In the municipality of Svätý Peter, a joint press conference of the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and the Ministry of Environment took place on Tuesday, 12 May 2026. The event presented investment plans focused on the renewal of cultural heritage sites and the development of public cultural spaces in the regions of Slovakia.
The Minister of Culture stated that the launch of a new phase in the restoration of cultural buildings represents an important step in linking the protection of cultural heritage with regional development. She emphasized that Slovakia has many historical buildings, including castles, châteaux, and manor houses, which require extensive reconstruction in order to be preserved for future generations while also being able to fully serve the public again.
She also paid special attention to community cultural centres in villages, which she described as key infrastructure for local social life. “Many cultural centres have been neglected for years and require reconstruction due to their technical condition. The goal is to turn them into modern, functional, and safe spaces that will serve community cultural life in the long term. Their importance is even greater because in many villages they are often the only public venues suitable for larger cultural events and activities. They are also used during government field sessions in the regions, which confirms their practical and social importance,” said the Minister of Culture.
Regarding the financing of cultural infrastructure, she highlighted the importance of the Fund for the Support of the Arts, which has already supported thousands of projects focused on the reconstruction and equipment of cultural centres, including technical and interior facilities. According to her, approximately 5,000 applications have been implemented so far.
The main topic of the press conference was the project “Reconstruction of the Manor House into a Community House” in Svätý Peter, submitted under the MoF – 4/2025 call of the Environmental Fund. The project addresses the renovation of a historic manor house that is currently in unsatisfactory technical condition and its transformation into a modern, energy-efficient, and publicly accessible multifunctional space.
After completion, the building is expected to serve cultural events, exhibitions, workshops, and community meetings, thereby strengthening social cohesion and improving the quality of life of local residents.
The Minister also stressed that the manor house reconstruction project represents a systematic approach to the protection of cultural heritage combined with its modern community use. She added that similar investments will continue in other regions of Slovakia with the aim of strengthening cultural infrastructure and local identity.
According to her, the project in Svätý Peter has the potential to become a model example of restoring historical buildings that, after reconstruction, will serve not only as cultural monuments but also as living centres of community life in the regions.
Source: www.culture.gov.sk
