The Culture of the Czech Nationality in SR Croatia at the Moment

Poslijeratni društveno-ekonomski razvoj Jugoslavije značajno je utjecao na organiziranost i kulturni život češke narodnosti u SR Hrvatskoj. Unutrašnje migracije dovele su do odlaska mladih sa sela, a reemigracija u Čehoslovačku bila je uzrok odlaska najkreativnijih i najistaknutijih ličnosti. Rezultat tih procesa bio je ograničavanje ljudskog faktora i baze dotadašnjih središta narodnosti, kao i pad kvalitete kulturnih aktivnosti. Razvoj i prodor masovne kulture pridonio je izraženom padu interesa za kulturne aktivnosti i za radom u društvima. Za razliku od prijeratnog razdoblja, danas glavnu osovinu kulturnog života Čeha ne čini više raznovrstan rad u društvima, nego velike manifestacije tipa smotri (npr. »Žetvene svečanosti«). U većini društava kulturne se aktivnosti obavljaju u skladu s programom nastupa na smotrama, ali samostalnog kontinuiranog rada nema. Najveći problem jest animirati omladinu da se bavi kulturnim radom. Glavne kulturne aktivnosti jesu njegovanje folklora, dramski amaterizam i estradne priredbe, te koncerti duhačkih orkestara. U te aktivnosti omladina se uključuje ovisno o njihovoj privlačnosti. U zadnje dvije godine pokazalo se da u radu sa mladima najveće uspjehe postižu sekcije ili grupe pod vodstvom mladih voditelja koji preferiraju suvremeniji način rada, te aktualniji repertoar. Značajnu ulogu u kulturnom životu Čeha ima Savez Čeha i Slovaka, koji putem savjeta koordinira i osmišljava sav kulturni život narodnosti. Manifestacije i smotre u središtu su pažnje Saveza, koji radi podizanja kvalitete surađuje s odgovarajućim ustanovama u nas i u ČSSR. Za bolje osmišljavanje kulturnog života Savez bi ipak trebao precizirati dugoročniju i racionalnu kulturnu politiku, kojom bi se više poticao kontinuiran i stalniji rad u društvima, kako manifestacije ne bi bile svrha sebi.The postwar social and economic development of Yugoslavia has had an impact on the manner in which the cultural life of the Czech nationality in SR Croatia is organised. Internal migration has led the youth out of villages, and re-migration to Czechoslovakia has brought about the departures of the most creative and most eminent personalities. This has resulted in a restriction of the “human factor” and of the base of the former venues of the nationality, as well as a decline in the quality of cultural activities. The advance and breakthrough of mass culture has contributed to a pronounced drop in the nationality\u27s interest in cultural activities and work in societies. Unlike the prewar period that was characterised by diverse activities in soci¬eties, the backbone of today\u27s cultural life of the Czechs are grand convention-type manifestations (i e. harvest festivals). In the majority of societies cultural activities take place in accordance with planned participation in such manifestations, but there is no independent continuous work. The major problem is to win over young people for engaging in culture-related work. The main cultural activities are: folklore events, amateur drama and entertainments, as well as wind music concerts. The youth get included in those if they are attractive enough. In the past two years it has become obvious that the most successful at work with the young are the so-called sections or groups guided by young leaders who prefer more modem work methods and a more up-to-date repertoire. An important role in the cultural life of Czechs is played by the Alliance of Czechs and Slovaks, coordinating and enlivening the entire cultural life of the na¬tionality by means of a council. In the focus of the Alliance\u27s attention are manifestations and festivals. To improve their quality, the Alliance has co-operation with its counterpart institutions in this country and in Czechoslovakia. In order to make the minority\u27s cultural life more meaningful, however, the Alliance should work out a longer-term and more rational cultural policy so as to encourage work in societies on a continuous and more permanent basis and to prevent manifestations from being a means to their own end