving Slovakia's cultural heritage, particularly when ownership is split between public and private entities with different resources and priorities for building maintenance.

|
Culture

Historic Monument Shows Stark Divide Between Public Decay and Private Luxury

A nationally protected cultural monument in Slovakia presents a tale of two halves, with the publicly-owned portion falling into disrepair while the privately-owned section houses luxury apartments. The building was nationalized during the 1950s under the communist regime, creating a split ownership structure that persists today. The contrast highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining Slovakia's cultural heritage, where state-owned portions of historic buildings often lack adequate funding for preservation while private sections receive investment for commercial use.

|
Culture

Cultural Leader Writes Open Letter Criticizing Policies Affecting Young People's Future

A prominent Slovak cultural figure has published an open letter addressed to the country's cultural establishment, expressing inability to find logical explanation for policies that allegedly threaten young people's future prospects. The letter, titled "I Cannot Find a Logical Explanation for Why You Want to Destroy Young People's Future," appears to challenge current cultural or educational policies affecting Slovakia's youth. The publication of the open letter suggests growing concern among cultural leaders about government decisions impacting the next generation, though the specific policies being criticized were not detailed in the available information.

|
Culture

Slovak Environmental Journalism Faces Extinction Risk

Environmental journalism in Slovakia is at risk of disappearing, according to concerns raised about the decline of specialized reporting on ecological issues. The warning highlights broader challenges facing environmental coverage in the country, where dedicated journalists focusing on climate change, conservation, and ecological matters are becoming increasingly rare. This decline comes at a time when environmental issues require greater public attention and expert reporting to inform citizens about critical ecological developments affecting Slovakia and the region.

|
Culture

Banksy's Anonymity Gives His Art Its Power, Commentary Suggests

The anonymous identity of renowned street artist Banksy provides, or has provided, significant strength to his artistic work, according to commentary in Slovak media. The analysis suggests that Banksy's individual artworks are not exceptional on their own merits, implying that the mystery surrounding the artist's identity has become a crucial element in the perception and impact of his creative output.

|
Culture

Indian Film Festival in Bratislava to Focus on Women in Cinema

The second Indian Film Festival in Bratislava will showcase five films celebrating women's creativity and perspectives in cinema from March 25-27, 2026. The festival, which aims to introduce Slovak audiences to the rich diversity of Indian cinematography, will screen films at Kino Lumière and Kino Mladosť theaters. This year's theme, "Women in Film," highlights the strength and unique worldview of women in Indian cinema, continuing the festival's mission to present the breadth of Indian filmmaking to local audiences.

|
Culture

Reality TV Star Lucia Orviská Says She Doesn't Regret Show Participation Despite Disappointment with Young Suitors

Lucia Orviská, a participant in the Slovak reality dating show "Mama, ožeň ma" (Mom, Marry Me Off), says she does not regret taking part in the program despite experiencing disappointment with her younger suitors. The reality TV personality, who became known as "Barbie" on the show, expressed particular frustration with what she described as self-pitying behavior from men, stating that "the worst thing is when a man feels sorry for himself." Orviská revealed that her 18-year-old potential partners on the show ultimately let her down, though she maintains a positive outlook on her television experience overall.

|
Culture

Bratislava Region Youth Singing Competition Scheduled for March 2026

The regional round of the Youth Singing competition for the Bratislava Self-Governing Region will take place on Sunday, March 29, 2026. The event is organized by the Small Carpathian Educational Center in Modra and will be held at Studio 2. The competition serves as a platform for young singers in Slovakia's capital region to showcase their talents at the regional level.

|
Culture

Women's Law Exhibition Opens at Schaubmar Mill

A new exhibition titled "Women's Law" has opened at Schaubmar Mill, featuring a selection of works from the institution's naive art collection. The display has been supplemented with examples of modern, textile, and film works to provide a comprehensive artistic perspective on the theme.

