Difference between revisions of "Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre"

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{{Infobox Venue
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{{Article
|FullName=Cankarjev dom, Kulturni in kongresni center
+
| status      = INFOBOX NIFERTIK!
|Name=Cankarjev dom
+
| maintainer  = JoelDSmith
|Photo=[[Image:Cankarjev 02.jpg‎|320px]]
 
|Proprietor=[[Ministry of Culture]]
 
|Street address=[[street::Prešernova 10]], [[city::SI-1000 Ljubljana]], [[country::Slovenia]]
 
|Telephone=386 (0) 1 241 7100
 
|Fax=386 (0) 1 241 7295
 
|E-mail=info@cd-cc.si
 
|Website=http://www.cd-cc.si
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
+
{{Infobox
Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre
+
|name          = Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre
 
+
|local name    = Cankarjev dom, kulturni in kongresni center
{{Infobox Contact
+
|logo          = Cankarjev dom Culture and Congress Centre (logo).svg
|Contact=Mitja Rotovnik Director General
+
|street        = Prešernova 10
|Telephone=386 (0) 1 241 7102
+
|town          = SI-1000 Ljubljana
|E-mail=mitja.rotovnik@cd-cc.si
+
|map          = http://www.openstreetmap.org/?lat=46.04983&lon=14.49934&zoom=17&layers=B000FTF
 +
|telephone    = 386 (0) 1 241 7100
 +
|fax          = 386 (0) 1 241 7295
 +
|email        = info@cd-cc.si
 +
|website      = https://www.cd-cc.si/
 +
|founded by    = Government of the Republic of Slovenia
 +
|contacts      = {{Contact
 +
|name          = Uršula Cetinski
 +
|role          = Director-General
 +
|telephone    = 386 (0) 1 241 7102
 +
|fax          =
 +
|email        = ursula.cetinski@cd-cc.si
 +
}}
 +
{{Contact
 +
|name          = Saša Globačnik   
 +
|role          = Marketing and Public Relations Department
 +
|telephone    = 386 (0) 1 241 7127
 +
|fax          = 386 (0) 1 241 7298
 +
|email        = sasa.globacnik@cd-cc.si
 +
}}
 +
|accounts=
 +
http://twitter.com/cankarjevdom
 +
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cankarjev-Dom/265166920191742
 +
https://www.instagram.com/cankarjevdom/
 +
https://www.youtube.com/user/Cankarjevdom/videos
 +
https://issuu.com/cankarjev_dom
 
}}
 
}}
  
Opened in [[established::1980]], Cankarjev dom is the largest cultural and congress centre in [[Slovenia]]. The multipurpose centre building, situated in the heart of [[Ljubljana]], provides over 36,000 square metres of events space and stages over 1,200 events each year.
+
{{Teaser|
  
The centre presents [[genre::music]] events across all musical genres. It regularly holds a [[genre::jazz]] festival and hosts one large-scale [[genre::opera]] or [[genre::ballet]] co-production each year. The Golden Subscription Series brings world-class international orchestras, conductors and soloists. For more information please see [[Cankarjev dom's Music Programme]].
+
{{wide image|Cankarjev dom Cultural and Congress Centre 2013 01.jpg}}
  
There is also an extensive programme of [[genre::dance]], [[genre::physical theatre]] and [[genre::puppetry]]. New work from Slovene artists is presented along with international artists. For more information please see [[Cankarjev dom's Theatre & Dance Programme]].
+
[[Cankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre|Cankarjev dom]] (CD) in Ljubljana is the country's largest cultural and congress centre, and one of the largest in the Balkan and SEE region. It provides around 36,000 square metres of space, and holds over 1,200 events annually. CD opened in [[established::1980]] and was the last part of the Revolution Square (''Trg revolucije'') complex to be completed. Like the rest of the complex, it was designed by renowned Slovenian architect [[Edvard Ravnikar]], who had been a student of [[Jože Plečnik]] and, briefly, Le Corbusier in the late 1930s.
  
