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.
Behind the scenes
At first, everything sounded much simpler than it turned out to be. That changed once the organisers began coordinating dancers at the entrance, projections throughout the hall, guest arrivals, welcome refreshments, host duties, sound checks, the schedule for speakers and performers, video materials, the moderator’s script, protocol arrangements and even the question of whether someone would find the right cable in time. Not to mention accessibility for people with mobility impairments – although it certainly deserves a mention. In the end, the organisers concluded that organising such an event is itself one of the many forms of lifelong learning.
Through the close cooperation between the two organising teams, it quickly became evident how important mutual trust truly is. With its 31-year tradition of overseeing Lifelong Learning Weeks and the SIAE Awards, the SIAE contributed professional expertise and a strong sense of national perspective, while MOCIS brought local energy, creativity and strong ties to the community. It was precisely this combination that gave the event its distinctive character – professional enough to run smoothly, yet warm enough not to feel governed solely by protocol.
As visitors arrived at the Slovenj Gradec Cultural Centre, they were greeted by dancers from KR Dancing carrying a red thread – an early sign that this would be no ordinary event. The symbol of the red thread shaped the entire occasion as a connection between generations, stories, learning and people.
On stage
The event was given a particularly distinctive artistic dimension by creators working under the direction of Tomo Novosel. Hedera Vento, Band 6M and visual artist Tomislav Gangl created an atmosphere through the interplay of music and projections in which Voranc’s world genuinely came alive for a few moments among the audience. One of the most memorable aspects of the evening was observing how naturally different creators, generations and approaches connected with one another – from experienced organisers to young artists and care home residents. Performing today as Band 6M, the latter received enthusiastic applause for their inexhaustible energy.
Following the official opening, led by moderator Katja Stojnić, inspiring stories of learning were shared by Sonja Lakovšek, Director of MOCIS, Dr Nataša Potočnik, Director of the SIAE, Tilen Klugler, Mayor of the Municipality of Slovenj Gradec, Andrej Sotošek, MSc, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, and Dr Aleš Musar, spouse of the President of the Republic of Slovenia.
The central part of the ceremony consisted of three award segments presenting the SIAE Awards 2026, accompanied by video portraits of the twelve award recipients. Between the award presentations, writer and dramatist Tone Partljič, author of the novel Voranc, reflected on why the works of Prežihov Voranc still matter today, doing so “with deadly seriousness and humour”, as noted in the script. Following the ceremony, a reception prepared by the Association of Rural Women of the Mislinja Valley took place at the Multigenerational Centre.
A large part of the event’s emotional core naturally belonged to the stories of the recipients of the SIAE Awards 2026. Twelve stories from different Slovenian regions once again demonstrated that lifelong learning is not merely a phrase from strategic documents, but something profoundly concrete and human. Resilience after injury, finding a new direction following burnout, learning digital skills after the age of fifty, creating space for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, challenging prejudice and stereotypes and building community through music, volunteering or self-sufficiency – each story carried its own reason and meaning for why it is worth persevering, learning and remaining curious.
Full access to the event was also ensured for people with hearing impairments, as the entire programme was interpreted into Slovenian Sign Language by interpreter Vanessa Buljubašič. In addition, all presentation videos featuring the recipients of the SIAE Awards 2026 included Slovenian subtitles.
Perhaps the greatest success of this year’s opening ceremony was that, for several hours, a national event became a space for genuine human stories. Without grand slogans. Simply with people we could meet every day. Beginning with the warmth of the Koroška dialect, the celebration continues until 14 June. This year’s Lifelong Learning Weeks 2026 concluded ceremonially on 15 June in Šmarje pri Jelšah with the announcement of the Best Lifelong Learning Story 2026. Mario Žnidarščič’s inspiring learning story will be featured in the Autumn issue of the SIAE Newsletter.
After the event
Events such as this are created through countless hours of preparation, coordination, revisions and shared decision-making. Above all, however, they are made possible by people who believe that stories of learning have the power to connect communities. Our sincere thanks go to everyone in the MOCIS and SIAE teams, who demonstrated that organising major events together is not merely a matter of planning, but above all of trust and goodwill.
Those who remain curious can still watch the video recording (in Slovenian) and view the photo gallery of the National Opening of Lifelong Learning Weeks 2026.
Janja Bartelj (janja.bartelj@mocis.si), MOCIS