Minister Arčon in Trieste for a visit to the Slovene minority in Italy

“I am extremely grateful to the entire national community and all societies for their dedicated work. I am pleased that the funds allocated by the Office are being wisely invested and are directly strengthening the Slovenian national community,” emphasised Minister Arčon in his statement to the media. The Office has allocated EUR 3,774,450 for the 2025 call for proposals related to the operation of the Slovenian community in Italy.

Minister Arčon began his working day in the capital of Friuli Venezia Giulia with a visit to the Slovenian Permanent Theatre, the only Slovenian professional theatre outside the borders of the Republic of Slovenia. Its origins date back to 1902, when the Dramatic Society was established, and operated in the Narodni Dom (Slovenian cultural centre) until the building was destroyed by fire. The Minister was received by Ivan Jevnikar, Chairman of the Theatre Board, and Danijel Malalan, Theatre Director.

Following the Theatre visit, Arčon met with the leadership and representatives of organisations operating under the Slovenian Cultural and Economic Union (SKGZ).  Ksenija Dobrila, President of the SKGZ, along with the representatives of the Scout Group Modri Val, the Slovenian Mountaineering Society Trieste, the Mitja Čuk Foundation (which assists children, adolescents and adults with special needs) and the Glasbena Matica institute (which supports music education), briefed the Minister on their activities and challenges. Earlier, the Minister visited the Union of Slovenian Cultural Associations, which promotes cultural activities. One of their most prominent events is Slofest, held every two years in the centre of Trieste, showcasing a wide range of activities by Slovenians in the Province of Trieste. The 83 societies that are part of their Union have nearly 7000 members, including many young people. The Minister also met Martina Kafol, Editor of the Založništvo Tržaškega Tiska publishing house. The visit continued at the branch of the National and Study Library, which holds more than 200,000 items across its locations in Trieste and Gorizia. Last year, they hosted more than 40,000 visitors and organised 254 events. The Minister then visited the KRUT Culture, Sports and Welfare Club, which organises various courses, exercise classes, excursions and training for the elderly.

Next, he met with representatives of the organisations operating within the Council of Slovenian Organisations (SSO). Marija Brecelj, President of the SSO for the Province of Trieste, along with the representatives of societies and institutions, presented their activities and gave the Minister a tour of some of their facilities. The following societies and institutions presented themselves: Slovenska prosveta, which brings together 27 cultural societies of Slovenians in Italy; the Slovenski Dom Cooperative; Radio Oder recording studio, which records radio plays and organises events for children and adults; the Union of Church Choirs; the Slovenska Vincencijeva Konferenca charitiy organisation, the Slovenian Intellectuals Society, which hosts notable guests every Monday in the city centre (its most prominent event is the Draga Study Days); the Dušan Černe Library, which specialises in collecting literature by the Slovenian minority and diaspora; and the Mladika Cooperative, which is active in publishing and journalism and has been publishing the magazine Mladika since the 1950s.

The Minister also visited the Slovenian Research Institute SLORI, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. On this occasion, it was awarded a recognition by Minister Matej Arčon. SLORI focuses on monitoring and studying ethnic, social and developmental issues affecting the Slovenian national minority in Italy. It produces publications and materials, organises seminars, scientific conferences and professional meetings, collaborates with universities, and offers scholarships and prizes for research, as well as university undergraduate or postgraduate studies. Among other activities, it runs a practical project providing free translations of menus, price lists and other signage for caterers, thereby promoting visible bilingualism.

Minister Arčon also stopped by the Trieste Book Centre – the only Slovenian bookshop in the heart of Trieste, just a few steps from the National Palace. The bookshop plays a key role in preserving Slovenian culture, not only by selling Slovenian books, but also by organising a rich cultural programme. As part of this effort, the two publishers, Mladika and the Založništvo Tržaškega Tiska, presented their activities to the Minister. Arčon thanked and congratulated both publishers for joining forces ten years ago to establish the bookshop, which has made a significant contribution to the preservation of the Slovenian language and identity. 

The Minister then visited the Srečko Kosovel Residence Hall, where director Gorazd Pučnik gave him a tour. The Residence Hall provides after-school care to over 200 children from kindergartens, primary, secondary schools, and higher vocational colleges, with Slovenian as the language of instruction. The Residence Hall also houses the only Slovenian day nursery and a kindergarten with Slovenian as the language of instruction. It organises summer activities, lectures for parents, collaborates with Slovenian societies in Slovenia, and hosts camps and youth exchanges.

Minister Arčon concluded his visit to the Slovenian minority in Italy in a sporting spirit at the 1 May Stadium, where he was welcomed by Ivan Peterlin, President of the Association of Slovenian Sports Clubs, board members, and Gorazd Pučnik, President of the Bor Sports Association, the oldest sports club in Italy. They presented their current activities and outlined the situation regarding the stadium’s expansion, with the Bor Sports Association, alongside the Škamperle Cultural Society, being the majority owner. The Association is the sole centre of sports activities within the Slovenian community in Trieste. It also hosts students from three secondary schools (France Prešeren Lyceum, the Žiga Zois School of Commerce and the Jožef Štefan Technical School) which do not have their own sports halls. Since there are no other sports facilities or clubs in Trieste offering training in Slovenian, children from the city's elementary schools also take part in the sessions there.