45th session of the Serbski Sejm, Ortenburg Bautzen

On 26 October 2024, the 45th session of the Serbski Sejm took place in Bautzen Castle Theatre. The session discussed a number of important topics relating to the future of Sorbian/Wendish institutions and the Sorbian/Wendish community.

The dialogue partners at the exchange with guests, which traditionally takes place at the beginning of the meeting, were Andrea Pawlikowa, museologist at the Sorbian Museum, and Hanka Jenčec, Sorbian dramaturge at the German-Sorbian Folk Theatre, two representatives of the Sorbian/Wendish institutions working at Ortenburg Castle, were welcomed as discussion partners. During the discussion, urgent structural and personnel challenges were discussed in detail, such as the lack of young talent in areas such as technology, administration, drama and Sorbian/Wendish-language theatre education. There is a need to strengthen language skills in Sorbian/Wendish institutions and to further expand language-promoting initiatives such as Zari. It was also suggested that a special fund be set up to finance freelancers in theatre, prompting and translation. In the museum sector, the amateur museum network also needs to be strengthened and supported.

The cultural policy committee of the Sejm will take up these issues. The aim is to involve other Sorbian cultural institutions more actively in the work of the committee.

In the subsequent Sejm plenary session, it was agreed that the draft of the state treaty on the regulation of the self-determination and co-determination rights of the Sorbian/Wendish people, which is now in its second reading, should now be discussed publicly as an interim status and that all interested parties and Sorbian institutions and associations should be invited to attend.

The nomination of a candidate for the Sorbian Council at the Saxon State Parliament will be further promoted by an official letter to the President of the State Parliament and the parliamentary groups. In addition, the various tasks involved in the completely voluntary organisation of the election to the 2nd Serbski Sejm were further coordinated. Among other things, a social media campaign will be launched shortly.

Candidates can be nominated until 22 November. In the interest of a broad personal basis for the Sejm, this is being further encouraged. Further fundraising campaigns will be organised to finance this. The development of income to date has been positive.