HOUSE OF OPEN MINDS

State celebration on the occasion of the Reformation Day on Thursday, 30 October 2025, at 8 p.m. at Linhart Hall, Cankarjev dom, Ljubljana.

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The artistic part of the celebration is titled The House of Open Minds. This house is a home. A home of books. This year, the artistic team dedicates the celebration to libraries, to the children of the Reformation, and perhaps to the most democratic institutions of humanity. The programme was conceived by director and writer Jaša Koceli, together with co-writers Neja Petek and Tanja Gruden. The Reformers were the first to publicly emphasise how important it is to read and to understand. Today, libraries continue their mission: they bring books to every town and every village. Just as Trubar believed that the Abecednik should be in every house, librarians today strive to ensure that a book is always available to the reader—whether in a library or a reading room, on a mobile bibliobus or through an online lending platform.

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The set design was created by Darjan Mihajlović Cerar. The four corners of the House of Open Minds are embodied by four actors: Barbara Medvešček, Jernej Čampelj, Lara Fortuna, and Jaša Savnik; four vocalists: Manca Fekonja, Leopold I., Jan Tomšič, and Boštjan Narat; four dancers led by choreographer Tajda Podobnik; and the musical band under the direction of composer Miha Petric. Together, they highlight the significance and heritage of Slovenia’s public library system, which connects more than one-fifth of all Slovenians, or more than 435,000 registered users and readers in 2024. City, local, school, and academic libraries are more than shelves of books. They are safe spaces for conversations, gatherings, workshops, and community. They are like living rooms of local communities. Last year, our National and University Library celebrated 250 years, and the creators of the programme dedicate to it a video piece by director Jaša Koceli and cinematographer Tadej Bavdek.

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The costumes were designed by Tina Hribernik, the lighting designer is David Andrej Francky, and the video projections are by Aka Bojić and Luka Umek. The photographer is Mankica Kranjec. The musicians on stage are composer Miha Petric on guitar, keyboardist Nejc Škofic, bass guitarist Jošt Lampret, drummer Žiga Kožar, and guitarist and flautist Jan Tomšič. The dancers are Lija Mozetič, Rea Vogrin, Jelena Radoičić, and Daša Resnik.

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