Cankarjev dom also organises a varied and high-quality [[genre::film]] programme which takes place at Linhart Hall (616 seats) and Kosovel Hall (220 seats). It also hosts the annual [[International Documentary Film Festival]] and the [[Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)]]. The centre is also one of the main distributors of art film production in Slovene. See [[Cankarjev dom's Film Programme]].
+
In common with most state-funded national cultural centres elsewhere in the world, CD provides a space for almost all major art forms, with a particular emphasis on music and the performing arts. It is also Slovenia's premier conference and convention centre.
 
+
}}
Cankarjev dom has two visual arts spaces, please see [[Cankarjev dom Gallery (CD Gallery)]] and [[Cankarjev dom Small Gallery]] for more details.
+
{{TeaserSlo|Cankarjev dom je največji slovenski kulturni in kongresni center.}}
 
 
Festivals organised here include the [[Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration]], [[Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)]], [[International Documentary Film Festival]], [[Ljubljana Jazz Festival]] and [[Transgenerations Festival of Youth Creativity]].
 
 
 
Cankarjev dom is a member of the [[Informal European Theatre Meeting (IETM)]].
 
 
 
=== Gallus Hall - Galusova dvorana ===
 
 
 
[[Image:17_big_AS_15.jpg‎|320px]]
 
 
 
Type of venue: large multipurpose theatre;
 
 
 
main use: symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet, drama, dance, jazz, entertainment, recitals, multimedia events, conventions;
 
 
 
seating: 1,403 seats total, seating capacity may be increased by 150 when forestage lifts are set at auditorium floor height;
 
 
 
proscenium opening: 20m W x 12.5m H;
 
 
 
performing area: 20m W x 18m D x 26m H to grid, flat stage floor incorporates 18m W x 6m D lift with 12m drop for under-stage scenery preparation, dance floor available;
 
 
 
forestage: three forestage lifts with max 0.9m drop;
 
 
 
wing spaces: 6m W x 18m D SR, 6m W x 18m D SL;
 
 
 
side stage SL: 13.5m W x 18m D SL;
 
 
 
suspension equipment: 24 electric lines, max load 500kg each, 24 counterweight lines, max load 500kg each, plus electric lines for 6 lighting bars, fire wall and house curtain, 12 point hoists, max load 150kg each;
 
 
 
soft hangings: gold house curtain, black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama, panorama;
 
 
 
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from eight languages;
 
 
 
audio-visual equipment including slide and video projections, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission;
 
 
 
Karl Schuke 87-stop pipe organ, 2 Steinway D concert grand pianos, 2 Genies;
 
  
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;
 
  
climate control: air-conditioned;
+
==History==
  
availability: available for hire
+
The proposal for a national cultural centre was first put forward in 1975 when preparations were being made to mark the centenary of the birth of writer [[Ivan Cankar]] (1876–1918), after whom it would be named. Despite considerable bureaucratic and financial obstacles, ground was broken on the project in January 1978, on a site that had formerly been owned by the Ursuline Monastery in Ljubljana and nationalised in 1960. In his design, which was nevertheless striking, Ravnikar was keen to avoid overwhelming the proportions of the rest of the square. This led to a sizeable portion of the auditoriums being placed underground.
  
=== Linhart Hall - Linhartova dvorana ===
+
CD's first events were held in the spring of 1980 (in Linhart Hall), although it was not until 1982 that the site became fully operational. The famous monument to Cankar by sculptor [[Slavko Tihec]], which stands adjacent to one of the main entrances, was unveiled in 1982.
[[Image:Cankarjev 03.jpg|320px]]  
 
  
Type of venue: small multipurpose theatre;
+
{{YouTube|vQ6LjZHhGAY}}
  
main use: dance, film, entertainment, multimedia events, poetry readings, conventions, lectures;
+
Over the years, CD has established itself as a major tour stop for world-class ensemble and individual performers in almost all branches of music and the performing arts, with younger experimental artists also gaining an ever-stronger foothold. It has also become a prolific organiser or host, alone and in collaboration, of a wide variety of festivals; these include the [[Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)]], [[Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival]], [[Ljubljana Jazz Festival]], [[Bi Flamenko International Flamenco Festival]], the [[Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration]] and the [[Slovene Book Fair|Slovenian Book Fair]].
  
