CURRENT EVENTS
The City of the Counts: At the center of the world for a day
This year as well, Slovenians – both locals and those who live abroad – met at the annual Welcome Home gathering. The main event took place on 29 June 2024 in Celje, which welcomed Slovenian compatriots with open arms. The Slovenian Emigrant Association planned the agenda of the Welcome Home event in cooperation with the Slovenian World Congress, Society of St. Raphael and Emigrant Association Slovenia in the World. The event was financed by the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad.
The event opened on 27 June 2024 with a traditional pan-Slovenian gathering at the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia, which we have recounted in detail in another article.
GENERATIONS
What young Slovenians living abroad need time, space and opportunities
Like previous years, the annual event for Slovenian compatriots living abroad took place at the National Assembly. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the first pan-Slovenian gathering. Dedicated to the youth, the gathering took the form of a series of interesting discussions dubbed “Young Slovenians Living Abroad: The Future Bearers of Slovenian Tradition Abroad.” At the same time, attendees got the opportunity to exchange their views, learn about the reality and challenges of living abroad, as well as spark new connections and strengthen existing ones.
In his introductory keynote, Vice-President of the National Assembly Danijel Krivec explained that this year’s pan-Slovenian gathering poses a number of questions exploring how fourth- and fifth-generation Slovenian emigrants see the homeland of their ancestors. As emphasized by Minister for Slovenians Abroad Matej Arčon, there is no future without young people, which is why we need to empower them with our own optimism and courage.
CULTURE
Artists’ colony in Most na Soči: A setting that inspires and sparks connections
Organized by the Slovenian Emigrant Association and the Tolmin Cultural Association of Fine Artists, this year’s artist’s colony for Slovenians living abroad that took place at the start of the summer was dubbed The Most Studio. Participating were seven painters from all across the globe and three artists from the local Association. As explained for Rodna gruda by Dare Trobec, the President of DLU Tolmin and Head of The Most Studio artists’ colony who also participated in the colony himself, the participants were “Stephanie Jakovac Bakaj from Australia, Martina Markich from the UK, Borka Jokić from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Radmila Jeremić Ćurčin from Serbia, Stanka Novković from Croatia, Ivana Knežević from Serbia, Dragan Gačnik from Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as local artists Jana Dolenc and Dea Volarič.”
Martina Markich from London shares her impressions of the artists’ colony in Slovenia
Among the artists participating in this year’s artists’ colony in Most na Soči was also Martina Markich – a Slovenian living in London, who shared her impressions: “My experience with the colony was wonderful. It was the first time I applied, so I did not know what to expect. Not only did I get to see the breathtaking piece of Slovenia that is Most na Soči… I was welcomed by a circle of artists who shared their very pleasant energy, engrossing stories and a warmth imbued with creativity.”
SLOVENIAN LANDSCAPE
Information center: Concrete help for Slovenian compatriots returning to their homeland
This spring, the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Slovenians Abroad established an information center for Slovenians who wish to return to their homeland. The center provides compatriots with all the necessary information and support that they need to return back home.
For several years, associations all over the world that bring together Slovenian compatriots, have been warning Slovenian authorities that Slovenia should be more actively involved with Slovenian emigrants or their descendants who wish to return to their homeland. Minister Matej Arčon has made it a priority of his term to encourage and facilitate their return and promote their contact with Slovenia. Thus, the Government Office has started the process of designing an action plan to address the issue. The first measure involves a so-called one-desk approach, which entails the establishment of an information center where Slovenians living abroad can get all the necessary information and support for their return back home.
