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Talk about post-Habsburg Yugoslav state

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We received this information from the Slovenian Embassy in London:

You are kindly invited to a talk with historian Rok Stergar organized by UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies (SSEES) :

Food Supply and Political Legitimacy of the New Yugoslav State
“I am a communist, f*ck King Peter and that snotty [Crown Prince] Alexander”

Tuesday 12 November 2024 at 6pm
Masaryk Room
UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies
16 Taviton Street, London WC1H 0BW

MORE INFO

The new states created in the fall of 1918—after the Habsburg Empire had fallen apart—presented themselves as something new and better. Not only were they supposed to embody the “national yearnings” of the formerly “oppressed nations” in the Habsburg Empire, but they were also supposed to be more democratic, the administration would work better, the economy would flourish, and the harvests would be abundant. In short, they were supposed to be a decisive break with the imperial past.

But the new nation-states often failed to deliver on these lofty promises, and their legitimacy began to erode rather quickly. In this context, the inability to quickly improve the food supply played an important role. In the Slovene part of Yugoslavia, the inadequate supply of basic foodstuffs, rationing, and rising prices exacerbated an already volatile situation, as sections of the population began to grumble, protest, and yearn for the Habsburgs looking over their northern and western borders. Police and court records, district captain’s reports, and various other sources indicate that the mood of the population quickly turned sour after the proclamation of independence, and that the legitimacy of the new state was often questioned.

Rok Stergar is Associate Professor in Modern History at the University of Ljubljana, and a historian of the Habsburg Empire in the long nineteenth century, the First World War, and of nationalism. He is the author of two books and numerous articles on nationalisms in the Habsburg Empire, the First World War, and post-imperial transitions. His third book is under contract with the CEU Press.

He is the Director of “Slovene History” research program and is currently leading (with Václav Šmidrkal) a three-year research grant “Nourishing Victory: Food Supply and Post-Imperial Transition in the Czech Lands and Slovenia, 1918-1923.”

His most recent publication is the article (co-authored with Jan Bernot) “A Cacophony of Classifications: Education and Identification in a Prenational Empire,” Nationalities Papers (2024).

 

Slovenian Memoir-Writing Workshop with Marta Maretich, 16th November, London

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Author Marta Maretich invites you to a Slovenian memoir-writing workshop at Slovenski Dom in London.

Duration: 1. 5 hours

Requirements: Participants need to bring a small personal item that relates to their Slovene background, as well as writing materials. All other materials will be provided.

Class information

Where: Slovenski Dom,
62 Offley Road,
London SW9 0LS

When: 4-5:30 pm, Saturday 16th November, 2024

Instructor: Marta Maretich

For more information and to sign up: Contact Debora Porenta, 07365353900.

Are you interested in writing about your Slovene background but don’t know where to start? Curious about a certain object — perhaps something you’ve inherited or a found in the family archives—and would like to know more about how it links to your history?

Material objects are powerful tools for unlocking human memory and establishing meaningful connections with the past. Ordinary things, such as a pieces of jewelry, photographs, cookbooks or toys — anything! — can be starting points for researching personal history, gathering information toward a written memoir, or simply creating coherent stories about the past that you can share with family and friends.

In this hands-on workshop, Marta Maretich will demonstrate how you can use the objects you bring to class with you to investigate aspects of your Slovene past. Drawing on techniques and exercises designed to encourage careful observation, reflection, and recording, you will explore your objects and learn more about what they might have to teach you about your background.

This is an interactive class in which we will write, discuss and share our discoveries with one another. The class will be conducted in English. Come prepared to participate and learn from your fellow Slovenes as we investigate our stories together.

Participants are also cordially invited to the Slovenski Dom Martinovanje celebration, which will be held in the Dom following the class.

About Marta Maretich

Marta Maretich is a novelist, journalist and editor. She holds a masters degree in creative writing and is the author of three novels. Her fiction and nonfiction have appeared in many publications and she has taught creative writing at university level, most recently at Regents University, London. Her grandfather, Alois Marjetič, hailed from Gorenje Radulje in southern Slovenia. For more information about Marta, go to www.martamaretich.com.

