Culture minister promises more support for minority in Austria
Klagenfurt, 6 November - Culture Minister Asta Vrečko met representatives of cultural organisations of the Slovenian ethnic minority in the Austrian province of Carinthia on Wednesday to examine ways how the ministry could help the community financially and with systemic solutions.
Klagenfurt, Austria
Culture Minister Asta Vrečko in the Slovenian Study Library as part of her visit to the Austrian state of Carinthia.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Klagenfurt, Austria
Culture Minister Asta Vrečko meets representatives of the cultural organisations of the Slovenian minority in the Austrian state of Carinthia.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Klagenfurt, Austria
Culture Minister Asta Vrečko meets representatives of the cultural organisations of the Slovenian minority in the Austrian state of Carinthia.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Klagenfurt, Austria
Culture Minister Asta Vrečko (left) meets the Slovenian consul general in Klagenfurt Maja Balant Slobodjanac as part of her visit to the Austrian state of Carinthia.
Photo: Bor Slana/STA
Addressing reporters in Klagenfurt after discussions with the Christian Cultural Association and the Slovenian Cultural Association, Vrečko praised cooperation with both organisations.
The ministry supports various cultural organisations to offer theatre subscription series and guest appearances, the minister said, underscoring the importance of the language for the national identity of Carinthian Slovenians.
The meeting detected additional options on how the ministry can help to make the Slovenian language and culture "even more alive and long-lived in Carinthia as well".
The minister mentioned the possibilities of financing cultural residency projects, enhancing cooperation with the Slovenian Public Fund for Cultural Activities (JSKD) and direct financing.
The Culture Ministry funds professional culture projects, while the JSKD takes care of the amateur cultural activities.
Many excellent poets, writers, painters, theatre artists and other artists who enjoy high acclaim in Austria, Slovenia and beyond are members of the Slovenian community and the ministry is keen to promote that, Vrečko said.
The ministry would like to do more for systemic support for professional culture in Carinthia. While there is no such institution as the Slovene Permanent Theatre in Trieste, which is funded by the ministry, there are ways to support existing activities in Carinthia, the minister said.
She said the funding for public institutions and open calls in culture had been adjusted for inflation, and the ministry also supported the two cultural associations to host guest appearances by ensembles from Slovenia.
While in Vienna, the minister also visited the Slovenian Study Library, the Mohorjeva Družba bookshop and the Haček bookshop.