seating: 616 seats total, comprising 400 stalls, 116 balcony;
+
==Organisation and funding==
  
proscenium opening: variable, 8m-13m W x 6m H;
+
CD is constituted as a public institute (''javni zavod'') providing a public service in the area of arts and culture; as such, its main programme is funded by the state via the [[Ministry of Culture]], as well as, at various times, by the [[Creative Europe Desk Slovenia|Creative Europe – MEDIA]] programme, foreign embassies based in Ljubljana, the [[French Institute in Slovenia]] and the [[Goethe-Institut Ljubljana]], among others.
  
performing area: 13m W x 15m D x 7.5m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available;
+
The centre is also free to pursue market-funded activities in the form of fairs, conferences, conventions and certain international projects, as long as they accord with its general policies, and to raise funds through ticket sales, merchandise, donations and sponsorship. In 2018 these non-budget funds accounted for just under 47% of total income.
 +
 +
CD is led by a director-general, of which there have been only three since 1980: [[Miran Kert]] (1980–1982), [[Mitja Rotovnik]] (1982–2014) and [[Uršula Cetinski]] (2014–). Programming takes place across six departments, each with its own director: classical music, opera and ballet ([[Ingrid Gortan]]), theatre and contemporary dance ([[Andrej Jaklič]]), jazz and world music ([[Bogdan Benigar]]), exhibitions ([[Nina Pirnat-Spahić]]), film ([[Simon Popek]]) and cultural education/humanities ([[Barbara Rogelj]]). The director-general is supported in their work by the institute's council (''svet zavoda'') and by a council of experts (''strokovni svet'') responsible for  ensuring that CD operates in accordance with all the relevant legislation.
  
orchestra pit: 13m W x 3m D area in front of proscenium for musicians;
+
==Programmes==
  
wing spaces: 3.2m W SL only;
+
'''Music'''
  
suspension equipment: 32 counterweight lines, max load 300kg each;
+
CD's [[Cankarjev dom, Music Programme|Music Programme]] spans a wide variety of genres and styles, with a particular emphasis on classical music, jazz, roots and folk music music. It has been the main organiser of Ljubljana Jazz Festival since 1982 (although the festival's roots go back much further, to 1960), and stages several medium- and large-scale opera or ballet co-productions every year. A range of season tickets are available for various strands of CD's music programme (orchestral and symphonic, chamber music, contemporary classical, roots and folk music, and so on).
  
soft hangings: maroon house curtain, black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama;
+
CD also stages several major performances a year by popular local and regional artists ([[Vlado Kreslin]], [[Magnifico]], [[Janez Bončina]], Rade Šerbedžija and the like) on a lease basis, i.e. they are not produced by CD itself, and provides venues for the annual [[Druga Godba Festival|Druga Godba]] international music festival, which takes place in late May.
  
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from six languages; audio-visual equipment including slide, 35mm film and video projectors, cinema screen, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission;
+
'''Theatre and dance'''
  
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;
+
An extensive [[Cankarjev dom, Theatre & Dance Programme|Theatre and Dance Programme]] is another major feature of CD operations, with a particular focus on new works in theatre, physical theatre, contemporary dance and contemporary ballet, particularly by international companies and artists.
  
climate control: air-conditioned; availability: available for hire
+
'''Film'''
  
