Jana Babšek

During the International Festival of Fine Arts, Kranj – a city of culture – comes alive in a very special way. Visual artists from across the world exhibit at numerous venues throughout the city, while the occasion draws artists, art historians, art critics and many other enthusiasts of the visual arts to Kranj. Through the language of the visual, contemporary practitioners introduce new ideas, innovation, inspiration and aesthetic experience, enriching the city’s cultural programme and engaging audiences of every generation, both local residents and visitors from elsewhere.

The International Festival was boldly conceived decades ago by members of the Art Society Kranj. Over the years, it has become an established event serving the public interest. Organising the festival is a complex, year-round undertaking that begins with the selection of a theme. This year’s theme, The Window as a Space of the Gaze, is broad and lends itself to a diversity of artistic interpretations. This is followed by invitations to artists, the selection of works, exhibition installation, the design of the exhibition catalogue, the opening ceremony, the presentation of awards and the accompanying programme. Members of the Art Society Kranj carry out a considerable share of this work, while the organisational threads are brought together by Martina Marenčič, a colleague at the Gorenjska Museum who ensures the excellence of the cultural programme. The Gorenjska Museum has been actively involved in the festival for many years. Its curator of fine art serves on the professional jury, and the museum also acquires the prize-winning work of a member of the Art Society Kranj for its permanent fine art collection.

Cultural organisations in the City Municipality of Kranj are forming ever closer connections and collaborations. The exhibitions, presented across ten venues, will enliven and enrich the historic town centre, the city’s cultural programme and Kranj’s profile as an important cultural centre of the Gorenjska region. Kranj offers encounters with outstanding Slovenian and international visual art, broadening horizons and contributing to a higher quality of life.