to participate in the development of local and regional culture; to work in particular on young people in the spirit of national, moral and democratic values; to increase the national awareness of Slovaks in the linguistically mixed territories of the Slovak Republic; to strengthen the relations of the cultures of citizens who declare themselves to national minorities and ethnic groups in the territory of the Slovak Republic with the Slovak national culture; to bring together creators and supporters of Slovak culture and science in the world; to support the promotion of the Slovak Republic also through its own information and cultural centers set up abroad; to develop contacts with European and world organizations on issues of culture, national identity, spiritual life and the protection of human values; to establish foundations and funds at home and abroad to support the national and cultural life of Slovaks and to reward the most important creators from defined areas of creative activity; to cooperate with state authorities and with local self-government bodies in the development of culture and social life; to publish original Slovak works of art, scientific works, educational and popular-scientific works, journalism and periodicals; to promote Slovak history, culture and personalities through original audiovisual documentaries, as well as to produce cultural news about its activities through electronic media and internet databases; to co-operate in the creation of textbooks and textbooks of certain subjects of social sciences for primary and secondary schools on the basis of the authorization of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic. Departments Archive Member headquarters Financial and economic department Information department Compatriot Museum Matica slovenská Regional Centers (Matice slovenskej Houses and Matice slovenskej Regional Offices) Wardrobe Editorial staff of the Slovak National Newspaper Editorial staff of Slovak Views (Slovenské pohľady) Secretariat of the chairman and Administrator Slovak Historical Institute Slovak Literary Institute Center for National Relations Technical and investment department Science Headquarters Publishing house Headquarters First building The first historical residential building of Slovak Matica is called Národná svetlica (National flare). Its construction began in 1864 and the project was run by Karol Harrer and supported by Ján Nepomuk Bobula, to whom Harrer entrusted the construction of the property. The foundation stone in the center of Martin was laid on April 6, 1864, and its solemn tapping was performed by the then acting first vice-chairman of the Slovak Matica, Karol Kuzmány, an Evangelical priest and superintendent. The