The Čop Awards, the highest national prizes for outstanding achievements in the field of librarianship, have been awarded by the Slovenian Library Association since 1967. This year's recipients of the Čop Diploma are Violetta Bottazzo and Marina Hrs, and the Čop Commendation went to Miro Tržan.

All the best and a Full Year of Culture and Art in 2023!

Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko with her colleagues

Granny’s Sexual Life has taken the title for best short at the European Film Awards held in Reykjavik, Iceland. “The European Film Award is proof that Slovenia has the very best creative talent in film. It shows that Slovenian cinema belongs to the elite of European cinema,” said Dr Asta Vrečko, the culture minister, in her congratulations to the makers of the film.

The recipients of Slovenia’s highest accolades for achievements in the arts for 2023 have been named. In line with the decision and resolutions of the Prešeren Fund Management Board, the 2023 Prešeren Award goes to multidisciplinary artist Ema Kugler, and the Academy-trained painter Prof. Herman Gvardjančič.

In Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, where the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is taking place, the multinational nomination of Lipizzan horse breeding traditions has been listed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, where the 17th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage is taking place, the 'Beekeeping in Slovenia, a way of life' project has been listed on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Today, the Minister of Culture, Dr Asta Vrečko, paid a regional visit to the Goriška and Obalno-Kraška regions. During her visit, she signed contracts with the Mayors of Ajdovščina, Komen and Divača on the co-financing of museum projects worth around EUR 4.5 million. These are projects included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Minister of Culture Asta Vrečko today paid a visit to the region of Kozjansko. As part of the visit, the minister and the mayors of the municipalities of Šmarje pri Jelšah, Podčetrtek and Kozje signed contracts on the co-funding of castle renovation projects worth more than EUR 3.6 million, which are included in the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP).

Nominations related to the traditions of Lipizzan horse breeding and beekeeping in Slovenia have received a positive assessment by the Evaluation Body of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. A decision on inscription on the list will be made at the end of November.

"I am exceptionally pleased to be here on behalf of the Ministry of Culture and the Republic of Slovenia to announce Slovenia as the next Guest of Honour here at the Frankfurt Book Fair," said Minister of Culture, Dr Asta Vrečko, on today’s occasion of Slovenia’s official announcement as the Guest of Honour. The official acceptance of the title will be on Sunday, 23 October.

At its 10th regular session, the Government extended the mandate of Barbara Koželj Podlogar, the current Head of the Creativity Directorate, as Acting Director-General of the Directorate.

Kim Komljanec worked as a playwright, scriptwriter and stage director, theatre director, pedagogue and lecturer until she took up her position as an advisor to the Minister of Culture. Until recently, she was the head of the unit for playwrights within the Slovenian Association of Dramatic Artists, which she founded in 2019.

At its 9th regular session, the Government appointed Matevž Čelik Vidmar, former Director of the Museum of Architecture and Design (MAO), as State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture. He will take up his duties on 1 August 2022.

Following yesterday's narrow veto vote by the National Council on the government's amendment to the RTV Slovenia Act, the National Assembly has again approved the proposed amendments. The amendment aims to remove politics from public service broadcasting and ensure its institutional and programme autonomy.

Peter Baroš, until recently the general secretary of SIGIC, the Slovenian Music Information Centre, and a former advisor for the musical arts at the Ministry of Culture, is now joining the team the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an advisor.

Mihael Kelemina, an art historian and expert in the work of NGOs and freelancers in the culture sector, is joining the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an advisor.

Marko Sraka, a doctor of archaeology, is joining the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an advisor

Long-time journalist Dejan Štamfelj joins the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as a public relations advisor.

Dr Asta Vrečko’s ministerial team is being strengthened again, with the arrival of Lenart J. Kučić, a media researcher, lecturer and podcaster.

Nina Ukmar, until recently director of Kosovelov dom Sežana, became the head of Minister’s Office on 24 June. She is joining the team of the Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko as an experienced leader and an expert in the field of culture.