Events in Trencin 2006
The subtitle „City Behind Walls" - identity versus image, gave the city of Trenčín opportunity for finding its own identity and value – through a retrospection into the city's own history, as well as by contemporary, new trends and challenges for the city that have contributed to its present development and image. Henceforth, there was a series of events organised throughout the whole year. These events aimed at involving the greatest variety of citizens into working on a common theme. Activities related to the topic of the Conference focused on finding the relationship of Trenčín people to their town, view of people (especially youngsters) on their own future and the future of their town in the European context.
Contest on students´projects: “Trenčín-City of my living”
The contest was dedicated to students of elementary schools in the age group of 12-14 years. Under the leadership of their teachers the pupils prepared projects concerning the history of Trencin. They were asked to paint some story, create some model (from paper, textile, wood,..), or prepare some creative or unusual explanation of some part from the history of their city. All works were presented to a jury and the public, the best ones were given a prize handed to them by Mr.Mayor. The winning team presented their project during the last working day of the conference City Behind Walls.
Historical seminar “Development of the City Fortifications of Trenčín”
Key speech of PhDr. Robert ZEMENE (Slovak historian) and public discussion with the historians about the history of Trenčín´s city walls
16th February 2006
Literary contest : “City Behind Walls– TRENČÍN 2006”
The contest was organised by the Public Library of M.Resetka, Trencin. It was open for professional or non-professional Slovak writers (including those living abroad as well).
Challenge : February 2006, evaluation: September 2006 Photogallery
International students´ workshop "OLD CITY IN A NEW JACKET "
In the occasion and parallely with the conference City Behind Walls also a students´ workshop was held in Trencin with the title of "Old city in a new jacket". It was a common project between six secondary schools from the towns ´s- Hertogenbosch-Rosmalen and Uden (Netherlands), Leuven (Belgium) and the city of Trenčín (Slovakia), which was represented by two secondary grammar schools and a Secondary school of art and design from Trencin. About 30 pupils in the age group of 16-18 under the leadership of their teachers were discussing about topics like identity and image of a city, perception of the city and its functions by youngsters, ideal city. The results from the workshop, including presentations of photographs and a short film produced during their one-week stay in Trencin, were presented to the participants of the conference City Behind Walls, during the last working session.
Questionnaire: “What is your relationship to the city?”
Students of marketing and management from the City University of Trenčín have disseminated 430 surveys among the inhabitants and visitors of Trenčín. The results were evaluated and presented in a city newspaper INFO. This topic was also presented and discussed during the conference City Behind Walls. The organizers tried to conduct similar polls in all paticipating cities - but only the city of Kuldiga provided them with results.
Illustrated serial about the history of Trenčín “Sketches of History”
An illustrated series talking about Trencin´s history was printed every two weeks in city newspaper INFO from January to September 2006. It was illustrated by the contemporary best Slovak illustrator Jozef Gertli DANGLAR. All the 20 illustrations with accompanying texts were collected, issued in a form of a booklet - in Slovak as well as in English and given as a gift to the participants of the conference. The rest will serve for further promotion of the city.
Trenčín Historic Festivities / Castle Festivities
Knights-tournaments, historical performances, fire shows, night visits of the Castle, historical market of original crafts, reconstruction of a Roman settlement right on the main square, and much more could have been seen in the courtyard of Trencin´s Castle and the historical centre of Trencin during a whole-week summer event. The festivities are held every year, but in the occasion of City Behind Walls the event was for the first time extended from the castle also to the main square and the duration was extended from two days to one week.
National session / Seminar of walled towns of Slovakia
The seminar of walled towns from the whole of Slovakia was organized in Trenčín by the Regional Monuments Restoration Institute of Trencin under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture of Slovak Republic. The summary, aims and results were mentioned during the conference “City Behind Walls”
The Reader of all presented contributions in Slovak and English will be prepared as well.
Date : beginning of October 2006
- and some other smaller projects prepared in Trencin on the occasion of City Behind Walls.
Special thanks to all collaborating institutions and subjects : Trenčín Regional Administration Office, Trenčín Museum, Michal Rešetka Public Library, State Archives – Trenčín office, Secondary Grammar School of Ľ. Štúr, Piarist Secondary Grammar School of J. Branecký, City University, Trenčín elementary schools, civic associations, sponsors, donors and many individual collaborators.