 

 

 

 

Music, words and poetry of Gregor Strniša, 17 October, London

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Message from The Slovenian Embassy in London:

You are kindly invited to the launch of the poetry collection SPACE by Slovenian poet Gregor Strniša. Translator of Strniša’s poetry Nada Grošelj will be presenting his poetry collection alongside poet and singer-songwriter Matej Krajnc, who created an album of selected Strniša’s poems with music.

Music, words and the poetry of Gregor Strniša:
Launching the poetry collection SPACE

Thursday, 17 October 2024 at 6pm

Barbican Centre
Barbican Library, Level 2
Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS

BOOK TICKETS

Gregor Strniša (1930-1987) remains one of the greatest modern Slovenian poets, highly influential to the new generations of poetry writers. Space (outer space) is probably his most elaborate concept, which he speaks about at the beginning of his essay in the book called “Space”. He assembled this book from his space-oriented opus. This is not a chronological nor anthological review and summary of his poetry, but rather a newly compiled thematic selection following the principles of the topic of space.

Vlado Kreslin in London, 21st November

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Vlado Kreslin has performed for the British-Slovene Society several times in the last years. He has now attracted attention of Conway Hall in London and will perform there on 21st November. This is how they present him and invite people to their concert:

Vlado Kreslin is one of the best-known Slovenian musicians and songwriters, playing his own unique mix of Blues mixed with folk music. He has been referred to as an ‘ethno-revivalist’ due to his modernization of traditional songs, drawing on the rich traditions and ethnic heritage of his homeland and across the region. He is constantly performing worldwide and has opened twice for Bob Dylan and other world acts, such as R.E.M., the Dubliners, Allan Taylor and the Barcelona Gypsy and Klezmer Orchestra.

In addition to performing songs in his native Slovenian, Kreslin’s repertoire also includes English and Irish folksongs, sevdah from Bosnia, Italian ballads and folk songs in various dialects such as Istrian and Littoral.

Age Recommendation: All ages

Price: Standard £29

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade II listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.

FURTHER INFO

If you have any accessibility enquiries, please contact us at info@conwayhall.org.uk / 020 7405 1818

CONWAY HALL

25 Red Lion Square,

London, WC1R 4RL

Reserve dates: Christmas Carols 6th December, Prešeren Evening 8th March

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The BSS annual Christmas Carol Service will take place on Friday 6th December 2024, at 7 pm. We will gather again in the Church of St Martin Ludgate, 40 Ludgate Hill, London EC4M 7DE. Our service of carols and readings in English and Slovene will be followed by a social gathering over wine and potica. If you would like to volunteer to do a reading, please contact James Walker: jameswalker5330@gmail.com.

Our next Prešeren Evening will be in London on 8th March 2025. We have invited Andrej Šifrer to entertain us with the songs for which he has become famous.

Slovenian Choir in London invites you to its debut concert, 22nd October, October Gallery in London

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The Slovenian Choir in London sends the following information:

Join us for a fun evening filled with much loved Slovenian folk and pop songs. Our lineup includes classics like “Lipa zelenela je” and “Kje so tiste stezice,” alongside popular tunes such as “Dan Ljubezni” and “Soba 102”.

We are excited to premiere our original adaptations of “Mala Terasa” and “Pravljica o mavričnih ljudeh.” These adaptations offer a fresh take on these songs, presented for the first time ever for a mixed choir.

The Slovenian Choir in London comprises passionate singers for whom Slovenia still represents home. Since our inception in 2022, we have performed in events for the Slovenian and European community in London and opened for Slovenian artists such as Vlado Kreslin and Andrej Šifrer. Our mission is to promote and keep the Slovene language alive through music, while building a vibrant community of people who share the love for the language and Slovenia.

Slovenian Choir in London is supported by Government Office for Slovenians Abroad. 

