Association for Slovene Catholic Education

The Association for Slovene Catholic Education (Slovene: Zveza slovenske katoliške prosvete, ZSKP) is a cultural organization of the Slovene national community in Italy. It was founded on 11 January 1959 in Gorizia by Catholic-oriented cultural workers of the Slovene national community. After the Second World War and the long period of fascist denationalization, various Slovene associations in the educational and cultural fields were already regularly active in the Gorizia region, which remained within the borders of the Republic of Italy. This created a need to connect with one another and to establish an institution that would help them organize a wide range of initiatives. The association is headquartered in Gorizia and today brings together 20 cultural societies from the Gorizia province, in Gorizia, Števerjan, Sovodnje ob Soči, Doberdob and Ronke. It is especially active in the theatrical and musical fields, and cooperates with organizations of the Slovene national community in Austria and elsewhere in Europe. Its activity is extremely diverse and aimed at preserving Slovene national consciousness and language in places that Slovenes have inhabited since long ago. The ZSKP organizes various events throughout the year, including cultural events and educational activities. Its website lists news, an events calendar, member societies, and activities. Notable recurring events include Primorska poje, a review of choral concerts, and Iskrivi smeh, a series of amateur theatre performances. The association also awards the Kazimir Humar Recognition, an annual award; the call for the 2026 award had a deadline of 31 October 2026, and the 2025 recipient was Božidar Tabaj. The 32nd Camp of Slovenes Around the World was held on 29 June 2026, including a round table on the development of Slovenia. The association has been led by a series of presidents: Mirko Filej (1959–1962), Kazimir Humar (1962–1982), Emil Valentinčič (1982–1984), Damjan Paulin (1984–2004), Franka Padovan (2004–2023), and Miloš Čotar (2023–present).

The Association for Slovene Catholic Education (Zveza slovenske katoliške prosvete, ZSKP) was founded on 11 January 1959 in Gorizia by Catholic-oriented cultural workers of the Slovene national community. After the Second World War and the long period of fascist denationalization, various Slovene associations in the educational and cultural fields were already regularly active in the Gorizia region, which remained within the borders of the Republic of Italy. This created a need to connect with one another and to establish an institution that would help them organize a wide range of initiatives. In the first years of its existence, various societies joined the association, so that it became an important cultural factor in the Gorizia province and the wider Slovene territory. The association has been led by a series of presidents: Mirko Filej (1959–1962), Kazimir Humar (1962–1982), Emil Valentinčič (1982–1984), Damjan Paulin (1984–2004), Franka Padovan (2004–2023), and Miloš Čotar (2023–present). Today the association brings together 20 cultural societies from the Gorizia province, in Gorizia, Števerjan, Sovodnje ob Soči, Doberdob and Ronke. It is especially active in the theatrical and musical fields, and cooperates with organizations of the Slovene national community in Austria and elsewhere in Europe. Its activity is extremely diverse and aimed at preserving Slovene national consciousness and language in places that Slovenes have inhabited since long ago.

• Founded in Gorizia by Catholic-oriented cultural workers of the Slovene national community.

• Mirko Filej serves as president.

• Kazimir Humar serves as president.

• Emil Valentinčič serves as president.

• Damjan Paulin serves as president.

• Franka Padovan serves as president.

• Miloš Čotar becomes president.

• 21st Kazimir Humar Recognition for 2025 awarded to Božidar Tabaj.

• 32nd Camp of Slovenes Around the World held, including a round table on the development of Slovenia.

A cultural umbrella organization preserving Slovene national consciousness and language in Italy.

• Primorska poje

  A review of choral concerts; 2026 concerts held at Cerkev Sv. Andreja in Štandrež and Kulturni center Lojze Bratuž.

• Iskrivi smeh

  A series of amateur theatre performances; the 26th series took place in 2026.

• Kazimir Humar Recognition

  An annual award; the 2026 call had a deadline of 31 October 2026, and the 2025 recipient was Božidar Tabaj.

• Camp of Slovenes Around the World

  The 32nd camp was held on 29 June 2026, including a round table on the development of Slovenia.

1. 1Homepage - ZVEZA SLOVENSKE KATOLIŠKE PROSVETEzskp.eu
2. 2Zveza slovenske katoliške prosvete - Wikipediasl.wikipedia.org
3. 3Association for Slovene Catholic Education - Wikidatawikidata.org