Paris this year is not only the centre of the sporting world, but also a meeting point of different cultures. The Olympic Games have always been linked to culture and the arts. France is a country of culture and Paris a capital of the arts. Slovenia has strong ties with the latter, as many Slovenian artists have studied there over the years and many of them have also created and worked there.

Slovenia's colours will be represented at the Olympic Games in Paris by its largest-ever Olympic delegation, consisting of 197 members, including 90 athletes. In addition to its outstanding sports team, Slovenia will also be making its presences felt at the largest version of the Slovenia House so far.

The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development has approved EU funding for the project Scholarships for specialised professions in culture. The European Social Fund Plus contribution stands at EUR 3 million.

Today, in the National Gallery, the Minister of Culture, Dr Asta Vrečko, presented a charter to the representatives of the Chamber of Nursing and Midwifery Services of Slovenia – the Nurses and Midwives Association of Slovenia – and the Natural Beginnings Association on the occasion of the inscription of midwifery on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

On Monday we officially opened the Bologna Children's Book Fair, where Slovenia is this year's Guest of Honour. As Guest of Honour, Slovenia has a unique opportunity to showcase its creative talents, publishers, authors and illustrators at one of the world's leading platforms for children's and youth literature.

Slovenia will appear as Guest of Honour at the prestigious Bologna International Book Fair next month, cementing its place on the world stage as a nation rich in imaginative children's and youth literature and with an exceptional illustration heritage.

At its meeting on the 6th of December in Botswana, the Intergovernmental Committee of the 2003 Convention adopted a decision to enter “Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices” on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The nomination was proposed by Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Slovenia and Togo.

Slovenia is the Guest of Honour of the Frankfurt International Book Fair under the slogan "Honeycomb of Words".

This year's Frankfurt Book Fair will be of special importance for Slovenia as its guest of honour. Slovenia is only the third Slavic country to feature as the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where it will appear under the motto "A Honeycomb of Words". Various exhibitions related to Slovenia and its literature and culture are also part of the rich cross-border programme. Three exhibitions were opened in the period between 14 and 17 September.

“The European Commission’s Fourth Annual Rule of Law Report on the Rule of Law Situation in EU Member States in 2023 shows that Slovenia has made progress in almost all areas. Nevertheless, we will continue to work actively to improve the rule of law and to take into account new recommendations,” said Minister Tanja Fajon, State Secretary, Dr Igor Šoltes, Minister Asta Vrečko, and Minister Boštjan Pokuklar at the publication of the report.

At a ceremony held in the Radovljica Manor Baroque Hall on Saturday, 22 April 2023, Minister of Culture Dr Asta Vrečko presented the President of the Slovenian Beekeepers’ Association Boštjan Noč with a certificate on the entry of beekeeping on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Between 14 March and 8 April, the Metro cinema, one of the most important institutions in the field of film in Vienna, is hosting a retrospective entitled SLO: MOTION, prepared by the Slovenian Cinematheque in cooperation with the Slovenian Cultural and Information Centre SKICA in Vienna, the Austrian Film Archives and the Slovenian Film Centre.

The focus of the working meeting between the two ministers, who were joined by the Mayors of Nova Gorica and Gorizia Samo Turel and Rodolfo Ziberna, was on the preparations for the European Capital of Culture with the slogan GO! BORDERLESS.

On 8 March, we celebrate one of the most important holidays, Women’s Day, which stands for courage, determination and the pursuit of solidarity and equality. It has been celebrated for over a hundred years, and marks the struggle for a world in which people can live with dignity and equality, whatever their circumstances.

The Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, hosted a working meeting with Věra Jourová, Vice-President of the European Commission. Their talks focused on the European Media Freedom Act, the situation at the Slovenian Press Agency and Radio-Television Slovenia, hate speech, and strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).

On 13 and 14 February 2023, the Minister of Culture, Asta Vrečko, was on a working visit to Berlin. During her visit, she met with the Minister of State for Culture and Media of the Federal Republic of Germany, Claudia Roth, attended a concert by the Slovenian Vocal Group Gallina featuring Aldo Kumar to celebrate the Slovenian cultural holiday, visited the Museum Europäischer Kulturen and the Aedes Architekturforum gallery, and met with Slovenian artists living in Berlin.

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.