===Kosovel Hall - Kosovelova dvorana===
+
With Ljubljana well-served elsewhere by arthouse and world cinema, the [[Cankarjev dom, Film Programme|Film Programme]] is free to specialise in festival-based offerings, which are mostly staged in Linhart Hall and the smaller Kosovel Hall. It organises and co-hosts [[Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)]] and [[Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival]] (in November and March, respectively) and, since 2007, has co-hosted the [[Mountain Film Festival]], which takes place in February. CD is also one of the main distributors of art film production throughout Slovenia, a member of the Europa Cinemas network and a founder member of the [[Slovenian Art Cinema Association]].
Type of venue: studio theatre;
 
  
main use: experimental theatre, film, video, congress events;
+
'''Exhibitions'''
  
seating: 250 seats total on bleacher unit retractable from rear wall;
+
Major exhibitions are held in the [[Cankarjev dom Gallery]] – highlights in recent years include exhibitions on Ancient Greek science and technology, cult scientist Nikola Tesla and Slovenian writer-traveller Alma Karlin, and exhibitions of photography by Robert Kapa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. The gallery also hosts the [[Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration]].
  
performing area: flexible within total area 13m W x 22m D x 6m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available;
+
The [[Cankarjev dom Small Gallery|Small Gallery]] has a long tradition of staging photography exhibitions. Exhibition space is also available in the Europlakat Gallery, which is located in the First Foyer, one of the centre's main trade fair and reception areas.
  
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting;
+
'''Literature'''
  
soft hangings: black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama;
+
The [[Slovene Book Fair|Slovenian Book Fair]], which takes place in November, is one of the most important dates in the centre's calendar. CD also co-produces and co-hosts the [[Stories Today Festival|Stories Today]] storytelling festival and the [[Fabula Festival|Fabula]] world literature festival. CD began a new series/festival of talks in 2020, [[Slovenia 2050]], which explores the future of the country with the help of scientists, social scientists and artists.
  
stage equipment: simultaneous interpretation facilities into/from four languages; 16mm and 35mm film and video projectors, slide projectors, cinema screen, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission;
+
The late 2010s also saw three major festivals devoted to literary figures, all of them exploring the life and work of the chosen writer through theatre performances, exhibitions, lectures and talks: Shakespeare (2016), Tolstoy (2017) and Ivan Cankar (2018/19, to mark the centenary of the writer's death).
  
backstage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;
+
The Lili Novy Glass Hall, formerly the Lili Novy Club, holds smaller-scale talks, readings and book launches. It is named after one of Slovenia's most distinguished 20th century poets, and was renovated in 2019.
climate control: air-conditioned; availability: available for hire
 
  
=== Štih Hall - Štihova dvorana ===
+
{{YouTube|LRi8NUewua0}}
Type of venue: theatre-in-the-round;
 
  
main use: concerts, theatre, literary events, congress events;
+
==Subscription series==
  
seating: 250 seats total;  
+
While single tickets are almost always available for performances of music, ballet, opera and dance, CD has for many years operated a system of subscription series (''abonmaji''), which enables audiences to pay up front and secure their seats for a particular strand of programming across a single season. For music, these are the '''Gold''' series (generally for larger-scale orchestral and symphonic performances); the '''Silver''' series (for chamber work and soloists); the '''Blue''' and '''Orange''' series (for [[Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra]] concerts, replaced by the NOW, PC and SMS series from the 2020/21 season); and the '''Kromatika''' series (for [[RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra]] concerts). There are two season tickets available for lovers of contemporary music: the self-explanatory '''Music of the World''' series, and the '''Tuesday Clubbing''' series, which mainly presents jazz, rock and various flavours of roots music at the CD Club.
  
performing area: stage area 5.4m diameter (116m), flat stage floor, dance floor available;
+
The '''Magnificent 7''' series, introduced for the 2015/16 season, caters specifically to opera, ballet and theatre, and there are series for younger audiences as well: '''My First Subscription''' (ages 5–10), '''Ivan''' (11–15) and '''Cankar''' (15 and up). The children's series run across programmes, incorporating music, theatre, ballet and storytelling.
  
