Develop events
To develop diverse and accessible cultural events.
OUR PROJECTS
About Burja
Introduction
The modern social constellation with rapid changes in the social, technological and environmental field is becoming increasingly complex. Various events and phenomena that affect our lives require systematic approach and critical reflection. In this context, the non-profit institution Burja focuses on cultural, artistic and educational activities aimed at highlighting the key problems in these areas and developing critical thinking. The Institute performs activities both for the general public and for the most vulnerable groups of citizens.
Purpose
The purpose of the Institution is to empower vulnerable social groups in Slovenia and in the wider region; to develop educational, cultural and artistic programmes as well as other activities that strengthen a responsible, tolerant and creative society.
The team
We are a group of independent experts and enthusiasts who believe that systematic development of critical thinking about the current phenomena of social and cultural life can contribute both to public good and to empowerment of vulnerable groups and individuals. We believe that developing knowledge, skills and relations in cultural, artistic and educational fields can contribute to an open and solidarity society.
Damir Hauptman is a graduate aviation engineer. He started to work at the Airport Ljubljana after many years of experience in implementing construction and logistic projects. He quickly moved from his profession to his own passion, socially and culturally engaged activities. He focuses on the empowerment of various vulnerable groups and the implementation of various projects in the field of culture and civil rights. He firmly believes in peace, tolerance, culture and intercultural dialogue.
Dragan Miranovič studied mathematics and computer science at the University of Ljubljana. He began his career as a programmer. Later on, he began to work independently as an accountant. In this field of work, he has been persisting for two decades. He is an activist for equality and human rights. In his free time, he is passionate about sports and recreation.
Ivana Novak is a film theoretician and publicist, a curator of film classics at Television of Slovenia (RTV) and a book editor in the field of film theory. She edited monographs at the Slovene Cinematheque Towards the End: Contemporary TV Series and Seriality, Case Lubitsch (translated into English and German), Film Reflection: Stanley Cavell and To the Last Laugh: Preston Sturges. She is a candidate for a doctoral title in the Department of Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts. Her fields of interest include history and theory of comedy, classical cinema, television series and musical composition. She is also active in the production of various media content (journalism, radio and television production, editing, recording, editing, speech, etc.). She also works as a musician, currently working on a solo music album.
Dr. Jela Krečič Žižek is a writer, professor at University of Ljubljana and philosopher. She has worked as a journalist at the Delo newspaper house for two decades. In her theoretical work, she focuses on film, television series, the celebrity system, contemporary art and aesthetics. In addition to professional articles, publications and books she has written in the field of film, TV series, contemporary art and aesthetics, she has also published two novels – None Like Her, which was translated into English and nominated for the Dublin Book Award 2018 and the The Book of Others, which was published in 2018.
Klavdija Štarkel is a lawyer with a state bar exam, with experience in criminal law and with a primary interest in criminal policy, philosophy of law and punishment, and legal psychological discipline.
Petra Terpin is a university graduate engineer in food technology, currently employed as a technologist in a pharmaceutical company. She has rich professional experience in environmental and food microbiology, genetics and process technology. She is a fan of literature and culture.
Tomi Prosnik is a reformed banker and entrepreneur, currently works for the CEZAM Ruše Public Institution, which provides infrastructure and content in the fields of sports, culture and youth. By introducing new principles in the functioning of public administration and innovative projects, he wants to contribute to development of a civil society and to ensure quality of life, locally and wider. He is a human resource manager with several years of experience in management, project management, organization, entrepreneurship, education and employment.
Voranc Vogel joined the team of Delo photographers in 1996 while still in high school. After graduating from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Primorska with a degree in cultural studies and anthropology, he continued his studies in photography at the Paris Institute SPEOS, at workshops with the agency VII in Ljubljana, and with the Magnum agency in London. His photographs have been published in national and international publications. He has received numerous awards for his work, including an award for the best photograph in culture category at the Slovenia Press Photo competition(2011), for the best story in culture category (SPP, 2012), an award for special achievements from the Journalists’ Association of Slovenia (2013), and a journalism Watchdog award (DNS, 2014). He is the author of four solo exhibitions and has co-authored numerous group exhibitions at home and abroad.(2013), and a journalism Watchdog award (DNS, 2014). He is an author of eight solo exhibitions and co-authored numerous group exhibitions at home and abroad.
Ivana Stipić Lah she began to work in journalism as a student, back in 1998. She worked for many newspapers, radio and television companies. Among others she worked as a reporter in Afghanistan. She taught journalism techniques and photography, what she shared with journalist students and professional journalists all over Afghanistan. In Slovenia she has been engaged in production and is dedicated to dealing with vulnerable and minority groups. She also teaches Croatian language to children of the second immigrant generation and creates a radio and television program for minorities on RTV Slovenia.
Develop critical thought
to develop critical social thought based on freedom of expression, the promotion of equal opportunities and social cohesion,
Develop reflection
To develop a reflection of contemporary and current cultural, artistic and social trends.
OUR OBJECTIVES
Spread diversity
To contribute to the diversity of cultural products and services, which also include the tradition and culture of various minority groups.
Intercultural cooperation
To promote intercultural cooperation and the sense of belonging to the community and to prevent radicalization in society.
Strenghten roles
To strengthen the active role of members of vulnerable social groups through non-formal education in the field of culture, arts and social sciences with the aim of increasing knowledge, skills in these areas, and to improve the quality of relations between people of different cultures and identities.
