The Twinning Association has worked in partnership with Bath organisations over the past 6 months to strengthen links with Kaposvár and introduce it to the burgeoning contemporary Hungarian culture.

The Association is lucky to have the Website Designer Zsolt Siklodi (pictured as a member. Thanks to Zsolt’s expertise the BKTA now has a website - www.bath-kaposvar.org for up-to-the-minute news and events.

An end of 2008 highlight was the remarkable exchange visit by two Kaposvár guest musicians, Anikó Kovacs and Balazs Hornyák to the City of Bath. They took part in the composition of a concerto with students from the Hayesfield and Chew Valley Schools. Amazingly in six days it was ready for its only public performance during the annual November MozartFest under the baton of Jason Thornton. The audience not only gave this unique musical experience a rapturous reception, but also insisted upon an encore.

Photos of the orchestra and students from Hayesfield and Chew Valley Schools This was the second leg of a BKTA Schools exchange project initiated by the Bath Phil with a grant from the Chartered Trustees of the City (Bath Councillors). In March last year Jason worked in Kaposvár with schools and special needs students. He took along a revolutionary Soundbeam technology to encourage all the students to join in creating and playing music. Kaposvár were so impressed that they have set aside finance to buy one and the Bath Phil/BKTA has agreed to launch an appeal to help them.

Photo of the Gladiators City Bath Youth Football Club This is one of a series of photographs selected and gifted by the BKTA to Kaposvár for an exhibition to celebrate their birthday. It opens on 21 May and will by popular citizen demand illustrate the life and characteristics of Bath as one of Kaposvár’s 10 Twins.

The 2009 Bath Literature Festival with an education grant from the Charter Trustees provided a wonderful showcase for post-communist contemporary Hungarian literature and poetry. The Festival ‘Focus on Hungary’ theme included the screening of two films at the Little Theatre and talks by authors Ladislaus Löb, György Dragomán, plus the poets Anna Szabó and George Szirtes. The sheer diversity and breadth of the writing was impressive, sobering and witty and laced by a string of beautiful poetry readings. The Bath Kaposvár Twinning Association has very much welcomed the chance to engage and work with the LitFest.

Photos, Ladislaus Löb, György Dragomán, George Szirtes from Ruth Knagg Future Events Three BKTA members have been invited by the Mayor of Kaposvár to attend the annual ‘Town of Painters Festival’ in early June.

A group of Bath fine artists have been invited to show their work at the KaposART exhibition from the 23rd July till 19 August I Kaposvár.

A Hungarian Wine Tasting is planned to take place in Bath in the summer. In response to public demand, a second screening of the Hungarian film ‘Fateless’ from the Bath Literature Festival is planned for the autumn. A talk on ‘Architecture in Hungary’ is to be given by a Hungarian architect in September/October.

To find out more about the BKTA please contact the Secretary, ZSuzsa Jenkins, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it