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of lighting and sound equipment;
+
==Venues==
  
soft hangings: none;
+
'''Exhibitions'''
  
stage equipment: audio-visual equipment including slide and video projections, audio and video recording, cable and broadcast transmission;
+
Cankarjev dom has two main visual arts and exhibition spaces: [[Cankarjev dom Gallery]] (364m²) and the [[Cankarjev dom Small Gallery|Small Gallery]]  (303m²). Exhibition space is also available in the [[Europlakat Gallery]], situated in the First Foyer (1,576m²).
  
back stage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;
+
'''Performing arts'''
  
climate control: air-conditioned;
+
* '''Gallus Hall (Gallusova dvorana)''': size 2,000m², capacity 1,545 (large multi-purpose theatre, symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet, drama, dance, jazz, entertainment, recitals, multimedia events, conventions)
 +
* '''Linhart Hall (Linhartova dvorana)''': 880m², 562 (small multipurpose theatre, dance, film, entertainment, multimedia events, poetry readings, conventions, lectures)
 +
* '''Štih Hall (Štihova dvorana)''': 323m², 253 (theatre-in-the-round, concerts, theatre, literary events, congress events)
 +
* '''Kosovel Hall (Kosovelova dvorana)''': 273m², 170 (studio theatre, experimental theatre, film, video, congress events)
 +
* '''Duša Počkaj Hall (Dvorana Duše Počkajeve)''': 116m², 72 (black box theatre, experimental theatre, dance, congress events)
 +
* '''CD Club (Klub Cankarjeva doma)''': 472m², 270 (club room with stage, bar facilities and panoramic terrace, music, congress events, receptions, business lunches)
  
availability: available for hire
+
'''Other venues and facilities'''
  
=== Duša Počkaj Hall - Dvorana Duše Počkajeve ===
+
* '''Grand Reception Hall (Velika sprejemna dvorana)''': 1,306m² (exhibitions, music, exhibitions receptions) 
Type of venue: black box theatre;  
+
* '''First Foyer (Prvo preddverje)''': 1,576m² (CD logistical hub, exhibitions, trade fairs, receptions)
 +
* '''Second Foyer (Drugo preddverje)''': 1,351m² (adaptable configuration, exhibitions, receptions, corporate hospitality)
 +
* '''Lili Novy Glass Hall (Steklena dvorana Lili Novy)''': 90m² (talks, lectures, readings, corporate hospitality, press conferences)
 +
* '''E and M conference rooms (Konferenčne dvorane E in M)''': 10 rooms, 60m²–280m²
  
main use: experimental theatre, dance, congress events;
+
==See also==
  
seating: 60 seats total on bleacher unit retractable from rear wall;
+
'''Programme departments'''
  
performing area: flexible within total area 9m W x 11m D x 5.25m H to grid, flat stage floor, dance floor available;
+
* [[Cankarjev dom, Music Programme|Music Programme]]
 +
* [[Cankarjev dom, Film Programme|Film Programme]]
 +
* [[Cankarjev dom, Theatre & Dance Programme|Theatre and Dance Programme]]
  
suspension equipment: overhead pipe grid for suspension of masking and lighting;
+
'''Galleries'''
  
soft hangings: black tabs, traverse curtain, legs and borders, cyclorama;
+
*[[Cankarjev dom Gallery]]
 +
*[[Cankarjev dom Small Gallery]]
  
back stage: dressing rooms plus various additional areas shared with other venues accommodating 250 persons total;
+
'''Festivals'''
  
climate control: air-conditioned;
+
* [[Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival]]
 +
* [[Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe)]]
 +
* [[Ljubljana Jazz Festival]]
 +
* [[Transgenerations Festival of Youth Creativity]]
 +
* [[Bi Flamenko International Flamenco Festival]]
 +
* [[Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration]]
 +
* [[Slovene Book Fair|Slovenian Book Fair]]
 +
* [[Stories Today Festival]]
  
