Nepkör of Subotica/Szabadka (Hungarian society for furthering culture and education)was founded in 1872 by a joined endeavour of left oriented craftsmen, citizens of the town.Its original goals were mass education,exchange of thoughts,occasional lectures, spreading ideas and views of the time, advancement of culture, as well as the inducement of the greatest possible development of crafts through rewards and prizes.
The Society was not always able to pursue its activities freely but depended upon the politicial trends in power.However, the life in Népkör was becoming gradually more animated:getting-to-know-each-other evening dinners, the Society organized participation in the Corpus Christi procession, putting up the Society’s own tent at sport events celebrations where members,tradesmen and craftsmen, were selling their goods at discount prices, dancing parties, St Ann’s balls, were following one another.
It was acting, nevertheless, that later contributed to Népkör’s renown.Due to the success of first cabaret organized on Eastern Monday in 1922 a series of others followed. From 1924, Garay Béla, later the famous director of Subotica was leading the troupe. Garay managed to recruit a permanent company in a relatively short time. Under his management Népkör troupe soon became the best and the most popular amateur company in Vojvodina that even the often banning of the authorities could not obstruct.
As a result of the financial support from motherland, the Népkör building was renovated in mid-nineties and inaugurated by the President of Hungary, Árpád Göncz in December 1995.
The Cultural Centre organizes today the following activities: Aranykapu (Golden gate) acting section for pre-school children,children acting group, Juhász orchestra,applied arts
section,needlework group, handicraft study,folk dance section,recreational gymnastics, Szalagfűző - girls song recital choir, Szederinda - folk songs choir, and acting school.
Népkör, the Hungarian Cultural and Educational Centre has had a crucial role in the presevation, enrichment, and advancement of the language, culture, and tradition of the southern Hungarians up to the present day.
Since 1872 Népkör has had a restaurant
Népkör Society was running the restaurant till 1970, since then
Since 1995 the restaurant has been run by SAB TRADE COMPANY. The Company supports the Hungarian Cultural and Educational Centre of Népkör by covering its heating and electricity expenses.