|
Culture

British YouTuber Documents Life as Foreigner in Japan After Decade-Long Stay

British content creator Chris Broad has built a YouTube following of over three million subscribers by documenting his experiences living in Japan for more than a decade. Broad initially moved to Japan to teach English but began sharing insights about cultural differences and the challenges foreigners face in a country that operates by very different rules than Europe. His channel "Abroad in Japan" explores daily life in Japanese society, including the linguistic and cultural adaptations required for foreigners. Broad notes that speaking Japanese can fundamentally change one's personality, reflecting the deep cultural integration required for long-term residents. His success highlights growing international interest in authentic perspectives on life in Japan from Western expatriates.

|
Culture

Slovak Restaurant Owned by Businessman Patrik Tkáč Receives Top Rating in International Guide

A restaurant owned by prominent Slovak businessman Patrik Tkáč has received the highest rating among Slovak establishments in the prestigious Gault&Millau restaurant guide for 2026. The renowned international culinary guide, which evaluates restaurants across Europe using a 20-point scoring system, released its annual rankings for Slovak dining establishments. Gault&Millau is considered one of Europe's most influential restaurant guides alongside Michelin, known for its rigorous evaluation standards and focus on culinary innovation and quality.

|
Culture

Artificial Intelligence Will Not Destroy Film Industry, Despite Concerns About Hollywood Stars

Artificial intelligence technology will not destroy the film industry, contrary to widespread concerns about its impact on major Hollywood actors like Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Instead, AI technology is expected to democratize filmmaking by providing professional-quality tools to amateur filmmakers. The technology offers new opportunities for independent creators to produce higher-quality content without the traditional barriers of expensive equipment and extensive technical expertise that have historically limited access to professional filmmaking.

|
Culture

Film 'Mother' Offers Demythologized Portrait of Mother Teresa

A new film titled 'Mother' presents an unidealized and provocative examination of Mother Teresa, one of the 20th century's most famous religious figures. The movie focuses on a crucial period of her life before she became globally renowned, exploring her human struggles and the tension between faith and personal ambitions. The film, which served as the opening feature at last year's Be2Can film festival, will enter Slovak cinema distribution through Film Europe on March 26.

|
Culture

Slovak TV Stations Launch Virtual Presenters, Debate Whether AI Avatars Are Too Attractive

Slovak television station JOJ has introduced its first virtual presenter named Ruby, who hosts content for the entertainment show Topstar on Instagram. The AI avatar was unveiled during JOJ's morning news program, where presenters struggled to define exactly what Ruby represents - whether she should be called a colleague or something else. Ruby joins a growing trend of virtual presenters being adopted by Slovak media outlets, though television executives are grappling with concerns about whether their AI avatars might be designed to appear too physically attractive. The virtual moderators are intended to supplement rather than replace human presenters, representing Slovakia's entry into the broader international trend of AI-generated media personalities in broadcasting.

|
Culture

Slovak TV Station JOJ Introduces Virtual Presenter as Broadcasters Explore AI Technology

Television JOJ, one of Slovakia's main commercial broadcasters, has launched Ruby, a virtual presenter who hosts content for the station's entertainment show Topstar on Instagram. The AI-generated moderator was introduced during the morning news program, with regular presenters explaining the new digital colleague to viewers. Slovak television stations are now grappling with questions about the implementation of virtual presenters, including concerns about whether the computer-generated avatars might be designed to appear too attractive compared to human hosts. The development represents Slovakia's entry into the growing trend of AI-powered virtual presenters in broadcast media, though television executives emphasize that the technology is intended to supplement rather than replace human journalists and presenters.

|
Culture

Trenčín Announces April Cultural Events as European Capital of Culture

Trenčín has released its monthly schedule of cultural events for April as the city continues its year-long tenure as European Capital of Culture. The western Slovak city, which holds the prestigious EU cultural designation for 2024 alongside Austria's Bad Ischl and Estonia's Tartu, is organizing various cultural programming throughout the month. The European Capital of Culture program, established by the European Union in 1985, designates cities annually to showcase their cultural heritage and promote cultural diversity across Europe. Trenčín was selected for this honor to highlight Slovakia's cultural contributions and attract international visitors to the region.

|
Culture

New Slovak Podcast 'BrickMic' Launches Space Odyssey Theme

A new Slovak podcast called BrickMic has launched with a space odyssey theme presented through LEGO brick format. The podcast appears to combine space exploration topics with the popular building block toy concept, targeting audiences interested in both science fiction and creative construction themes.

|