availability: available for hire
+
==External links==
  
=== Other facilities ===
+
* [https://www.cd-cc.si/en CD website]
Hall TR3 (1,127m²),  
+
* [https://www.cd-cc.si/en/halls Online presentation of CD facilities]
 +
* [https://www.cd-cc.si/katalog-informacij-javnega-znacaja Annual reports, organisational details, legislation] (in Slovenian)
 +
* [https://issuu.com/cankarjev_dom Extensive collection of programme booklets and other material from 2013 on] (in Slovenian and English)
 +
* [http://architectuul.com/architecture/republic-square Ravnikar's Republic Square, ''Architectuul'']
 +
* [https://www.dnevnik.si/1042897841 Preview of CD's 40th season, ''Dnevnik'', September 2019] (in Slovenian)
 +
* [https://www.rtvslo.si/news-in-english/cankarjev-dom-will-open-up-slovenia-to-the-world/360989 Interview with DG Uršula Cetinski upon her appointment, MMC, March 2015]
  
Grand Reception Hall (1,127m²),
 
  
1st Foyer Hall (997m²),
+
{{Gallery}}
  
2nd Foyer Hall (720m²),
 
  
Conference Rooms (60m², 74m², 75m², 90m², 92m², 106m², 117m², 120m², 229m², 280m²),
+
[[Category:Venues]]
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[[Category:Film venues]]
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[[Category:Music venues]]
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[[Category:Concert halls]]
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[[Category:Theatre venues]]
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[[Category:Dance venues]]
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[[Category:New media art venues]]
  
CD Gallery (364m²),
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[[Category:Cultural centres]]
  
Small Gallery (303m²),
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[[Category:Festival organisers]]
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[[Category:Film festival organisers]]
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[[Category:Music festival organisers]]
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[[Category:Theatre festival organisers]]
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[[Category:Architecture exhibition organisers]]
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[[Category:Design exhibition organisers]]
  
Videotheque,
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[[Category:Architecture exhibition venues]]
  
literary and culture club facilities
 
  
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[[Category:Maribor, European Capital of Culture 2012]]
  
[[sl:Cankarjev Dom]]
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[[Category:Africa]]
  
[[Category:Venues]] [[Category:Festivals]] [[Category:Congreses]] [[Category:Conferences]]
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[[Category:EU funding of Slovene organisations (Culture and MEDIA Programmes)]]  
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[[Category:EU Culture funding recipient]]
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[[Category:EU MEDIA funding recipient]]
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[[Category:EU Creative Europe, MEDIA funding recipient]]
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[[Category:National cultural institutions]]
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[[Category:Jazz]]
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[[Category:Design_exhibition_and_event_organisers]]
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[[Category:Film_festival_and_event_organisers]]
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[[Category:Music_festival_and_event_organisers]]
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[[Category:Theatre_festival_and_event_organisers]]

Latest revision as of 21:34, 27 March 2024




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Cankarjev dom, kulturni in kongresni center
Prešernova 10, SI-1000 Ljubljana
Phone386 (0) 1 241 7100
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Cankarjev dom Cultural and Congress Centre 2013 01.jpgCankarjev dom, Cultural and Congress Centre with a monument to Ivan Cankar (by Slavko Tihec) on the main platform, 2013. The centre was designed by Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar in 1977, and constructed in the early 1980s.

Cankarjev dom (CD) in Ljubljana is the country's largest cultural and congress centre, and one of the largest in the Balkan and SEE region. It provides around 36,000 square metres of space, and holds over 1,200 events annually. CD opened in 1980 and was the last part of the Revolution Square (Trg revolucije) complex to be completed. Like the rest of the complex, it was designed by renowned Slovenian architect Edvard Ravnikar, who had been a student of Jože Plečnik and, briefly, Le Corbusier in the late 1930s.

In common with most state-funded national cultural centres elsewhere in the world, CD provides a space for almost all major art forms, with a particular emphasis on music and the performing arts. It is also Slovenia's premier conference and convention centre.




History

The proposal for a national cultural centre was first put forward in 1975 when preparations were being made to mark the centenary of the birth of writer Ivan Cankar (1876–1918), after whom it would be named. Despite considerable bureaucratic and financial obstacles, ground was broken on the project in January 1978, on a site that had formerly been owned by the Ursuline Monastery in Ljubljana and nationalised in 1960. In his design, which was nevertheless striking, Ravnikar was keen to avoid overwhelming the proportions of the rest of the square. This led to a sizeable portion of the auditoriums being placed underground.

