Since July 21, Klubovňa has been open in the basement of the art-house cinema Kino Úsmev in Košice. It is a new space for young people aged 12 to 18. During the summer, the club is open in a test mode: every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
This is not an after-school club or a classroom. It is a place for informal leisure where teenagers can simply come, talk with peers, and spend time without parents. Inside, there is a gaming zone with a gaming setup, board games, and a corner for watching movies. The team also plans workshops and discussions, including with cinema staff, for those interested in how a cinema works from the inside.
Before visiting, it is recommended to fill out the online registration form: registered participants will receive discounts on Kino Úsmev services, including tickets. Details about the schedule and rules for visiting are on the club's page on the cinema's website (in Slovak).
The club was created as part of the Úsmev Community LAB project with financial support from the ČSOB Foundation. Kino Úsmev itself at Kasárenské námestie 1 is one of the oldest cinemas in Košice: in 2022, it celebrated its 100th anniversary, and since 2015, it has been managed by the public association Cinefil. In addition to film screenings, it hosts festivals, concerts, and educational programs, as well as inclusive projects for children and vulnerable groups, such as Otvorený Úsmev.
For Ukrainian families in Košice, this is a good option for the summer. Teenagers will get a safe place where they can make friends and gradually integrate into the local environment, and the language barrier is least noticeable in the gaming zone and during board games. If your child is between 12 and 18 years old, forward this post to them.
