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YouthWiki

EACEA National Policies Platform
Slovakia

Slovakia

8. Creativity and Culture

8.5 Developing cultural and creative competences

Last update: 29 January 2024

8.5 Developing cultural and creative competences 

 

Acquiring cultural and creative competences through education and training 

 

 

Formal Education 

Cultural and creative competencies can young people in Slovakia acquire through: 

  • General Education  

  • Art Education 

General Education 

The content of teaching for prescholl, primary and secondary education is defined in the framework curricula in State educational programmes (provided by the  National Institute for Education): 

  • art and culture is one of the seven compulsory education themes, 

  • the acquisition of competences in the fields of art and culture is also guaranteed in integrated themes for example in media and multicultural education. 

Curriculum in Primary Schools (Grades 1-4): compulsory subjects Music education - 4 hours, Fine arts education - 4 hours. 

Curriculum in Primary Schools (Grades 5-9): compulsory subjects: Music education - 3 hours, Fine arts education - 3 hours, Education by art - 1 hour. 

Curriculum in Gymnasiums 4-5 Years (1st - 4th year): compulsory subjects: Art and culture - 4 hours. 

Curriculum in Gymnasiums (1st - 8th year) compulsory subjects: Music education - 2 hours, Fine Arts education - 2 hours, Education by art - 1 hour. 

The content of teaching for secondary schools is defined in the framework curricula of the State Institute for Vocational Training

  • there is no compulsory subject in the field of culture and art, 

  • exceptions are schools of artistic interests/specialisation, 

  • each school can decide to include a subject, for example with a focus on art and culture in the school educational programme. 

List of State educational programmes and educational programmes for formal education (kindergartens, primary schools, gymnasiums, conservatories, basic schools of arts, language schools, program for pupils with general intellectual talent, program for pupils with special educational needs, program for handicapped pupils). 

Vocational secondary schools: 

Schools with aim on utility art (graphic designer, photographer, blacksmith, restaurateur, etc.), they are both state and private ones, for example in Bratislava, Kežmarok, Košice, Nitra etc. 

 

 

Art Education/schooling 

  • Basic Schools of arts 

  • Conservatoires 

  • Higher education institutions with focus on art and culture 

Basic School of Arts: 

  • departments: musical, dancing, literary-dramatic, visual, audiovisual and multimedia production, 

  • the studies last 8 years, 

  • they are governed by independent State educational programme. 

Conservatoires 

  • the studies last 6-8  years, 

Higher Education and Universities: 

Non-formal education in the field of culture and art - youth work (extra-curricular activities) 

Educational events of cultural and artistic institutions: 

  • based on the principles of museum and gallery pedagogy. 

Slovak National Gallery (SNG) Bratislava  

  • programs for kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, 

  • following the curriculum of subjects such as History, Fine Arts, Slovak language, Creative drama and others, 

  • Themes of programs for schools, for example “About torture no words!” - symbol, visualization, cycle, art context etc.   

 

Slovak National Theatre (SND),Bratislava 

  • performances for children, 

  • participation on projects ETC – Young Europe III,  

  • social inclusive projects in partnerhip with non-profit subject Smile as Gift : charity project Theater for all children,  

  • educational activities Let's talk about theater, don't be afraid to discuss ..., 

  • Creative Writing Workshop within the festival New Drama! , 

  • art school and internship interconnection projects (Graduation concerts). 

 

 

Slovak National Gallery - Zvolen 

  • Themes of programs for schools, for example “Old Hero, New Story” on icons in Slovakia etc.   

Slovak National Gallery- Ružomberok  

Slovak National Gallery - Pezinok 

  • Programs for schools, for example “Why do we have galleries and museums?” - the importance of cultural and artistic institutions. 

Bratislava City Gallery  

  • Themes of programs for schools, for example “From behind the gallery” - methods of gallery pedagogy and possibilities of interpretation of contemporary art. 

  • School of Crafts - Informal Education for Children, Youth and Adults in Folk Crafts in Bratislava, Banská Bystrica and in Košice (pottery, carving, basketry, carpentry, bobbin lace work or weaving). 

LUDUS Theater  

  • theater connected to the primary private school of art

  • provides education in the literature and dramatic area, 

  • group teaching, 

  • drama training, essentials of drama creation, the basics of acting, rhythm, production, speech, work in the ensemble and role study 

  • summer theater studios, youth festivals such as “Pubertiak”  

Funding: state budget, private resources/sponsors and participants' contributions. 