CD's first events were held in the spring of 1980 (in Linhart Hall), although it was not until 1982 that the site became fully operational. The famous monument to Cankar by sculptor Slavko Tihec, which stands adjacent to one of the main entrances, was unveiled in 1982.

Over the years, CD has established itself as a major tour stop for world-class ensemble and individual performers in almost all branches of music and the performing arts, with younger experimental artists also gaining an ever-stronger foothold. It has also become a prolific organiser or host, alone and in collaboration, of a wide variety of festivals; these include the Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe), Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival, Ljubljana Jazz Festival, Bi Flamenko International Flamenco Festival, the Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration and the Slovenian Book Fair.

Organisation and funding

CD is constituted as a public institute (javni zavod) providing a public service in the area of arts and culture; as such, its main programme is funded by the state via the Ministry of Culture, as well as, at various times, by the Creative Europe – MEDIA programme, foreign embassies based in Ljubljana, the French Institute in Slovenia and the Goethe-Institut Ljubljana, among others.

The centre is also free to pursue market-funded activities in the form of fairs, conferences, conventions and certain international projects, as long as they accord with its general policies, and to raise funds through ticket sales, merchandise, donations and sponsorship. In 2018 these non-budget funds accounted for just under 47% of total income.

CD is led by a director-general, of which there have been only three since 1980: Miran Kert (1980–1982), Mitja Rotovnik (1982–2014) and Uršula Cetinski (2014–). Programming takes place across six departments, each with its own director: classical music, opera and ballet (Ingrid Gortan), theatre and contemporary dance (Andrej Jaklič), jazz and world music (Bogdan Benigar), exhibitions (Nina Pirnat-Spahić), film (Simon Popek) and cultural education/humanities (Barbara Rogelj). The director-general is supported in their work by the institute's council (svet zavoda) and by a council of experts (strokovni svet) responsible for ensuring that CD operates in accordance with all the relevant legislation.

Programmes

Music

CD's Music Programme spans a wide variety of genres and styles, with a particular emphasis on classical music, jazz, roots and folk music music. It has been the main organiser of Ljubljana Jazz Festival since 1982 (although the festival's roots go back much further, to 1960), and stages several medium- and large-scale opera or ballet co-productions every year. A range of season tickets are available for various strands of CD's music programme (orchestral and symphonic, chamber music, contemporary classical, roots and folk music, and so on).

CD also stages several major performances a year by popular local and regional artists (Vlado Kreslin, Magnifico, Janez Bončina, Rade Šerbedžija and the like) on a lease basis, i.e. they are not produced by CD itself, and provides venues for the annual Druga Godba international music festival, which takes place in late May.

Theatre and dance

An extensive Theatre and Dance Programme is another major feature of CD operations, with a particular focus on new works in theatre, physical theatre, contemporary dance and contemporary ballet, particularly by international companies and artists.

Film

With Ljubljana well-served elsewhere by arthouse and world cinema, the Film Programme is free to specialise in festival-based offerings, which are mostly staged in Linhart Hall and the smaller Kosovel Hall. It organises and co-hosts Ljubljana International Film Festival (LIFFe) and Ljubljana Documentary Film Festival (in November and March, respectively) and, since 2007, has co-hosted the Mountain Film Festival, which takes place in February. CD is also one of the main distributors of art film production throughout Slovenia, a member of the Europa Cinemas network and a founder member of the Slovenian Art Cinema Association.

Exhibitions

Major exhibitions are held in the Cankarjev dom Gallery – highlights in recent years include exhibitions on Ancient Greek science and technology, cult scientist Nikola Tesla and Slovenian writer-traveller Alma Karlin, and exhibitions of photography by Robert Kapa and Henri Cartier-Bresson. The gallery also hosts the Biennial of Slovene Book Illustration.

