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Culture

Three Years After Historic Mining Building Fire: Management Changes Continue at Slovak Mining Museum

Three years after a devastating fire damaged the historic Berggericht building in Banská Štiavnica, the Slovak Mining Museum responsible for managing the structure has seen its fourth director since the most recent parliamentary elections. The fire at the state-owned baroque building, which houses part of the mining museum's collection, had been preceded by warnings about fire risks similar to those that led to the destruction of Krásna Hôrka Castle. The repeated leadership changes at the museum highlight ongoing institutional instability in managing Slovakia's cultural heritage sites following major disasters.

Aktuality
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Culture

Spring Literary Selection Published in Slovak Newspapers SME and Korzár

Slovak newspapers SME and Korzár have published a special spring literary selection as part of their Weekend Magazine supplement. The literary edition features illustrations by Andrea Čepiššáková, offering readers a curated collection of literary works as part of the newspapers' cultural programming.

SME
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Culture

Daily Editorial Cartoon: Street Poll

Slovak newspaper SME published a daily editorial cartoon by illustrator Mikuláš Sliacky titled 'Street Poll.' The cartoon appears to be commentary on current events, though the specific subject matter of the illustration was not detailed in the publication notice.

SME
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Culture

Ružomberok Overlooks Legacy of Influential Psychoanalyst Melanie Klein

The Slovak city of Ružomberok has failed to commemorate Melanie Klein, one of the world's most influential psychoanalysts who was born there in 1882. Klein, who developed groundbreaking theories about child psychology and founded the British school of object relations theory, spent her early years in the northern Slovak town before moving to Vienna and later London. Despite her global recognition as a pioneer who revolutionized understanding of early childhood development and mental health treatment, Ružomberok has no significant memorial or recognition of Klein's connection to the city. Her work fundamentally shaped modern psychoanalysis and child psychology, influencing therapeutic approaches still used today.

Dennik N
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Culture

Registration Deadline Approaches for Regional Round of National Dance Competition

The Malokarpatské Educational Center in Modra is inviting child, youth and adult dance performers to register for the regional round of the Šaffova ostroha 2026 competition, a nationwide progressive dance contest and showcase. The registration deadline is March 22. The competition is named after Pavel Jozef Šafárik, a prominent 19th-century Slovak scholar, and represents one of Slovakia's established cultural events promoting dance arts across different age categories.

Bratislavský kraj
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Culture

Slovak Composer Criticizes Czech Cultural Minister at Film Awards

Slovak composer Jonatán Pastirčák sparked controversy at the Czech Lion film awards in Prague over the weekend when he criticized Czech Culture Minister Martin Klempíř during his acceptance speech. Pastirčák, who won his second Czech Lion award for his music composition for the film "Chormaster," used the platform to draw parallels between Klempíř's policies and those of Slovak Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, suggesting that many Czechs fail to recognize the similarities. The composer, known professionally as Isama Zing and Pjoni, has become one of the most prominent figures in contemporary Czech-Slovak film music, having also worked on widely discussed films including "Summer School," "2001," and "Father" last year. His comments created the most talked-about moment of the awards ceremony, highlighting growing concerns about cultural policy directions in both countries.

Dennik N
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Culture

Arts Support Fund Cancels Multi-Year Cultural Funding, Affecting Festivals and Publications

The Arts Support Fund has cancelled funding that cultural organizations had counted on receiving for three years, dealing another blow to Slovakia's cultural sector. Long-established festivals, cultural centers, and magazines have lost their expected financial support under the decision. The cancellation represents the latest setback for Slovak cultural institutions, which had planned their operations based on the promised multi-year funding commitments from the state support system.

SME
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Culture

Independent Cultural Centers Lose State Funding, Launch Crowdfunding Campaign to Survive

Dozens of independent cultural centers across Slovakia face potential closure after losing state funding from the Ministry of Culture. The cultural organization Anténa has launched an emergency crowdfunding campaign to save these regional cultural spaces from being replaced by casinos and warehouses. The funding cuts threaten to eliminate cultural venues that serve communities throughout the country, particularly in regions outside major cities where such spaces provide vital cultural programming and community gathering places.

Aktuality
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Culture

Bratislava Gallery Opens 'Smoke and Mirrors' Art Exhibition

The Gallery of the City of Bratislava has opened a new art exhibition titled 'Smoke and Mirrors,' featuring contemporary works that explore themes ranging from surreal imagery to utopian visions wrapped in aluminum foil. The exhibition presents art as a journey through the ruins of contemporary society, offering visitors a contemplative walk through current social and cultural landscapes. The Gallery of the City of Bratislava serves as the capital's main municipal art space, regularly hosting exhibitions that showcase both Slovak and international contemporary artists.