Events
Discussions: How to include minority organizations in local communities
Ensuring the dignity of an individual is not only a constitutional imperative, but also a statement of the democratic arrangement of the state and its respect for cultural diversity. The culture of minorities is an important area in which different nationalities maintain and develop their own identity. The debate on how to actively engage minority organizations in activities of local communities is just a step towards the goal of avoiding the danger that minorities lose interest in their culture and assimilate into a larger and more culturally powerful society. Open discussions, which will include representatives of various minority organizations and experts, will cover on the topics of how to improve the management capacities of minority organisations, how to improve communication between the local communities and members of minorities, how to overcome the lack of institutional, financial and moral support for the minority organizations, how to develop knowledge and skills of minority members in minority organizations and how to engage minority members in the activities of local communities. One of the objectives of this event is also to prepare a strategic cooperation programme between minority organizations and local communities.
Education: Cultural funding
The workshop is intended for anyone who wants to be acquainted with national and EU programmes and explore the possibilities of obtaining funds in the field of culture. The workshop that is based on practical examples focuses on understanding project documentation, project application and implementation of projects at different levels. Participants learn how to write project applications, how to manage different stages of a project, especially time management, financial and material resources for the implementation and supervision as well as evaluate a project. The workshop features qualified experts of national and European programs.
Exhibition and workshop: The festival of minority art
The main idea of the festival, which includes an exhibition and a workshop of minority art designers, is to present unique art products to friends, acquaintances, relatives and the general public. The aim of the project is to illustrate the quality and diversity of culture of minorities, which serves as a field for creating identities and different views on the identity of minorities. At the workshop, participants, together with well-established handwork designers, learn about various traditional techniques, methods and products that are typical for different minority cultures. Participants also learn how to create different techniques for designing jewellery and textiles, train to process different kinds of materials, and get ideas for gifts, souvenirs and clothing.
Education: Intercultural competencies in overcoming intercultural differences
The ability to operate successfully and communicate in today’s multicultural and international environment is one of the key competences. In everyday life, we encounter people of different cultural backgrounds and traditions. The aim of the workshop is to raise questions in relation to intercultural dialogue, perceiving the diversity of cultures, overcoming stereotypical performances, etc. At the workshop, participants improve the anticipation and understanding of what is happening in different intercultural situations. Techniques and ideas are presented to assist in working in an intercultural environment. The basic elements of intercultural skills are addressed in order to successfully build relationships and communication in different cultural situations.
Education: Photographic workshop
At the workshop, participants discuss basics photographic techniques and theories, adapted to the specific needs of the participants. The latter learn about camera operation, various photo techniques and the choice of photo motives. They also learn about creative approaches in photography. In addition, the workshop covers fieldwork as well.
Past Events
Lubitsch aus Berlin / Lubitsch from Berlin
Institute Burja was the co-organiser of the international conference of film theory LUBITSCH AUS BERLIN / LUBITSCH FROM BERLIN, held in Kino Babylon in Berlin from 26 to 28 January 2018.
The conference was the first large public debate of Ernst Lubitsch’s films in Berlin where Lubitsch began his influential career before moving to Hollywood. Later Lubitsch became the most famous and celebrated author of the pre-code as well as late classical American film comedy, directing many romantic and sophisticated comedies in the 1930s and 1940s such as Ninotchka, To Be or Not to Be, and Shop around the Corner. Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Žižek and German film director Volker Schlöndorff held the introductory public discussion. The next two days brought many lectures by Slovenian, American, Austrian and Israeli philosophers among whom were Alenka Zupančič, Mladen Dolar, Yuval Kremnitzer, James Harvey, Jela Krečič, Gregor Moder, Ivana Novak, Robert Pfaller and Aaron Schuster.
Janko Glazer’s solemn poetry academy
Institute Burja has co-organized JANKO GLAZER’S POET ACADEMY event in cooperation with the Youth Center Ruše (CEZAM), which took place at the Cultural Center Ruše, 23. March 2018.
The poetry – musical and literary evening was recited by poets from Mongolia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey by reading the poems of Janko Glazer in various translations. The distinguished giest of the event was Prešeren’s prize winner for lifetime work, poet, writer, playwright, essayist and translator Boris A. Novak.
Supporters
The purpose, goals and activities of our institute are supported by
Andrej Miholič
longtime journalist in the foreign policy department of the newspaper Delo, formerly responsible editor of the Delo.si portal.
Dr. Boris A. Novak
poet, playwright, author of the epic ‘’ Vrata nepovrata’’ (2015-2017) and professor at the Comparative Literature Department of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana.
Dr. Boža Krakar Vogel
literary historian, retired professor of literature at the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana, author of numerous textbooks and professional publications.
Boštjan Narat
Musician and philosopher, founder of the musical group Katalena, PhD of Philosophy and History teacher. Works as a musician, publishes articles in professional and literary journals, and lectures.
Jurij Meden
Film critic and author, head of the program department of the Austrian film museum, former curator of film exhibitions at George Eastman House in Rochester (New York) and former program director of the Slovene Cinematheque in Ljubljana.
Dr. Peter Krečič
art historian, lecturer, author of works: Slovenian constructivism and its European frameworks (1989), Jože Plečnik (1992), Plečnikova Ljubljana (2007).
Dr. Slavoj Žižek
philosopher, author of numerous books, recent Disparities (2016) and Incontinence of the Void (2017), researcher at Birkbeck College (University of London), professor at New York University and Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
Municipality Laško
Is a local community of about 14,000 inhabitants. It is part of the Slovenian Styria, and it belongs to the Savinja statistical region. The municipality gained worldwide reputation for its beautiful nature and thermal springs of water, on which the Brewery Laško, Terme Laško and Rimske Terme were developed. The most famous traditional event of the municipality is the Beer and Flower Festival.
Contacts
Zavod Burja
Ulica XIV. Divizije 10
3272 Rimske Toplice
e: info@zavod-burja.si
m: +386 41 577 074
On December 17, 2019, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia granted the Institute Burja Status of an organization in the public interest in the field of culture.