Slovakia: Košice is the European Capital of Culture 2013

Košice is, after Bratislava, the second biggest city in Slovakia. It is not
really that popular in terms of tourism but this is about to change. Košice is,
together with Marseille, the European
Capital of Culture 2013. Part of Košice’s culture should also be defined by
the Romany culture as about 5.000 Roma are living in this city.

The event is a wonderful opportunity for the city to create itself a new
image and to increase tourism. Furthermore such an event will establish a bigger
cultural scene. Who wants to become a European Capital of Culture needs to
present a cultural program according to which the decision is made if they will
get the status or not.

In 2008 the NGO Košice – European Capital of Culture 2013 was creating to
establish the program for their city. They were successful and got accepted. The
title is supposed to have an impact in the long term, not only culturally but
also socially and economically, both for the city and for the region.

The opening ceremony took place on the 19th and 20th of January. In their
cultural program they also included the Romany culture. The opening contained
also the topic “Music in the City”. On the 19th of January, in the framework of
“Music
in the City”, Mário Bihári, an accordionist and singer, who has been well
known chiefly for his collaboration with Zuzna Navarová and the KOA band, was
playing in the Marionette Theatre. He played Bachtale Apsa’s music which is
inspired by the Balkan, Hungarian, Romanian and Slovak Roma tunes. On day after
Muzika Petra Balogha was playing traditional Slovak and Roma tunes in the
Camelot.

The Romany culture is not just represented in area of music but also in the
theater. Košice is offering six different types of theater and one out of this
is Romathan. This theatre was already
established in 1992. They are performing in both Roma and Slovak language and
this makes this theater very special. It is the only theater of its kind in
Slovakia and defiantly worth a visit.

Through out the year there will be a lot of events going on in Košice. They
tried to include every cultural aspect of their city but still, the Roma are not
really mentioned in the upcoming program. Let’s hope that the good start will
continue and that they will not forget about the Romany culture which is also
part of the city.