ESC: Creativity 360°

Zavod O is a non-governmental and non-profith youth organization from Škofja Loka, a small town in north-west Slovenia. Its aim is diversify local cultural events and offer non-formal and informal education to local youth and subsequently provide a place for an active use of their free time. Since 1999 Zavod O has been a youth representative body, one of the most prominent cultural producer, an organization offering support to less experienced organizations in the local environment and partner in local, national and EU projects. Youthwork is our method of working within the fields of culture, art, education, international cooperation, multimedia and informatics. Our programme is based on quality professional support to volunteers, who, according to democratic principles, are included in decision-making and other processes, providing them with non-formal and informal education. A professional team of employees takes care of individual projects, offers support in the education of new youth workers and helps them in the preparation and implementation of new and existing projects and programmes. The story of Zavod O started with a group of young people who converted a part of the abandoned local army barracks into a concert venue with hard work and conviction that the youth of Škofja Loka deserves a place to spend their free time in. Since then it has developed into a multifaceted, diverse and an ever developing space that includes: - a multi-purpose hall suitable for concerts, themed evenings, theatre performances, film evenings, lectures, round tables and other various educational activities, - a small studio, which is suitable for artistic and technical creation, - an outdoor garden, which is suitable for outdoor concerts or theatre performances, film evenings, lectures and socializing and - a rehearsal space equipped for young music producers and music groups. Our main programme includes concerts, exhibitions, performance arts events, lectures, workshops, video and audio production and other various free time activities. In the background of the event venues we have operating rehearsal space for the local bands, recording studio and offices. We produce about 40 music events and up to 150 other cultural and educational events. Although we are a youth centre, we try to be as inclusive as possible and cooperate with several local organizations in various different fields, but our focus remains supporting creative and curious people. Our programme remains mainly free, with the exception of concerts, since we try to support the creative production, gaining knowledge and cooperation through self-organization of youth for the betterment of the local community as a whole. In the last few years, we have successfully implemented several major projects supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and other institutions. Such projects enable us to upgrade the existing intergenerational cooperation and introduce new activities within our organization, as well as attract a wider range of users and seek new opportunities for cooperation with partners at the local and the regional level. Zavod O also implements various international youth projects. Years ago, due to the desire to expand the international cooperation of our organization, we established a “branch” or section called Zavod O International, whose task is the promotion and implementation of international projects, primarily within the possibilities offered by then the Erasmus + and now also ESE programmes. Through the activities of Zavod O, young people can strengthen their social ties, share opinions and change society through targeted actions. Working in this way, we have achieved our long-term goal during the twenty years of our operation, primarily with our own engagement and in connection with other related organizations in the local community. Namely, we have become the leading non-profit youth organization in our town, and at the same time our organisation remains an influential social factor in the wider area of Škofja Loka. That is also recognized by the local community, wider civil society and young people themselves, while the effects are evident at the regional level as well. With Zavod O as the leading factor, Škofja Loka has become a youth-friendly place that offers a wide range of opportunities for quality and creative leisure activities. With this, we satisfied the need of the local community for a strong, professional, non-profit organization, which is a source of information and a solid professional pillar in the implementation of various beneficial activities.