Ljubljana Theatre Outfit Named European Ambassador of Culture
The European Commission named the Ljubljana-based Slovensko Mladinsko gledalisce (SMG) theatre company, known for its numerous tours abroad, the European Ambassador of Culture for 2008. The money from the award will be allocated exclusively to tours by the outfit.
The Commission chose ten cultural organisations from around Europe to become ambassadors of culture and the SMG is the only theatre selected, director of the theatre company Ursula Cetinski told Tuesday's press conference.
"Our theatre has tried to establish itself at the international scene since 1970s. Since 1975 the SMG has toured 34 countries, performed in 140 cities and staged over 700 plays at international festivals. International acclaim is the main indicator of our quality," Cetinski said.
The SMG was selected as the only European theatre among the cultural ambassadors, given its "European value added", Cetinski added.
The Commission highlighted the good results and a promising future of the theatre among the reasons for its decision.
The funds that the theatre will receive from the EU in 2008/2009 must be allocated exclusively for tours abroad, SMG's spokesman Tibor Mihelic Syed said.
So far, the theatre company financed 80% of the tours from its own budget, so additional EU funding will be more than welcome, he added.
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