Kistarcsa Cultural Association

The Kistarcsa Cultural Association started its operation in April 1993. The civic organisation, which has a membership of 60, is committed to contribute to the improvement of the cultural life of our settlement.
The association was officially established in 1994.
The members of the association meet once a week, when educational lectures are held. There have already been more then 900 lectures about various topics. Some of the members also act as lecturers but well-known and respected experts are also often invited. These programs are open for everybody, and are published by local and regional papers and in regional broadcastings.
Amateur performances have already been organised several times, where talented local people could present their skills. We provide possibilities for both children and adults to become enthusiastic performers.
The local festival was first held in 1995. We have organised a similar series of events to emphasize the cultural character since 2002. Performances of different art groups are enjoyed by the public on different days of the multicultural week, held yearly. This is a good opportunity for non-governmental organisations and groups to introduce themselves to the public and for us to invite some well-known artists and mobilise a reasonable number of inhabitants. The most significant event of this program is a gastronomy festival – in the centre of interest potato – and gala of colourful ethnic folklore groups.
In 2001 we founded the Gold Gravel Prize (Aranykavics-díj), which secondary school-leavers of the actual year can compete for, then the board of trustees of the association is committed to decide on the awarding.
We yearly draw up call for proposals in literature, fine art and adorn of town.
For Christmas season we make a large wreath in the centre of Kistarcsa around a sculpture and organise a nice celebration for lightening of candles.
In 1995 we published a brochure comprising works of literature, fine arts, as well as of art and craft made by local artists. Since 1997 we have published a local calendar yearly. In that we would like to provide possibilities for everybody, who – either professional or just as a hobby – pursue creative work. The Kistarcsa Calendar – in consequence of its genre – is more wide-ranging than a special cultural publication.
Our organisation yearly holds national days, where a country’s wide-ranging of culture – literature, music, folkdance, gastronomy… is showed.
The most famous Hungarian opera singer was born in our settlement. For the 90. anniversary of his birthday we placed his statue and yearly hold a celebration in front of it.
The ideas and suggestions of our settlement's inhabitants – not only those of the members of the association – are also considered when discussing future programs. We also help to form new communities, independently from their scope of activity.
The territory where the association operates is Kistarcsa, but we often co-operate with organisations from the neighbouring settlements, sometimes from the country.
The integration to the European Union brings up a lot of social problems. We organise courses, seminars and conferences to handle these programs and to prepare the inhabitants. The outstanding example is an international seminar for mostly the youth, which was held five times with foreign participants. Members of our association often participate on exchange visits, seminars, trainings in the country and abroad too.
None of the members of the association receive any emoluments for their work in the association everybody contributes to our activity by voluntary work.