Pajta Program: Shine TOGETHER in Somogyszentpál

In 2023 and in the years leading up to it, the Pajta (Barn) Program focused on the development of cultural services and the expansion of cultural offerings that are important and relevant for local communities in small villages. Through open calls and consultations on project development, we sought out local cultural institutions, municipalities and civil society initiatives that had ambitions to develop cultural capacities in their communities.
With 3 pilot projects in 2021, 14 municipalities in 2022 and a network of 30 municipalities in 2023, the program plans were implemented in a process that took several months to make cultural mediation a part of everyday life.
Modern 'barns' are homes of taste, tradition and innovation, combining the values of contemporary culture with the spirit of the place. They were seen as an inspiring complement to existing institutions, but also as a way of filling gaps. In the barns' community spaces, concerts and exhibitions, clubs and dance halls, community celebrations and services, educational training and leisure activities were conceived primarily in response to local needs.