When a red thread connects people through stories of learning

The National Opening of Lifelong Learning Weeks 2026, held on 8 May at the Slovenj Gradec Cultural Centre, was far more than simply the launch of another national campaign. From the very first ideas, the organisers – the joint teams of MOCIS – Centre for Adult Education Slovenj Gradec and the Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (SIAE) – knew they wanted to create something visitors would carry with them and remember long after the final applause. And, if we are completely honest, the organisers themselves took away much more than completed checklists and exhaustion after weeks of preparation.

The central theme of this year’s event, Between Solzice and the Written Word, was not chosen by chance. The title was inspired by “Solzice,” a well-known work by the Slovenian author Prežihov Voranc.

Through images, music, words, emotions and memory, we sought to present stories of learning from across Slovenia in a way inspired by the spirit of the Koroška region. Drawing on Prežihov Voranc’s literary works Samorastniki and Solzice, the event intertwined themes of resilience, tenderness and the enduring importance of reading. Contemporary light projections, dance, music and the personal stories of the recipients of the SIAE Awards further enriched the experience.

Read more in the SIAE Newsletter here.