Kultúrne aktivity a spolky Slovákov vo Vojvodine v rokoch 1918 – 1941

(Cultural Activities and Associations of Slovaks in Vojvodina in the Years 1918–1941)

Ján Tkáč

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TKÁČ, Ján. Cultural Activities and Associations of Slovaks in Vojvodina in the Years 1918–1941. In Historický zborník, Vol. 32, 2022, No. 2, pp. 62-87.

Abstract: The subject of this study is to present a summary of the cultural activities of Slovaks in Vojvodina in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in the years 1918–1941. The Slovak minority in Vojvodina was numerous and nationally aware in the period under review. In each village, Slovaks of Vojvodina developed Slovak folk culture and founded associations. The most important manifestations of cultural activities amongst Slovaks in Yugoslavia between the world wars include the work of book clubs and amateur theatres. In some communities, they founded choirs. Slovak villages started to engage in playing soccer. Following the example of Czechoslovakia, Sokol societies were established in some communities. In 1932, the most important cultural association in Yugoslavia, Matica Slovenská, was founded during the festival. It evolved its activities through its branches. The most active were theatre, public enlightenment, national economy branches and educational section. The first Chairman of Matica Slovenská was the lawyer Ján Bulík. For the first time in history, also women established their own society. All the Slovak and Czech associations in Yugoslavia were sponsored by Československý zväz (the Czechoslovak Union), founded in Osijek in 1921.

Keywords: Slovaks in Vojvodina; book clubs, amateur theatres; clubs; Matica Slovenská in Yugoslavia; Slovak National Festival in Petrovec.