Back to Main TICATEC Page

Textiles- Slovakia

Dates: 30th June - 28th July 2012

Number of UK Participants: 6

Duration: 4 weeks

UK Ticatec Group from 2010 at the Art School in Kežmarok
UK Textile Participants from 2010

Background Information

This placement is hosted by Krajina, a small organisation that works in eco-tourism, community development and cultural management. Krajina's managing director is Miroslav Knezo, who is based in Stropkov, eastern Slovakia. The four week placement will give participants the oppportunity to develop their textile skills and techniques by working alongside experienced practitioners in the Stropkov region of Slovakia. Krajina have received groups of UK students through the Leonardo da Vinci programme since 2004 and have a great deal of experience in arranging placements for overseas visitors. Participants will fly from an allocated airport in the UK (designated by Grampus Heritage) to either Kosice or Poprad, where they will be met by the host partner Miroslav Knezo. The group will then be transferred by minibus to the small town of Kežmarok where they will spend the first week of the placement. At the beginning of the placement the group will have a two-day basic Slovakian language course conducted by the Miroslav Knezo. This is to enable participants to gain a basic understanding of the Slovakian language and where possible, to use of what they have learnt.

2010
Textile products made by the 2009 group

Placement Structure for 2011

The textile placement will be divided into three components, the first part will be spent at an art school in Kežmarok, the second part working with a local artist in Michalovce and the final component, working with craftsmen at the town of Stropkov. The programme is designed for participants to develop skills and techniques in weaving, macrame, embroidery, crochet and bobbin lace.

Participants will work 9am-4pm Monday to Friday with half an hour for lunch. Weekends are generally free, but cultural visits will also be organised. As with our previous Slovakian placements, 2011 participants will benefit from a rich and varied cultural programme. Participants can choose from a boat trip on the Dunajec River, visits to Bardejov, Presov, Bardejov Health Spa, St. Aegidius church in Bardejov, the Museum of Icons in Bardejov, Open Air Museum in Svidnik and Bardejov. Accommodation will change according to where participants work e.g. in the towns of Kežmarok and Stropkov. As the placement will be conducted during the summer period, it will coincide with several local festivals and concerts which the group can choose to participant in. In addition to the textiles work, participants can follow a varied cultural programme, folk dancing and visits to a range of museums and cultural attractions according to previous agreement with the host.

2010 TICATEC group- Crochet
A UK participant from 2009 and local textile instructor

EU Leonardo da Vinci Funding

The placement is funded by the EU Leonardo da Vinci scheme and covers return flights, accommodation, and a subsistence allowance (equal to 3 meals a day). The placement is targeted at students studying a relevant vocational course at a UK school, college or university, who are interested in pursuing a career within this sector. For more information on the placement, please email the host partner Miroslav Knezo. The following websites may also be useful;

If this placement interests you, please read the "Eligibility and How To Apply" section of the TICATEC main page before completing an application form.

Apply Now

Location of the Stropkov region, north-eastern Slovakia

Read the report by Beverley Lowes, a participant from the 2005 TICATEC placement to Slovakia.

NOTE: Participants on all of our placements will now require a European Health Insurance CARD (EHIC). CLICK HERE to visit the external website and apply for your EHIC online.

Back to Main TICATEC Page

European Traditional Skills Placements 2012