Silvia Rajčanová
Last year, the Catholic University in Ružomberok opened up the project Discovering the lost in time – ethnography-related art and crafts in the regions of Liptov and Orava. Supported from the funds of the European Fund of Regional Development, the purpose of the project is to identify and archive ethnographic treasures of the regions of Slovakia in the academic environment and to utilise the research results. Globalisation has invaded educational process and pushed authenticity and uniqueness of nations aside. Therefore, it is necessary to include the updated folk art into contemporary education. Between 25 and 26 February, international congress The Reality of folk art and culture which was attended by university´s teachers and experts from museums and academic environment was held at the premises of the university. Discussion focused on how to introduce the cultural heritage of Slovakia to general public and students. As a result of implementation of the project at the Pedagogical Faculty of the Catholic University in Ružomberok, a unique academic workplace – The Centre for ethnography and art (C-ET-ART) – has been established. The archive is expected to receive artefacts, technologies and techniques of visual art (folk and sacral textiles, working tools, production of fabrics, laces, embroideries, knitting, felt, blueprint, etc.) and of musical art (folk and sacral songs, traditional musical instruments, productions of and specific methods of playing folk musical instruments). The roots of the projects are in the long-term interest of the departments at the university in the folk culture in Slovakia and in the utilisation of traditional techniques in the contemporary design and free-style art.