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Slovakia

8. Creativity and Culture

8.4 Promoting culture and cultural participation

Last update: 20 February 2026

Promoting culture  

  1. The Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic (hereinafter MK SR) contributes to better access of young people to culture through several systematic support-measures: 

a)  Culture for Schools Programme

  • In 2024, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic announced its intention to reform the cultural voucher system and replace the universal distribution of vouchers with a new model of cooperation with schools entitled “Culture for Schools.” The new system replaced the cultural voucher scheme introduced in 2006, which had been undergoing transformation since 2022. In 2023, part of the support for non-formal education was transferred to the Slovak Arts Council through the call “Art for Schools.”

  • Since 2025, the “Culture for Schools” project has been implemented as a ministerial programme of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic, providing direct funding for educational activities in cultural institutions in order to facilitate pupils’ contact with culture and cultural heritage. The programme is carried out through a network of organisations established by the Ministry (it does not constitute a separate grant mechanism).
  • In 2025, the first activities were delivered primarily by state cultural institutions, including the Slovak National Museum, the Slovak Design Center, the University Library in Bratislava, the State Scientific Library in Prešov, and the Centre for Traditional Folk Culture – the Slovak Folk Art Collective (SĽUK). At the same time, key priority areas under the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture include the protection, preservation and presentation of immovable cultural heritage at the national level, as well as support for the culture of disadvantaged population groups.

b) Subsidies on culture of disadvantaged groups (including youth)  

In 2025, MK SR granted the applications for funding in the field of non-formal education and research in the amount of 250 000 €.  

Some of the projects supported in 2025 aimed at youth are: 

  1. Ezop z chatrče, INDRIEL o. z., - an educational puppet story motivates children to make responsible decisions and overcome barriers, 15 000 EUR. 

  2. 43rd Annual “Úsmev ako dar” Christmas Benefit Concert - a charitable concert promoting supportive relationships and healthy development for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, 15 000 EUR.

  3. Aj my vieme tancovať” (We Can Dance Too), Pohronské osvetové stredisko (Žiar nad Hronom) - a dance-based project promoting inclusion, movement, and social interaction among disadvantaged youth, 3135 EUR.

  4. Let’s Show Deaf Youth Positive Role Models, DeafStudio (Prešov) - a video project presenting successful deaf individuals to inspire confidence and identity among deaf youth, 3000 EUR. 

c) Free entry to cultural institutions also for marginalized groups (including youth, families with children and others)  

  1. KULT MINOR- Fund for the support of the culture of national minorities (including youth from minority background). 

The Fund for the Support of the Culture of National Minorities (hereinafter the “Fund”) is established by Act no. 138/2017 Coll. on the Fund for the Support of the Culture of National Minorities. 

The Fund: 

  • supports the development of cultural and educational activities in the field of intercultural dialogue and national minorities, 

  • supports theatrical, musical, dance, visual and audiovisual arts, 

  • supports the development of literary and publishing activities, 

  • preserves and protects the development of the identity and cultural values ​​of national minorities, 

  • supports the education and training in the field of the rights of national minorities, 

  • creates conditions for the development of intercultural dialogue and for better understanding between Slovak citizens the and citizens belonging to national minorities and ethnic groups, 

  • supports scientific activities in the field according to § 1 par. 1 of the Fund Act. 

In 2021, The Slovak Artisic Council provides grants or scholarships aimed at financing these activities: 

  • hobby artistic activity and leisure activities, 

  • non-professional art, 

  • educational projects, 

  • support for the upbringing and education of children and young people in the field of the rights of national minorities, 

  • support of adult education and training in the field of national minority rights, 

  • analytical, expert and publishing activities in the field of the rights of national minorities, 

  • research on the culture, way of life, history, language and identity of persons belonging to minorities 

  • foreign cultural activities and international cultural activities. 

Regions and municipalities 

  • ensure the development of culture and art in the region according to the relevant laws (on the general establishment, on the self-government of Upper-Tier territorial units) for all groups of the population, including the group of children and youth, 

  • regional conceptions of cultural development reflect the objectives of the The Strategy of the Development of Culture of Slovak Republic, for example Nitra Region. 

  • the topic promoting youth creativity and entrepreneurship is also included in the Conception of the Development of Youth Work in individual self-governing regions, for example  Prešov Region, cities and municipalities have their own strategy of development of culture, for example Košice city, the group of children and youth is explicitly included in various strategic objectives and measures 

Disseminating information on cultural opportunities 

There are no programs, policies, projects, or initiatives at national level in Slovakia that inform young people specifically about the possibilities of cultural activities. 

Young people can use national information portals for youth providing a variety of information: 

These are funded from the State budget of the Slovak Republic and EU funds. 

ICP (8.2.) offers information on culture and creativity. 

Knowledge of cultural heritage amongst young people 

In 1993 Slovakia joined the “European Heritage Days” initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Commission. In 2010, the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic entrusted the role of coordinators to the Association of Historic Towns and Municipalities of Slovakia. In 2017, this commission was extended to the civic association ICOMOS Slovakia - National Committee of the International Council on Monuments and Sites. The theme of the 2021 event is 2021 “Inclusive Heritage” (“Heritage for Everyone”). 

ICP (8.2.) project MemoGym: Strengthening the European Memory - An educational project to strengthen historical memory in the spirit of European values, focusing in particular on the attractiveness of the way of communication with young audiences. An interactive exhibition of life-size puppets, representing six Slovak personalities who, by their lifelong attitude and work, have preserved and cultivated democratic European values ​​and orientation of (Czecho)slovakia towards advanced democratic European states.