The second wave of the Slovenská Tepláreň initiative will take place in September. You can now register your venue or project.
The second wave of the Slovenská Tepláreň initiative will take place across Slovakia from September 12 to 24, 2023. You can register your club, bar, pub and other space or art project until May 12 at slovenskateplaren@pohodafestival.sk. Join the more than 650 venues that signed up for this initiative during the first wave.
12. April 2023
The Slovenská Tepláreň initiative was founded in response to the terrorist attack outside the Tepláreň bar in Bratislava. It continues to this day in the form of the Tepláreň Nahlas discussion series held in various Slovak regions. The next discussion will take place on April 18 in Komárno and will be held in Hungarian for the first time, followed by discussions in Bratislava (May 1), Piešt'any (May 26) and Trnava (June 17).
According to the organisers, the goals of Slovenská Tepláreň have not been achieved, so a second wave will be held from September 12 to 24. “We note with dismay that even the terrorist attack has not changed the attitude towards LGBTI+ people in Slovakia, but on the contrary, activities against their natural rights are on the rise again. The first wave of Slovenská Tepláreň brought together many great people from all regions of Slovakia who care about changing our country for the better. We believe that many other organisations, institutions, and artists will join us. It's up to each of us what kind of country we will live in," says Michal Kaščák from Pohoda Festival, which initiated the project.
"We are one country, we are brothers and sisters, LGBTI+ people are part of Slovak families. Let's not let lies and hoaxes about LGBTI+ people tear our families apart. Let's not allow misinformation about the rainbow community to divide society. Enough of the hate. Let's all begin to look for a way to live together in one country with dignity and mutual respect," adds Roman Samotný, founder and owner of the Tepláreň bar.
The Slovenská Tepláreň series of events has become the largest cultural event in the history of Slovakia, winning the Diversity Award for Arts and Culture and, in March, a special award at the Radio_Head Awards, presented by Rádio_FM for the first time in its fifteen-year history. It was also named Communications Achievement of the Year 2022 at the national Effie Marketing Communications Effectiveness Awards.
Initiative Statement:
Slovenská Tepláreň
We want to contribute to positive change in our country, which has been affected by expressions of hatred and the terrorist attack on October 12, when Matúš Horváth and Juraj Vankulič were murdered.
We want Slovakia to be a country where everyone can feel safe and where belonging to a minority is accepted with respect as a natural part of society.
We want to call on people to vote in the upcoming elections for those parties that unite society and that work to ensure that Slovakia fulfils the rights enshrined in our Constitution and in our European commitments for all people without discrimination.
We want to change the legislation so that it guarantees a full life for all people in Slovakia.
We want our support for LGBTI+ people to be heard, we believe in the power of art and civil society and that is why we are organising the second wave of Slovenská Tepláreň Festival.
The event will take place from September 12 to 24, 2023 across Slovakia.
You can register your club, bar, pub and other space or art project for the Slovenská Tepláreň initiative until May 12 at slovenskateplaren@pohodafestival.sk.
Slovenská Tepláreň website: www.slovenskateplaren.sk