Matice slezská

Matice slezská (Silesian Foundation) is a Czech interest and cultural organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the history, art, and historical and cultural traditions of Czech Silesia. Its seat is the Matiční dům (Foundation House) in Opava, and it is divided into two regional branches: the Opava area and the Těšín area. The organization runs cultural events, most notably at the open-air ethnographic complex in Dolní Lomná in the Jablunkov region, built about thirty years ago, where international folklore festivals and other events take place. Since 1969 it has organized the annual folklore festival Slezské dny (Silesian Days). The association is also active in Hájek ve Slezsku, Hradec nad Moravicí, Hrabyně, Krnov, Stěbořice, Jablunkov, Mosty u Jablunkova, Návsí, Frýdek-Místek, Třanovice and Bystřice. It publishes the magazine Zpravodaj Matice slezské and the journal Vlastivědné listy Slezska, which has been published for 47 years as of 2021. The organization traces its origins to 1877, when it operated as Matice opavská in Opava Silesia. It ceased in 1948 by merging into the Silesian Study Institute in Opava, was renewed in 1968 under the name Matice slezská, ended activity again in 1972, and was re-established in December 1990. Today it continues its cultural, educational and publishing activities from its base in Opava.

Matice slezská is a Czech cultural organization whose roots go back to 1877, when it was founded as Matice opavská in Opava Silesia. Its mission was to support Czech cultural and educational life in the region. In 1948 the organization ceased to exist when it was merged into the Silesian Study Institute (Slezský studijní ústav) in Opava. Two decades later, in 1968, it was renewed under the name Matice slezská, but its activity was again terminated in 1972. The association was re-established in December 1990, after the fall of communism, and has continued its work since then. It is based at the Matiční dům in Opava and operates through two regional branches, the Opava area and the Těšín area. Since 1969 it has organized the annual folklore festival Slezské dny. It also manages an ethnographic complex in Dolní Lomná, built about thirty years ago, which hosts international folklore festivals and other events. The organization is active in numerous Silesian towns and villages, including Hájek ve Slezsku, Hradec nad Moravicí, Hrabyně, Krnov, Stěbořice, Jablunkov, Mosty u Jablunkova, Návsí, Frýdek-Místek, Třanovice and Bystřice. It publishes the Zpravodaj Matice slezské and the journal Vlastivědné listy Slezska, which as of 2021 had been published for 47 years. In March 2022, together with Matice moravská and Matice česká, it issued a statement condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

• 2022

  Joint statement with Matice moravská and Matice česká condemning Russian aggression against Ukraine.

• 2021

  Vlastivědné listy Slezska journal reaches 47 years of publication.

• 1990

  Re-established in December.

• 1972

  Activity again terminated.

• 1969

  Began organizing the annual folklore festival Slezské dny.

• 1968

  Renewed under the name Matice slezská.

• 1948

  Ceased activity by merging into the Silesian Study Institute in Opava.

• 1877

  Founded as Matice opavská in Opava Silesia.

A heritage and cultural association focused on Czech Silesian identity, history and folklore.

• Slezské dny

  Annual folklore festival organized since 1969.

• Vlastivědné listy Slezska

  Journal focused on the Silesian region, published for 47 years as of 2021.

• Zpravodaj Matice slezské

  Newsletter of the organization.

• Dolní Lomná ethnographic complex

  Open-air venue for international folklore festivals and events, built about thirty years ago.

1. 1Matice slezská Opavamaticeslezska-opava.cz
2. 2Matice slezskács.wikipedia.org
3. 3Matice slezskáwikidata.org