Maribor's cultural and educational organizations between WWI and WWII

Abstract

The aim of the People’s University, founded in 1922, was to culturally educate all social classes. The organization, headed by Janko Kukovec, did not support any political party. By organizing lectures, professional courses, exhibits, literary and music events, etc., it became a prominent educational center. In the period between World War I and World War II Maribor was also the center of two other important educational organizations, liberal Cultural Societies’ Federation (CSF) and catholic Federation of Education. CSF fostered national awareness and education in northeastern Slovenia, where it founded libraries and rural theater companies, organized music events, lectures and courses. Catholically oriented Federation of Education, whose aim was to raise devout catholics, was active in the larger Maribor area as well. It opened a library and organized educational soirées and youth camps.