Theatre Institute

Founded in 1961, the Theatre Institute is the only professional institution in Slovakia dedicated to research into theatre and drama since 1920 when the first professional stage in Slovakia was established. Its activities are focused primarily focused on: (i) collection, systematisation, expert analysis and presentation of national cultural heritage in the field of professional theatre in Slovakia since the year 1920 to the present day; (ii) collection of comprehensive documentation about professional theatre in Slovakia – press, photographs, director’s books, models, stage design documentation, costumes, furniture, paintings and other items; (iii) providing complete information about professional drama in Slovakia; (iv) co-operation with other partner institutions in Slovakia and abroad, in particular with partners from the ‘Visegrad Four’ and as a member of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), the European Forum for the Arts and Heritage (EFAH/FEAP), the European Network of Cultural Centres (ENCC) and the International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts (SIBMAS); (v) systematic collection of published books and magazines with theatrical theme – the library of the Institute is the only specialised theatre library with nationwide coverage; (v) systematic record of the staging of Slovak and foreign theatre for the Institute’s video library – the only one of its kind in Slovakia; (vi) supply of data concerning the professional theatre to the expert computer database on professional Slovak theatre; (vii) presentation of Slovak theatre abroad – in the form of exhibitions of the archives of the Institute in Slovak institutions abroad, presentation of books and book exhibitions; (viii) publishing reference books on national and international drama studies as well as plays of Slovak and foreign playwrights; (ix) essential historic and current research in the field of theatre culture in Slovakia; (x) the sale of Slovak and foreign books on drama studies in its Information Centre Prospero; (xi) legislative initiatives and lobbying in the field of theatre culture in Slovakia; and (xii) statistical services in the field of theatre.

In 2002 the Theatre Institute became an Archive of special significance, certified by the Ministry of Interior. Since 2005 it has expanded its activity in the direction of European cultural policies with the transfer of the Slovak office of Cultural Contact Point - Culture 2000 to its jurisdiction.

The Theatre Institute is also the co-organiser of the New Drama - Festival of Contemporary Slovak and World Drama and presents new pieces of drama at its own stage, Studio 12 - a non-traditional theatre which co-organises several national competitions with the aim of encouraging the writing and performing of original plays.

For its publishing and exhibiting activities the Theatre Institute has been awarded a number of prestigious awards. Its publications include a range of scholarly

The Theatre Institute is an institutional member of the International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centres (IAML).