Cultural heritage in Slovenia

Heritage Act protects historical and nature sites

The sphere of cultural heritage is covered by the Republic of Slovenia’s Institute for the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (1991), attached to the Ministry of Culture, and by a network of  seven regional institutes. The term cultural heritage covers museums, archival institutions, historic sites and archaeological monuments, and zoological gardens. The medium-term plan of restoration of the nation's "Building Heritage", i.e., cultural property (96 religious buildings, 66 manors and castles, 57 ethnological sites, and 39 nature sites) is one of the priorities of the Slovenian cultural policy.. The Institute and the Archives of the Republic of Slovenia come under aegis of the Ministry of Culture. The operational activities are carried out by a network of local institutes, museums and archives. The Republic of Slovenia has 40 museums, 65 museum branches and extensions, and 74 museum collections, which together hold 879,601 exhibits. In 1991, there were about 1 million visitors (50.3 per cent of them group visits by pupils and students). Legally, the museums operate either as independent institutions or within the structure of other cultural institutes. The Law on Cultural Activities and the accompanying Governmental Decree on Museum Activities are in process of being changed. A new museum network and a new system of information are going to be established. In Slovenia, archives are specialized institutions engaged in the protection of archival materials and cultural heritage. Archival activities are regulated by the Law on the Protection of Natural and Cultural Heritage and the Law on Archives. In 1990, there were 8 archives in Slovenia (7 independent and 1 at the Institute of Recent History), 827 private archival funds, and 264 collections. The rich decoration of churches has the highest ranking position in Slovene cultural heritage. Assessments from the beginning of the official cultural heritage service (1850 and later) describe the "golden altars" as an important achievement of traditional arts and craftsmanship. There are about 2,800 churches in Slovenia (24,000 km2), and approximately 300 castle sites.

Learning activities

1. Write an invitation to an exhibition
Text-type: invitation
Linguistic element: verb-future tense
Write an invitation to an exhibition of the illustrated beehive front boards at the Museum of Apiculture
http://www.muzeji-radovljica.si/4frame-mcebekarski.html

2. Design a brochure
Text-type: brochure
Linguistic element: verbs - past tense
Design a brochure about the Kobarid Museum which presents the events of World War One at the Soča Front
http://www.kobariski-muzej.si/

3. Script an interview
Text-type: interview
Linguistic element: noun-adjectival agreement
Script a short interview about the permanent collection of Slovenian Ethnographic Museum
http://www.etno-muzej.si/index_eng.php

4. Record the event
Text-type: historical account
Linguistic element: prepositions
Record the story of Erazem Lueger of Predjamski grad at Postojna Caves
http://www.postojnska-jama.si/?lang=si&cat=76&more=216

5. Give a talk
Text-type: talk 
Linguistic element: pronouns
Give a talk about Kostanjevica monastery as a cultural heritage site for its library, history and architecture
http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/?samostan=3844

6. Write an article
Text-type: newspaper article
Linguistic element: nouns - declensions
Write an article about The Štanelj Castle
http://www.komen.si/ang/stanjel.htm

Comprehension - reading and responding

Read the text ‘Zgodovina ‘ from the web site, National and University Library,
http://www.nuk.uni-lj.si/vstop.cgi?jezik=slo

Answer the following questions in English. 
1. When was the library established?
2. What was the source of the first collection?
3. When did it become the State Library?
4. Who did the architectural plans for the library?
5. When was the library reopened?
6. How is Plečnik’s building described?
7. When was the library first declared as the National Library?

Resources

Websites
http://www.aneks8komisija.com.ba/index.php?lang=4
http://www.burger.si/SLOMuseums.htm
http://www.culturelink.org/culpol/slovenia.html
http://www.international.icomos.org/risk/slove_2000.htm
http://www.kobariski-muzej.si/
http://www.kultura.gov.si/
http://www.mg-lj.si/index.jsp?lang=en
http://www.museums.si/
http://www.muzeji-radovljica.si/
http://www.ng-slo.si/ngeng/
http://www.slovenia-tourism.si/
http://www.ukom.gov.si/eng/slovenia/in-brief/
http://vodnik.kras-carso.com/

Books
Bažato, M, Bogataj, J, Človek z maško, Didakta, Radovljica, 1994
Benčič-Mohar, B, In the Footsteps of vernacular Architecture in Slovenia, Ministrstvo za kulturo, Ljubljana, 1994
Bogataj, J, Handicrafts of Slovenia, Rokus, Ljubljana 1999
Bogataj, J, Smo kaj šegavi? Mladinska knjiga, Ljubljana, 1998
Bogataj, J, Sto srečanj z dediščino na slovenskem, Ljubljana, 1992
Berk, Bogataj, Puksič, Ljudska umetnost in obrti v Sloveniji, Domus, Ljubljana, 1993
Cevc, E, Pripovedi s panjev, Čebelarski muzej, Radovljica, 1992
Kropej, H, Poslikane panjske končnice, Mohorjeva založba,Celovec, 1990
Kuret, N, Praznično leto Slovencev 1, 11, Družina, Ljubljana, 1989
Kuret, N, Praznično leto Slovencev, Družina, Ljubljana, 1970
Ovsek, D, J, Velika knjiga o praznikih, Domus, Ljubljana, 1992
Šavli, J, Slovenska znamenja, Humar, Bilije, 1994

Videos
Domače obrti na Slovenskem, (2 videos) RTV Slovenija, 1993
En dan v Škofji Loki, Turisticno društvo Škofja Loka, 1996
Gorenski plesi-folklorna skupina Emona, Ljubljana, 1997
Košir, I. Zvoki - umetniški program, Ljubljana, 1999
(6 television programs on traditional Slovenian folk festivals)
Vincec, M, Istra - Slovenski del, Videocenter Koper, 1994
Vincec, M, Gradovi, Slovenia, 1996

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