The Small Gallery has a long tradition of staging photography exhibitions. Exhibition space is also available in the Europlakat Gallery, which is located in the First Foyer, one of the centre's main trade fair and reception areas.

Literature

The Slovenian Book Fair, which takes place in November, is one of the most important dates in the centre's calendar. CD also co-produces and co-hosts the Stories Today storytelling festival and the Fabula world literature festival. CD began a new series/festival of talks in 2020, Slovenia 2050, which explores the future of the country with the help of scientists, social scientists and artists.

The late 2010s also saw three major festivals devoted to literary figures, all of them exploring the life and work of the chosen writer through theatre performances, exhibitions, lectures and talks: Shakespeare (2016), Tolstoy (2017) and Ivan Cankar (2018/19, to mark the centenary of the writer's death).

The Lili Novy Glass Hall, formerly the Lili Novy Club, holds smaller-scale talks, readings and book launches. It is named after one of Slovenia's most distinguished 20th century poets, and was renovated in 2019.

Subscription series

While single tickets are almost always available for performances of music, ballet, opera and dance, CD has for many years operated a system of subscription series (abonmaji), which enables audiences to pay up front and secure their seats for a particular strand of programming across a single season. For music, these are the Gold series (generally for larger-scale orchestral and symphonic performances); the Silver series (for chamber work and soloists); the Blue and Orange series (for Slovene Philharmonic Orchestra concerts, replaced by the NOW, PC and SMS series from the 2020/21 season); and the Kromatika series (for RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra concerts). There are two season tickets available for lovers of contemporary music: the self-explanatory Music of the World series, and the Tuesday Clubbing series, which mainly presents jazz, rock and various flavours of roots music at the CD Club.

The Magnificent 7 series, introduced for the 2015/16 season, caters specifically to opera, ballet and theatre, and there are series for younger audiences as well: My First Subscription (ages 5–10), Ivan (11–15) and Cankar (15 and up). The children's series run across programmes, incorporating music, theatre, ballet and storytelling.

Venues

Exhibitions

Cankarjev dom has two main visual arts and exhibition spaces: Cankarjev dom Gallery (364m²) and the Small Gallery (303m²). Exhibition space is also available in the Europlakat Gallery, situated in the First Foyer (1,576m²).

Performing arts

  • Gallus Hall (Gallusova dvorana): size 2,000m², capacity 1,545 (large multi-purpose theatre, symphonic and chamber music, opera and ballet, drama, dance, jazz, entertainment, recitals, multimedia events, conventions)
  • Linhart Hall (Linhartova dvorana): 880m², 562 (small multipurpose theatre, dance, film, entertainment, multimedia events, poetry readings, conventions, lectures)
  • Štih Hall (Štihova dvorana): 323m², 253 (theatre-in-the-round, concerts, theatre, literary events, congress events)
  • Kosovel Hall (Kosovelova dvorana): 273m², 170 (studio theatre, experimental theatre, film, video, congress events)
  • Duša Počkaj Hall (Dvorana Duše Počkajeve): 116m², 72 (black box theatre, experimental theatre, dance, congress events)
  • CD Club (Klub Cankarjeva doma): 472m², 270 (club room with stage, bar facilities and panoramic terrace, music, congress events, receptions, business lunches)

Other venues and facilities

  • Grand Reception Hall (Velika sprejemna dvorana): 1,306m² (exhibitions, music, exhibitions receptions)
  • First Foyer (Prvo preddverje): 1,576m² (CD logistical hub, exhibitions, trade fairs, receptions)
  • Second Foyer (Drugo preddverje): 1,351m² (adaptable configuration, exhibitions, receptions, corporate hospitality)
  • Lili Novy Glass Hall (Steklena dvorana Lili Novy): 90m² (talks, lectures, readings, corporate hospitality, press conferences)
  • E and M conference rooms (Konferenčne dvorane E in M): 10 rooms, 60m²–280m²

See also

Programme departments

Galleries

Festivals

External links


Gallery