News digest: With four reopenings, Bratislava Region pledges to 'restart culture'
What determines German-speaking tourists' satisfaction, cooking halušky on Mont Blanc, and two more days of high heat.
Good evening. Here is the Friday, September 6 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
'Restarting culture' in Bratislava Region
The Senec synagogue after reconstruction. (Source: BSK)Having finished a series of comprehensive reconstruction and modernisation projects, the Bratislava Self-Governing Region (BSK) is about to reopen several national cultural monuments. In total, the projects cost €25 million.
"This is literally a restart of culture in the region. Culture is the basis of society, it shapes our identity, unites us and moves us forward," said BSK chair Juraj Droba on Thursday, adding that the monuments will also bring new content.
The reconstruction of the Divadlo Aréna theatre on Bratislava's Tyršovo Nábrežie embankment took three years. Now, among other things, the theatre sports a viewing area which allow it to accommodate more attendees at performance. The surrounding premises have also been revitalised, allowing it to become a multifunctional space for various types of events, as well as reconnecting it to the Sad Janka Kráľa city park.
According to Divadlo Aréna director Juraj Kukura, it will officially open on November 17 with a new play. In addition to new plays, viewers can look forward to some older ones from the repertoire of the theatre which have not been performed for quite some time.
Moreover, dance and movement performances will also be given space. Kukura added that the theatre will cooperate with Bratislava's Academy of Performing Arts (VŠMU) and Academy of Fine Arts and Design (VŠVU).
After 10 years, the Bratislava Puppet Theatre (BBD) will return to its home address on Dunajská Street. The theatre has undergone comprehensive reconstruction and acquired new spaces, for example for workshops. It will officially open on September 26 with a special programme.
"Every child between the age of 3 and 99 years is welcome. After we return from two international festivals, we are going to resume normal operations in October and bring alternative programmes such as creative workshops, dramatised readings and creative games," said BBD director Ján Brtiš.
Next week, on September 10, the reconstructed synagogue in Senec will open its gates during the Shalom Chaverim Jewish cultural festival. For many decades the building was left in ruins, but now, in addition to preserving its value, the goal is to provide a cultural space that will fulfil the needs of local residents.
The synagogue now sports a concert hall with the necessary equipment for recording, employing the acoustics of the space. In addition, there is an option for video screening, literary and musical lectures, discussions and educational programmes.
The regional government has also signed a long-term lease on the Malá Scéna theatre on Dostojevského Rad in central Bratislava. The goal is to create a cultural and theatre space there that will be primarily for high school and university students. The theatre will be available for projects by budding theatre and music creators as well. Operations are expected to start in the second half of October this year.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- TOURISM: When German-speaking tourists come to Slovakia it is not just the quality and price of services that determines their satisfaction with their trip.
- GOOD NEWS: Cooking halušky at the top of Mont Blanc? This young Slovak showed it’s possible.
- RECORD SUMMER: The scorching weather has broken temperature records across Slovakia this summer, says a leading climatologist.
- NOTHING TO SEE HERE: The police have shelved their investigation into a collision between a well-known musician, Jozef Ráž, and a cyclist. The main witness was not even interviewed.
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FEATURE STORY
Breaking barriers for para athletes
Slovak athlete Dávid Ivan competing in para-archery at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. (Source: TASR)The northern-Slovak town of Dolný Kubín has the potential to become the country's centre for disabled athletes.
"It all began when Miroslav Dráb, a native of Dolný Kubín, started training Slovak para ice-hockey players. He asked the town for support in rebuilding the local ice-hockey arena to suit the needs of his players," recalls Mayor Ján Prílepok. That was 13 years ago. Since then, the arena has become the cradle of para ice-hockey in Slovakia. Now the town is planning several projects that would help Slovak para athletes.
EVENT FOR /WHATEVER
Grape harvest festivities are here
Illustrative image. (Source: SME Archive)A quick ride from the capital will take you to the traditional Modranské Vinobranie festival, taking place between September 6-8. The grape harvest festivities in the small town of Modra in the foothills of the Small Carpathian mountain range are a celebration of its wine making tradition.
Meanwhile, the historic town of Banská Štiavnica, in central Slovakia, pays tribute to its mining tradition with the popular Salamander Days event. If you want to learn why the name refers to this amphibian – and find more tips on events this weekend – click here.
IN OTHER NEWS
- On Friday, another bomb threat was reported, but this time by the Catholic Church. An email similar to those that schools received earlier this week claimed a bomb was placed in St Elizabeth's Cathedral in Košice, eastern Slovakia. The police searched the building, but found nothing. In the meantime, they remain in the vicinity of the cathedral. (Korzár)
- According to Interior Minister and Hlas party leader Matúš Šutaj Eštok, the coalition parties have accepted that the position of Speaker of Parliament belongs to his party. All that is now requires is to find a date to vote on the post. The position became vacant when Peter Pellegrini was elected president in April. Previously, the Slovak National Party (SNS) wanted the job for its leader. (SITA)
- From June to the end of August, 13 people lost their lives in the Slovak mountains. Compared to the same period last year, this is an increase of more than 44 percent. The number of rescues carried out by the Mountain Rescue Service also increased by 27 percent, with the majority in the High Tatras mountain range. (SITA)
- A prosecutor has dropped charges against financier Jaroslav Haščák in the Gorilla case. According to his attorney Martin Škubla, the prosecutor claimed that a National Criminal Agency (NAKA) investigator's decision was not supported by evidence. The charges were dropped on September 2. The charges – for founding, planning and supporting an organised crime group – were originally brought against Haščák in December 2022. (TASR)
- A judge at the Specialised Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica has found former SNS leader and ex-mayor of Žilina Ján Slota guilty of indirect corruption and sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspended for a probationary period of four years. The verdict is not yet valid as an appeal was filed. The case started with a fatal accident caused by Vladimír Machaj, who, together with Roman Kudláček and Slota are believed to have bribed judge Pavol Polka in 2018. (SITA)
- Based on data from health insurance companies, the number of people who seek the help of a psychologist is growing every year. While in 2021 65,591 people visited a specialist, in 2023 it was 76,634. Of the total, more than 58 percent were women, and roughly a third were children. Severe stress, anxiety, depression or cognitive impairment were among the most frequently diagnosed disorders. (SITA)
Apple picking at an orchard in the village of Cabaj-Čápor, Nitra Region. (Source: TASR)WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND AND MONDAY: On both weekend days, expect mostly sunny weather, with locally increased cloud cover and a chance of showers and storms. It will remain very hot, with temperatures rising to 32°C.
Monday will be cloudy, with showers, rain and occasional storms. Daily temperatures will rise to 24°C. (SHMÚ)
SEPTEMBER 7-9 NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday - Marianna, Sunday - Miriama, Monday - Martina
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