60 years ago, a student demonstration in Hungary sparked a nationwide revolt against Soviet control over the country. Although the revolution failed, it represented the first major threat to Soviet dominance in Central Europe. In the aftermath, over 200,000 Hungarians fled the country as refugees, with 37,000 settling in Canada, including approximately 3,000 in Alberta. This year, organizations plan to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Hungarian revolution through an academic conference and cultural festival exploring developments in Hungary and celebrating Hungarian culture in Canada.

1. 60 years ago, a student
demonstration in pursuit of
liberty and democratic reforms in
Hungary started a chain of
events that turned into a
nationwide revolt against the
Soviet policies and control
embodied in the government of
the Hungarian’s People
Republic. This uprising, which
attracted the attention and
imagination of the world, has been
widely considered as the first major
threat to Soviet control in Central
Europe. Although the revolution failed
at the time, its reverberations have
been felt ever since, particularly in what
is now considered the democratic
transition in Central Europe, and in the
lives of diaspora communities around
the world. During and following the
uprising, over 200,000 refugees left the
country, and 37,000 of them were
a d m i t t e d t o C a n a d a , w i t h
approximately 3,000 settling in Alberta.
This year, the Wirth Institute for
Austrian and Central European
Studies, together with our partners,
plans to commemorate the 60th
anniversary of the revolution, exploring
developments in contemporary
Hungary and celebrating Hungarian
culture in Canada.
Hungary1956-2016
Organization
Our Partners
Hungary
1956 - 2016
Academic
Conference
and
Cultural
Festival
2 6 - 2 9 O c t o b e r , 2 0 1 6

2. Exhibition of the international-
ly recognized, Pécs-founded
Zsolnay Porcelain, hosted by
the Art Gallery of Alberta
Classical music con-
cert featuring talented
Hungarian-Canadian
artists from Calgary
and Edmonton
The very First Hungarian film
festival in Edmonton with the
playwright, theater and film
director, Zsolt Pozsgai, hosted
by Edmonton’s Metro Cinema
49th annual Csárdás
Ball, where Hungarian
culture is showcased
through Alberta talent,
in the iconic Château
Lacombe Ballroom
Cultural Festival
Concert by the CSIK Ensemble, an authentic
performer of Hungarian folk music and holder
of the titles “Excellent Folk Art Ensemble” and
the “Young Masters of Folk Art”
A one of a kind Wine Tasting Event of special
selections of Hungarian and Canadian vintages
with an educational talk by Canada’s first Mas-
ter Sommelier, John Szabo
Academic Conference
Interdisciplinary conference ‘Hungary
1956-2016—Reverberations of a Revolu-
tion’ is organised by the Wirth Institute
for Austrian and Central European
Studies and will host outstanding schol-
ars and researchers to discuss social,
historical, economic, cultural and politi-
cal issues in contemporary Hungary,
with special focus on the collective
memory of the 1956 revolution.
H u n g a r y 1 9 5 6 — 2 0 1 6
Suite 300, Arts Building
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta,
Canada T6G 2E6
Phone: (780) 492-1444
Fax: (780) 492-4340
E-mail: hungaryconference@gmail.com
WIRTH.UALBERTA.CA
Facebook: Hungary-1956-2016-Academic-Conference-
and-Cultural-Festival
Twitter: @Hungary56_2016
Adam Chrobak (contact person): 780 492-4347