Slovenia honours artists on Culture Day

However, the main event already took place, as the Prešeren Prizes, top national accolades in arts and culture, were given out last night.

Two lifetime achievement prizes were given out this year, going to theatre costume designer Bjanka Adžić Ursulov and independent documentary director Filip Robar Dorin.

The Prešeren Fund also gave out six prizes for exceptional artistic work over the course of the past three years. These went to choir conductor Martina Batič, composer Tomaž Svete, poet Jure Jakob, actor Maruša Majer, animated film maker Dušan Kastelic and architects Aljoša Dekleva and Tina Gregorič Dekleva.

The award ceremony is usually a topical affair and last night was no different. In the keynote, Prešeren Fund board chair Vinko Möderndorfer was critical of the employment situation of many artists who are forced to freelance and barely making ends meet....