Sculptor Dragica Čadež and theatre director Dragan Živadinov have been declared the winners of the 2025 Prešeren Prizes, the highest national accolade for lifetime achievement in arts and culture. They will be inducted in the Slovenian art pantheon at an award ceremony on 7 February, the eve of Culture Day.

Čadež, 84, is a pioneering sculptor who has been a significant figure in the Slovenian art scene since the 1960s.

The first female university professor of sculpture in Slovenia, Čadež is known for her innovative approach, particularly her work with wood, clay, and ceramics. She has referred to herself as a chainsaw painter.

Živadinov, 64, is a groundbreaking theatre director and performer who has been creating a unique artistic universe for four decades.

A founding member of the Neue Slowenische Kunst movement, Živadinov established the Sisters Scipion Nasice Theatre and later the Noordung Cosmokinetic Cabinet, pushing the boundaries of theatrical performance.

Čadež's unique artistic journey

The awards jury praised Čadež, a key member of the Neoconstructivists group in the late 1960s, for her unique artistic journey, noting her ability to draw inspiration from modernist traditions while also incorporating influences from African and Latin American art and folk traditions.

Her geometric period, characterised by carefully crafted wooden objects - some large enough to enter - marked a significant moment in Yugoslav and Slovenian contemporary art.

As the founder of the UNICUM ceramics triennial, Čadež has made a lasting impact on the international ceramics scene. She has exhibited widely, both individually and in group shows, and her role as a mentor has shaped generations of contemporary artists.

Živadinov revolutionised theatre

On Živadinov, the jury highlighted his revolutionary approach to theatre, particularly his work on the landmark 1986 production Baptism Under Triglav and his ongoing Telecosmological Noordung Project, which aims to complete its mission in 2045. His work transcends traditional theatrical conventions, exploring themes of space, technology, and human existence.

"His art, his fanatical commitment to art, his lucidity and his relentless pursuit of the highest standards have deeply marked the Slovenian theatre landscape and influenced generations of artists," the jury wrote about one of the founders of the Herman Potočnik Noordung Space Centre in Vitanje.

Six Prešeren Fund Prize winners

As Slovenians mark what would have been the 224th birthday of their national bard, France Prešeren (1800-1849), on 3 December, the fund named after him also announced the winners of the Prešeren Fund Prizes for individual accomplishments.

The list includes Nika Autor, known for her experimental video essays exploring migration, workers' rights, and collective memory, and Grupa Ee, a design collective.

Other winners are Tomaž Grom, a versatile musician, composer, and sound artist pushing the boundaries of improvised music, ecology-focused writer Nataša Kramberger, socially engaged theatre director Nina Rajić Kranjac and sound designer Julij Zornik.

The awards will be presented on the eve of Slovenia's Culture Day, celebrated on 8 February to coincide with the anniversary of Prešeren's death.