Activities of the Youth Clubs network (CVČ): 

Youth Clubs (CVČ) belong to the network of school facilities (Educational Act).  

Employees of the state youth clubs are associated in professional organization Asociácia CVČ SR

Youth Clubs are governed by the State Educational Programme, which has several thematic areas focused on: 

  • education 

  • social - science 

  • labor and technical 

  • natural science - environment 

  • aesthetic-cultural area (art, musical, literary-dramatic) 

  • physical and sports. 

The aim of aesthetic and cultural area of the educational programme is:  

  • to strengthen the respect for cultural values, 

  • to develop the basics of relationship to classic art, 

  • to develop talent, creativity and specific skills, 

  • to show positive relation to the simple aesthetic adjustment of the environment, 

  • to participate in the preparation of cultural events, 

  • to discover beauty in everyday life. 

Youth Clubs organize: 

  • regular year-round clubs and groups, approximately 23% of them are focused on culture and art, 

  • irregular activities such as tours, cultural academies, balls, competitions, short courses. 

Target group - children and adolescents from 3 to 24 years of age. 

Funding: 

  • State budget via system of parity taxes through municipalities and towns 

  • Member fees of club and groups according to legislation given by the local government. 

Activities of children and youth organizations in the field of culture and art 

There are no official statistics mapping activities of youth organizations in the field of culture and art. Internal statistics Erasmus+ (chapter Youth and Sport) showed that the Creativity and Culture is the second most frequently chosen topics of projects supported by the programme.   

Specialised training for professionals in the education, culture and youth fields 

Training of art and culture teachers 

- at universities and colleges especially at Faculties of Education for example in Nitra, Prešov, Bratislava and others. 

Further training/education of art and culture teachers 

Programs and their providers are accredited by Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (Act on Educational and Professional Staff).  

From 1255 accredited programs, there are 45 programs focusing on the subject of culture and art for school teachers. List of providers of accredited programs for art and culture teachers(2016). 

Examples of programs for art and culture teachers in 2017. 

  • Art techniques for the development of creativity 

  • Drama education 

  • Use of elements of folk art in art education etc. 

Education for youth workers 

Programs and their providers are accredited by Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic (Act on Youth Work Support).   

From 88 accredited providers, there are 2 programs focused on work with talented youth (NIVAM, AISEC). 

The largest provider of accredited education in youth work is NIVAM- Slovak Youth Institute. 

Education provided by the National Culture Centre 

The National Culture Centre provides education for cultural animator, dancer, cultural worker, hobby clubs manager etc. 

Funding: 

  • The State budget of the Slovak Republic, 

  • EU resources within the National ESF projects, 

  • Own resources of educational providers (donors, participants). 

Providing quality access to creative environments 

Measures to facilitate young people's access to the creative environment: 

National contests and exhibitions under the auspices of the National Culture Centre 

Objectives: promotion of interests in artistic activities through competitions and exhibitions. 

Areas where competitions and exhibitions are organized: 

  • folklore 

  • music 

  • drama 

  • artistic performances 

  • photography, film, fine arts 

Exhibitions and competitions for children and youth only: 

  • Pod Likavským hradom (Under the Likava Castle) – exhibition of children's folklore ensembles 

  • FEDIM - youth amateur drama 

  • Zlatá priadka  (Golden Yarn) – exhibition of childrens´ theatre ensembles, 

  • Hviezdoslavov Kubín – recitation of poetry and prose (children, youth and adults). 

  • Mládež spieva (Singing Youth) – singing choirs of children and youth 

Exhibitions and competitions are funded by the Slovak Arts Council  

  • public body independent from the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic 

  • provides support for artistic activities, culture and creative industries 

  • open calls for projects

Funding of competitions under the auspices of the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic 

  • state administration bodies, local authorities, NGOs, guilds and other legal entities may submit a proposal for the organization of a competition (proposition preparation, competition statute and others), 

  • the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic takes the auspices of the chosen competition and provides funding for the national round (national level), 

Target groups: 

  • children and pupils of pre-school, primary, secondary and higher education institutions, 

  • pupils of basic school of arts. 

Funding: 

  • the State budget of the Slovak Republic, 

  • 52 contestants in the field of culture and creativity in 2020, 

  • 400 000 € 

  • funding covers accommodation, food and organization of the competitions.