For the last two weeks, there has been nowhere to hide from pop culture. Just as one has recovered from the onrush of viewers to the premiere of Avengers: Endgame, the Olomouc Student May Celebrations (Majáles) have begun, and this year the theme is Pop Culture. The allegorical student procession which will spill out into the city streets will doubtless include masks of comic heroes from the popular Marvel series. The student festival will liven up the Olomouc town centre at the start of next week, on 6 and 7 May.
The procession will be led by the actress and singer Erika Stárková. She starred as the transsexual Dasha in the Czech TV series MOST! and her coronation will take place on 7 May at 1 p.m. in the UP Library courtyard (Zbrojnice/Armoury). It will be followed by a rich music programme, featuring Czech hip hop stars P.S.H. and the extravagant electropop group Mydy Rabycad, which has also appeared at the Glastonbury Festival. And Starková will perform with her jazz group. “This year’s programme is the richest yet in terms of genres. And thanks to the chosen theme, we’ve been able to mix up quite a cocktail. We’ve covered pop culture in all its forms,” said Ondřej Martínek, the main coordinator of the UP May Student Celebrations organisational team, who added, “At the same time, visitors can look forward to already well-established parts of the programme, including local cuisine, art exhibitions, and the biggest show of the non-profit sector in Olomouc.”
Theatre lovers will find a haven at the city wall ramparts at the UP Arts Centre (Konvikt). During both days of the festival, dozens of performers will grace the stage of a circus tent set up especially for the event: there will be theatre, slam poetry, improv duels, and top Czech stand-up comics such as Jiří Charvát, Jan Géryek and Jan Studnička. To spice things up, there will also be a special pub quiz and an outdoor screening of the pop cult hit Big Lebowski.
Pop Culture will also be the subject of large format graffiti which will be created on site at the Armoury by the graphic artist Petr Novák – a/k/a Ticho762 – and the results will be auctioned off. “He is a graduate of our university, just like several others taking part in the festivities. Each year we try to build our programme around what UP students and graduates are doing,” said Martínek, who added that thirty students representing all the UP faculties are taking part in the organisation of the celebrations.
According to Martínek, in addition to fun, visitors should also think about helping others. “Both days will be carried out in conjunction with a benefit for the organisation Pamatováček, which helps people with Alzheimer’s disease.” The main part of the benefit will take place during a double concert evening at Jazz Tibet Club on 6 May, although people will have the opportunity to donate via collection boxes throughout the entire May Celebrations.
Movement enthusiasts can look forward to a swing dance, a benefit run through the park, and various outdoor activities. Bookworms can take part in the UP Student Literary Contest. Fans of film music will certainly be captivated by the Palacký University Orchestra’s repertoire of movie melodies. Need to go on a shopping spree? Check out the special edition of the Design Market (DizajnTrh). And if you feel up to the competition, enter Best Instagram Photo or Best Meme contests. The complete programme can be found at www.majalesolomouc.cz.
The ninth annual UP Olomouc Student Celebrations (Majáles) will take place from 6–7 May in the Zbrojnice (Armoury) courtyard, in the courtyards of the UP Arts Centre (Konvikt), in Jazz Tibet Club, and in the Metropol cinema. Check out the websites above or Facebook for more information.