Dennik N
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Culture

Second Film About Slovak Boxing Champion Nepela Competes with Earlier Release

Two films about Slovak boxing champion are competing for audiences in what the film industry calls "twin films" - movies with similar themes released around the same time. The second film, titled "Šampión" (Champion), takes a thriller approach compared to the first film's more personal drama format. In the film industry, the earlier release typically wins the competition for viewers, though sometimes the better-quality film can prevail regardless of release timing. This phenomenon has previously occurred with disaster films and thrillers, where smaller studios attempt to capitalize on larger productions with similar themes.

Dennik N
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Culture

Ukrainian Film 'Victory' Wins Top Prize at Bratislava's FEBIOFEST Film Festival

A Ukrainian film exploring the psychological aftermath of war won the best feature film award at the 33rd International Film Festival FEBIOFEST in Bratislava. Director Valentyn Vasyanovych's 'Victory' follows a former filmmaker searching for a path back to both his creative work and his family in post-war Ukraine. The jury of the 'In the Heart of Europe' competition selected the film for its portrayal of war's less visible but equally painful consequences - broken family bonds, loss of life's meaning, and deep uncertainty. Rather than focusing on bombed cities or military cemeteries, the film examines the internal devastation that conflict leaves behind. FEBIOFEST is Slovakia's major international film festival, which concluded its 33rd edition with the awards ceremony featuring the premiere of a new comedy and appearances by notable figures from the film industry.

Aktuality
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Culture

Kežmarok Selects Design for New Cultural Center After Competition Draws 33 Proposals

The Slovak town of Kežmarok has chosen a winning design for its new cultural center following an architectural competition that attracted 33 proposals. The competition has concluded with the selection of a specific design, though details about the winning proposal and the criteria used for selection were not disclosed. Kežmarok, located in the Prešov region of northern Slovakia near the High Tatras mountains, is moving forward with the cultural facility project as part of its urban development initiatives.

Korzár
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Culture

British Chart Flashback: Tina Charles Topped UK Charts on March 17, 1976

British singer Tina Charles dominated the UK singles chart on March 17, 1976, with her hit song "I Love To Love (But My Baby Loves To Dance)". The track represents a snapshot of popular music trends that dominated England during the second half of the 20th century, when disco and dance music were gaining prominence in British popular culture.

TASR/Teraz
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Culture

Slovak Film Producer and Director Marian Urban Dies at 74

Marian Urban, a prominent Slovak film producer and director, died suddenly at age 74. Urban was known for producing acclaimed films including "Rivers of Babylon" and "Papierové hlavy" (Paper Heads), establishing himself as a driving force in Slovak audiovisual production. Throughout his career, Urban collaborated with top-tier directors and played a crucial role in developing Slovakia's film industry, serving as an important partner for leading filmmakers in the country.

SMEAktuality
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Culture

Young Slovak Female Directors Gain International Recognition Despite Domestic Funding Struggles

Slovak filmmaker Katarína Gramatová received recognition at the Czech Lion Awards for her feature film debut "Up There is Heaven, Down Here in the Valley I Am," marking another international success for Slovak cinema. Slovak films have increasingly appeared at major international film festivals in recent years, including the Venice Film Festival which featured Teresa Nvotová's "Father," the documentary "Photophobia," and two recent films by Peter Kerekes. The Berlin International Film Festival has also showcased Slovak experimental works. Despite these international achievements, young Slovak directors continue to face challenges securing adequate support and funding within their home country. The growing international presence of Slovak cinema contrasts with ongoing domestic struggles for filmmakers seeking financial backing for their projects.

Dennik N
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Culture

Cultural Expert Calls for Slovakia to Look Beyond Traditional Symbols and Learn from Spain

Pavel Bruchala, a cultural commentator, has argued that Slovakia should move beyond its focus on traditional symbols like the double cross and folk costumes, suggesting the country is too inwardly focused. Bruchala advocates for Slovakia to learn from Spanish approaches to community living, emphasizing the need for a more outward-looking perspective on national identity and social organization. The comments reflect ongoing debates about how Slovakia should balance traditional cultural elements with modern European integration and social development.

SME
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Culture

Netflix Documentary Examines Rise of Manosphere Influencers and Online Extremism

A new Netflix documentary explores the manosphere, a network of online male influencers who build audiences by exploiting young men's insecurities about appearance, relationships, and economic success. The film examines how these figures position themselves as saviors offering solutions to personal problems, while spreading extremist ideologies. The documentary analyzes the tactics used by prominent manosphere personalities to expand their influence on social media platforms, capitalizing on masculine anxieties to grow their followings and promote radical viewpoints.

Dennik N
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Culture

Slovak Cultural Critics Voice Concerns Over Children's Poetry Recitation Standards

Cultural commentators in Slovakia have raised concerns about declining standards in children's poetry recitation, with critics arguing that young people are increasingly turning to inferior online content instead of classical Slovak literature. The criticism comes amid ongoing debates about educational standards and cultural preservation in Slovak schools. The concerns reflect broader discussions about how digital media and internet culture are affecting traditional literary education and the transmission of Slovak cultural heritage to younger generations.

SME
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