The latest culture tips from around Slovakia.
BRATISLAVA
Women Freelance Journalists Discussing Conditions of Their Work
On October 14, a discussion featuring four freelance women journalists will take place at the Goethe Institute in Bratislava. The conversation will focus on the challenges of freelance journalism, working conditions in the field, and the importance of covering underrepresented topics. Tímea Beck, Jana Čavojská, Sára Činčurová, and Petra Eller will speak about the precarious nature of their profession and share insights into their work for both Slovak and international media outlets.
Kovergencie ft. Martinů
From October 14 to 21, the Konvergencie (Convergence) Festival of Chamber Music will be held in Bratislava. This year’s edition is dedicated to the legacy of Czech composer Bohuslav Martinů, highlighting his extensive body of chamber music.
Following the 2023 edition, which focused on Leoš Janáček, the festival continues its mission to showcase leading 20th-century Czech composers to Bratislava audiences. The program will feature Martinů’s sonatas, serenades, puppet opera, and well-known works such as the cantata The Opening of the Wells and Études Rhythmiques.
The festival will also include a lecture by Aleš Březina, director of the Bohuslav Martinů Institute, a screening of the film My Life with Bohuslav Martinů, and readings from the composer’s writings.
REGIONS
"Alone on Stage" in Trenčín
On October 8, the 30th edition of the international festival Alone on Stage began in Trenčín. Running through Wednesday, October 15, the festival will showcase solo shows performed by 21 artists across various genres — from drama and comedy to physical and movement theatre, multimedia productions, and poetic performances marked by intense acting.
This unique festival also includes an accompanying program of discussions with creators, workshops, and concerts, aiming to foster a vibrant connection between artists and the audience. Festival director Kamil Bystrický invites everyone to experience this celebration of monodrama.
POCITY: It Is Not Only About Feelings in Prešov
From October 9 to 15, the POCITY Film Festival returns to Prešov for its 16th edition. Held in this eastern Slovak university city, the festival will present the latest releases from both Slovak and international cinema, with many filmmakers in attendance.
The program includes internationally acclaimed Slovak co-productions such as Father, The Caravan, and Better Go Mad in the Wild, as well as a short film competition.
Kriváň as Political Kitsch in Trnava
As of October 9, artist Ján Triaška is presenting his interpretation of national identity and collective memory at the Synagogue – Center for Contemporary Art in Trnava. His exhibition, titled TOTEM, reflects on the symbolic meaning of Kriváň — a peak long associated with Slovak nationalism — through a Freudian lens.
Triaška portrays Kriváň as a tribal totem, an ancestral protector and emblem of Slovak identity tied to a specific territory. By deconstructing these symbols with playful irony and critical distance, he reveals how ideas of “Slovakness” are often exploited in political discourse. The exhibition questions the manipulation of national symbols and exposes how they are flattened into promotional tools by those claiming to represent national values.
Special Piano Concert in Banská Štiavnica
On October 18, the second edition of the project Slovak Composers in Slovak Cities will feature a special concert at Eleuzína, a cultural space based in Banská Štiavnica. The concert will highlight works by seven composers under the age of 35, all written as 30th birthday gifts for pianist Júlia Stahl Novosedlíková.
Part of a year-long chamber music series presented by Ensemble Spectrum, this concert promises an intimate and contemporary celebration of young Slovak musical voices.
