Puppet theatre represents Slovakia abroad
THE KOŠICE PUPPET THEATRE will represent Slovakia at the international puppet event Festival Méli'môme in the French town of Reims. The Košice artists captured the attention of the director of the French festival at a puppet event in Banská Bystrica three years ago. The Košice theatre was the only Slovak ensemble invited to France.
The 11-member team will present Braček Jelenček (Little brother deer), which contains elements characteristic of Slovak folklore. "We should give five or six performances there. Certainly it will be interesting for the French," the artistic director of the theatre, Ivan Sogel, told TASR news wire.
The festival in Reims will take place from March 22 to April 4.
Földvári receives literature award
Kornel Földvári with the Dominik Tatarka Award.
photo: TASR
THE DOMINIK TATARKA Literature Award for 2006 went to Kornel Földvári for his book O karikatúre (About Caricature) and his positive spirit. The chairman of the jury and president of the M. R. Štefánik Conservative Institute, Peter Zajac, presented the award to the writer, publicist, fine arts and literature reviewer, and translator in Bratislava's Pálffy Palace on March 14.
This prestigious award for literature is given to authors who write exceptional literary works exemplifying the humanistic traditions of Slovak culture. The award is the intellectual legacy of Dominik Tatarka (1913-1989), an important dissident of the 20th century.
About Caricature consists of studies, essays, reviews and contemplations about fine arts, which Földvari, 75, wrote over the last 20 years. It also contains the work of Slovak and international cartoonists.
The Dominik Tatarka Prize was first given in 1995 to Milan Hamada. Among those awarded in its 13-year-long history are Dušan Dušek, Ivan Štrpka, Pavel Vilikovský, and František Mikloško.
Tatra Gallery reconstructs Elektráreň
Elektráreň is getting new windows courtesy of the Tatra Gallery.
photo: Tatra Gallery
THE TATRA GALLERY in Poprad has started another phase of refurbishing Elektráreň, the former steam power station. During this phase the historical building will get new windows, doors and a face-lift of its facade. Costs were calculated at Sk2 million.
The reconstruction of Elektráreň started in 2003. By 2006, Sk6.6 million had been poured into the project. The power plant has seen its windows and roof replaced and its electricity network repaired, all part of an effort to restore it to its original condition.
"We have divided the reconstruction into four phases and the first one is already behind us," said Tatra Gallery director Anna Ondrušeková to the SITA news wire. After the exterior of the power station has been redone, the project will move inside. The chimney, which has become the mark of the Elektráreň, is also in poor condition and needs repair.
Total costs of the reconstruction were calculated at Sk50 million. The Tatra Gallery has recently obtained a permit for reconstruction of the entire building. The gallery wants to obtain the necessary funds from the European Union.
The power plant, built a century ago, served its original purpose from 1912 to the start of communism. It started deteriorating in the late 1950s, but has been carefully preserved since 2003, when it was added to a list of cultural monuments. After the 1989 revolution, the dilapidated factory became the property of the town, which rented it to the Tatra Gallery in 1993 for 50 years.
By Jana Liptáková
