Culture

The town council manages one of the biggest educational institutions - The Szentes Cultural Centre. It has 5 rooms for the guests. The institution has network with numerous artistic groups, circle of friends, clubs and study circles.

The General Assembly of Csongrád County awarded the Creator's Prize to Golden Peafowl winner Plectrum Zither Band and the Photo Circle in recognition for their outstanding work. The club espresso in the institution is also a place for occasional exhibitions. In the 500-seat József Tóth Theatre, built in 1898, the theatre regularly holds theatrical performances and chamber performances. Another popular place in the institution is the 300-seat Lajos Őze Cinema which was name after the well-known actor born in Szentes. The most significant scene of the fine arts is the Town Gallery. It is one of the few regional exhibition places, and it shows varied, locally supported exhibitions which are known all over the country. Primarily, the Gallery introduces contemporary artists, but there are often folk art exhibitions, industrial arts-, photo arts-, and local history exhibitions, too. The musical life of Szentes has a great past. Nowadays, one of the very important elements of the musical life is the Lajos Bárdos Mixed Chorus. It has the "Concert Choir" classification and have also been awarded with the General Assembly Prize of Csongrád County.

The Town Wind Band of golden diploma (for fifty year's standing), is participated by all age groups. The band won the "Festival Band" honourable title in the national classification. In 1993, the band has been awarded the Creator's Prize in recognition for their many decades of contributions to the success of its activities by the Csongrád County General Assembly.

One of the most visited educational institutions of the town is the Town Library which is managed by the local council. The well-organized library provides access to modern technical and scientific information, leisure- and entertaining books. The more than 600 periodicals provide the readers with up-to-date news, current information. The 140.000 volumed library's home-delivery service is very popular, it takes place once per month, and it delivers books to old or physically handicapped people who cannot visit the library regularly.

The technically well-equipped, 25000 volumed Children's Library provides book for children under 14. Beside traditional services, the library exhibits, library lessons, educational lectures, leisure time- and craft programs are regular. In the course to promote reading among children, kindergarten groups participate in the children fun activities available in the library.

The county supported József Koszta Museum and the Szentes Archives of the Csongrád County Archives belong to the remarkable cultural and scientific institutions of the town. The museum came into being by the work of the Csongrád County Historical and Archeological Company and later it became a permanent collection. Gábor Csallány (1871-1945) organized this company in 1897. In the extremely rich archeological materials - which were uncovered in the surrounding area - there are finds from the Stone Age, Bronze Age, Age of great migrations and Hungarian conquest. Beside the main profile of archeology, the ethnographical and fine arts collection is significant.

The renewed Fridrich-type photo laboratory, built in 1997, is the only one regional photo laboratory of its kind. János Fridrich, his daughters and other photographers' pictures, tools, instruments can be seen in this township significant building.

The Pál Péter Town-house is a corner house with ornamental garden and guest house. This building, built in about 1830, has a neoclassic style, Tuscan capitals, cellar under the house and it is one of the early examples of the brick-architecture of the lowland. In the main building, beside the relics of the civil life, medication historical relics, musical instruments, textiles are displayed. In the closed veranda and garden, medicinal- and ornamental plant exhibition, in the courtyard regional history museum of stonework finds can be seen. In the cellar's exhibition room, there are temporary exhibitions for the visitors, according to the yearly plan. The Hungarian Army Public Education non-profit company's László Hegedűs Garrison Club has directed its attention for decades to the local art loving citizens, either professional soldiers or civilians. The black ceramics workshop of Szentes from the 19th century can be found here. In the popular gallery there are 6 exhibitions of fine arts every year, and the Tisza Euro-Atlantic Summer School, as well.

In the Archive, inside the building of he former county hall, stirred the old documents of Csongrád county, Szentes town, former districts and county-villages. The collection of these documents have been in existence since the 18th century. Beside the 3500 running meter documents, there are significant collections of maps, posters and photographs. Another historical archive which deserves attention is the 12000 volumed special library of history. The most important Hungarian historical scientific reviews, national and county-statistical publications, gazetteers, lists of civil servants, local history documents and old newspapers of Szentes can be found here. The most valuable documents about the history of the county and town are shown in the permanent exhibition of the Archive. The local history exhibitions of the museum and the Archive are the places of common seal of the Regions Ages Museums.

In consequence of the total reconstruction of the former County Hall, an educational-conference centre will be established by the beginning of 2006. The Archive, József Koszta Museum, Szeged University archeology training and several institutions of the Szeged Universitas are going to be located here. The original design of the building and the free spaces after the renovation will make the building suitable for congressional function and for the development of a consultation base.