Do you know when the number of people working in culture regularly increases in Trenčín? The peak times are Thursdays and Fridays. This is when professionals from the cultural sector come to participate in an educational program focused on topics such as service design, strategic planning, communication, and audience engagement, with the main goal of developing the cultural strategy for their projects. Over 70 people, from Košice to Bratislava, have successfully completed the four semesters held so far. In the upcoming course, we’d love to see more participants from Trenčín. Will we be able to change this statistic in the next semester? Sign up by September 1st.
Each Runway course consists of five two-day sessions held in Trenčín. These are full-day workshops that emphasize active participation and engagement. Participants have the opportunity to share experiences from their own practice and try out various exercises. Throughout the semester, they work on developing their own cultural strategy, which they present at a mini-conference at the end. This provides them with specific feedback and ideas for further development.
“I found myself in the midst of a crowd of cultural workers, whether from state institutions, municipal offices, or the independent scene,” says Alexandra Mutala, a graduate of the course who works at the Miloš Alexander Bazovský Gallery in Trenčín. “Even though we each face different challenges, in some aspects our experiences overlap, allowing us to inspire each other. I was surprised to find that the commercial sector could also be a valuable source of best practices for us. The experiences and examples shared in the presentations were highly applicable to our field. This realization was a significant benefit for me. I will be able to leverage these insights, for example, by taking a different approach to building the gallery’s brand.”
The educational program covers topics such as strategic planning in culture, strategic communication and branding, service design, networking, audience engagement, and soft skills (such as teamwork).
Each thematic block is led by one or two experts, including professionals from the UK, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, or the USA (the program is largely conducted in English). Over the past four semesters, some of the experts who have participated include:
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Timea Szöke, who specializes in creative placemaking—a method of working with public spaces (or buildings) that integrates culture, art, and community life. Her approach involves collaborating with local residents, businesses, the artistic scene, and government bodies.
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Leonie Hodkevitch, the founder of the postgraduate program in cultural management at the University of Vienna and the platform Clearly Culture, which promotes inclusion through innovative educational programs
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Irena Swiecicki, a member of the British Institute of Leadership and Management, specializing in presentation and negotiation skills, voice work, body language, teaching skills, and communication.
The program is designed for both emerging and experienced cultural managers. Given its content, it is recommended to have at least two years of experience in managing cultural or artistic projects. Each semester accommodates a maximum of 25 participants.
This unique course was developed as part of Trenčín’s preparation for the European Capital of Culture 2026 title. “Through education, we are preparing the local environment for the year 2026, as well as for the period afterward, because these skills and experiences will remain here. In addition to cultural management, participants can improve their English, and we are also preparing another course,” says Stanislava Mináriková, Project Manager for Trenčín 2026.
Thanks to the fact that the course is part of the Trenčín 2026 project, the Runway educational program is offered completely free of charge, even though its value is roughly 2,000 euros. Eight semesters are planned in total. Four have already taken place, and the course will enter its second half this fall. Don’t miss this opportunity—become a part of it too.
