Spanish and Slovenian Ministries of Culture strengthen cultural relations

The Minister for Culture, Ernest Urtasun, and his Slovenian counterpart, Asta Vrečko, during their visit to the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana (Slovenia)

The collaboration between the two Ministries of Culture is based on a shared vision regarding cultural rights and the importance of guaranteeing access to culture for the entire population. In this regard, Slovenia has developed a national project similar to the Cultural Rights Plan presented by the Spanish Ministry of Culture in 2025.

During the meeting, Urtasun and Vrečko agreed to bring a proposal for the protection of artists in situations of conflict or risk to the next meeting of the European Union's Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council (EYCS). Both countries will propose including on the agenda for debate the protection of artistic freedom, the right to culture, and the protection of its expressions as an inherent part of identity, within the context of situations of conflict or risk.

In this regard, Ernest Urtasun emphasised that "Europe is not sustained by institutions alone; it is sustained by its values, democratic culture, and a citizenry that participates critically in public life".

Furthermore, the Ministers of Culture of Spain and Slovenia addressed other issues shared by both countries, following up on the agreement signed within the framework of Mondiacult, UNESCO's World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, held in Barcelona last September.

During their meeting, Urtasun and Vrečko agreed to cooperate on cultural projects that promote sustainability. The Spanish minister has extended an invitation to Slovenian artists to participate in the first edition of the Climate Biennial, to be held in Avilés (Asturias) from 12 June to 20 September of this year.

The two ministers also agreed to launch an exchange programme for professionals in cultural heritage management. In the coming months, the state archives and museums of both countries will develop a joint programme proposal, within the framework of the International Agreement signed by both countries last year.

They also discussed the European Capital of Culture, which the Slovenian city of Nova Gorica held in 2025. In 2031, there will be a Spanish and a Maltese European Capital of Culture. Spain is currently in the first phase of the selection process for this title, with the cities of Burgos, Cáceres, Granada, Jerez de la Frontera, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Oviedo, Palma, Potries, and Toledo vying for the honour.

Another point discussed at the meeting was shared intangible cultural heritage. Spain has requested its inclusion in the international candidacy led by Slovenia to have beekeeping declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This candidacy promotes beekeeping as an activity with strong identity value and territorial management potential, and aims to contribute to safeguarding this practice, which faces multiple risks and threats caused by climate change, pesticides, globalisation, and a lack of generational succession.

Spain shares two other UNESCO World Heritage sites with Slovenia: the mercury heritage linked to the mercury mines in Almadén (Castilla-La Mancha) and Idrija; and the primary and mature beech forests of the Carpathians and other regions of Europe.

During their trip, the Minister for Culture, Ernest Urtasun, and the Slovenian Minister of Culture also visited the exhibition 'Festival of (In)Gratitude' by Lebanese artist Walid Raad at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana. This artist, whose works have been exhibited in Spanish museums such as the Reina Sofía National Museum and the Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, explores the construction of history, memory, and the documentation of conflicts through art. He often combines elements of reality and fiction to question how historical and visual narratives are produced, stored, and recounted.

Non official translation