Here is the link  where you can buy tickets:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/slovenian-choir-in-london-concert-tickets-1019399931637

VENUE HAS NO DISABLED ACCESS – ACCESS VIA TWO FLIGHTS OF STAIRS ONLY!

More info on Instagram: slovenian_choir

Holy Mass in Slovenian House in London on 22nd September

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On Sunday 22nd September at 5 pm Holy Mass will be celebrated in the Slovenian House at 62 Offley Road, London SW9 0LS,  by Peter Rožič, a priest and Professor of Ecology at the University of Oxford.

The Slovenian House extends a welcome to everybody whether religious or not.

Contact: info@skm-london.org.uk, 07365 353 900

Thinking of studying Slovene this year?

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If you are thinking of studying Slovene this year, join evening Slovene language courses starting in October 2024 at UCL School of Slavonic & East European Studies.

These small interactive courses are designed for adults and develop conversation skills without losing sight of the fundamentals of grammar. They are ideal for anyone interested in the rich culture and unique language of Slovenia.

All courses are scheduled to run 6:30-8:30pm online and will start in the week commencing 7th of October.

This year they will be offering Beginners, Lower Intermediate, Upper Intermediate, Advanced, and  Advanced Plus courses.

More information about the Slovene courses is available at the following link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/evening-courses/slovene

If you are interested, please enrol at the following link: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ssees/evening-courses/how-to-enrol

The courses will be taught by Maja Rančigaj Beneš (Upper Intermediate and Advanced Plus course), Romana Šuštar (Advanced course) and Ana Ilievska Završnik (Beginners and Lower Intermediate course).

For more information contact Maja Rančigaj Beneš, Slovene language lector: m.rancigaj@ucl.ac.uk

 

Vlado Kreslin in London on 21 November

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Vlado Kreslin: Live in Concert

Vlado Kreslin has performed for the British-Slovene Society several times in the last years. He has now attracted attention of Conway Hall in London and will perform there on 21st November. This is how they present him and invite people to their concert:

Vlado Kreslin is one of the best-known Slovenian musicians and songwriters, playing his own unique mix of Blues mixed with folk music. He has been referred to as an ‘ethno-revivalist’ due to his modernization of traditional songs, drawing on the rich traditions and ethnic heritage of his homeland and across the region. He is constantly performing worldwide and has opened twice for Bob Dylan and other world acts, such as R.E.M., the Dubliners, Allan Taylor and the Barcelona Gypsy and Klezmer Orchestra.

In addition to performing songs in his native Slovenian, Kreslin’s repertoire also includes English and Irish folksongs, sevdah from Bosnia, Italian ballads and folk songs in various dialects such as Istrian and Littoral.

Age Recommendation: All ages

Price: Standard £29

Access Information

Due to the age and Grade II listing of the building, there is no lift access to rooms above the ground floor.

All the ground-floor rooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.

FURTHER INFO

If you have any accessibility enquiries, please contact us at info@conwayhall.org.uk / 020 7405 1818

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Grants for Slovenians abroad

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The Slovenian Government Office for Slovenians Abroad has sent us the following information about grants available for Slovenians abroad:

Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad Republike Slovenije je 22. 8. 2024 na svoji spletni strani Štipendije za Slovence v zamejstvu in Slovence po svetu za študijsko leto 2024/2025 (355. JR) | Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad RS (srips-rs.si) objavil razpis za dodelitev štipendij za študij v Republiki Sloveniji za Slovence v zamejstvu in Slovence po svetu za študijsko leto 2024/2025. Rok prijave je do vključno 30. 9. 2024.

Vloga za nadaljnje prejemanje štipendije pa je tudi že objavljena na spletni strani: Objavljena vloga za nadaljnje prejemanje štipendije za Slovence v zamejstvu in po svetu 2024/2025 | Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad RS (srips-rs.si)

Za vsa vprašanja v zvezi z razpisom se prosim obrnite na Javni štipendijski, razvojni, invalidski in preživninski sklad Republike Slovenije. Njihovi kontaktni podatki se nahajajo v tem dokumentu: 355. javni razpis