The cult of Kisfaludy, Sümeg
The building and cultivation of the Kisfaludy cult is of particular importance for the preservation and transmission of the cultural heritage of Sümeg and the Balaton Uplands. Sándor Kisfaludy, a defining figure of Hungarian Romanticism, not only enriched Hungarian culture with his literary oeuvre, but also became one of the most important cultural symbols of Sümeg and the region through his personal ties. The programs based on the Kisfaludy cult aim not only to preserve the values of the past, but also to present them in a new way and make them a community experience. Two series of Kisfaludy-focused events have been implemented as part of the European Capital of Culture program.
23-25 September 2022 - Kisfaludy 250 Conference and Himfy Street Theater Festival
The 250th anniversary of the birth of Sándor Kisfaludy - a three-day series of events to commemorate the anniversary. The town of Sümeg is still proud of the fact that Sándor Kisfaludy, an outstanding figure of Hungarian literature and Hungarian civic life, lived and worked here.
22- 24 September 2023 - Kisfaludy 2023 StreetTheater Festival
The event harmonized with the values of the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture program in many ways, as it encompassed several segments of theater, community building, local identity and an international outlook
In recent years, several initiatives have been launched to present the Kisfaludy legacy from new perspectives:
- Memorial sites and cultural events: the Kisfaludy Sándor Memorial House regularly hosts literary programmes, educational projects and cultural events that make the oeuvre accessible to a wide audience
- Community involvement and volunteering: local communities and NGOs are actively involved in the cult of Kisfaludy. The programs involve local residents and visitors in an interactive way, strengthening cultural identity and community cohesion.
- Involving young people: an important part of the Kisfaludy tradition is to attract younger generations to the cultural heritage of the region. This is an important part of culture's appeal to young people.
- Communicating European values: the presentation of Kisfaludy's work and related programs will emphasize the place of Hungarian literature in the European cultural space, thus strengthening the international importance of the region.
The cult of Kisfaludy is not just a literary heritage, but a community asset that creates a link between past and present. True to the spirit of the European Capital of Culture program, the Kisfaludy Cult contributes to the preservation of local identity, while at the same time placing the cultural values of the Balaton Uplands in an international context.
