Overview
The primary objective of the Research Centre for Ethnography is to explore, document and study the sources of Hungarian folk culture, traditional culture, and religious ethnography, folklore, community heritage and cultural identity, with a particular focus on the historical, cultural and eastern connections of the Hungarian people in the Carpathian Basin.
A key objective of the Research Centre is to catalogue the Péter Halász estate entrusted to the Institute of Hungarian Studies, to analyse it from the perspectives of ethnography and the history of science, and to make scientific use of documents, collections and research materials pertaining to the Csángó communities. The László Gyula Archive is responsible for preserving and archiving of the estate.
Mission
The mission of the Research Centre is:
- to conduct academic research on Hungarian folk culture and folklore heritage;
- to explore the network of cultural ties of the Hungarian people in the East;
- to study Hungarian religious ethnography, cults of saints and Christian traditions;
- documenting the cultural heritage of Hungarian communities in the Carpathian Basin and the diaspora;
- research into Hungarian pastoral culture, musical traditions and archaic cultural forms;
- strengthening local identity, community heritage and national self-awareness; and
- the social and cultural application of scientific findings.
The activities of the Research Centre contribute to:
- the advancement of scientific research;
- the strengthening of national identity;
- the preservation of cultural heritage; and
- the strengthening of cohesion within the entire Hungarian community.
Key programs
(Detailed descriptions are available by clicking on the program titles.)
- Hungarian Eastern Cultural Relations Program
- Hungarian Religious Ethnography and National Traditions Program
- Hungarian Shepherd Culture and Archaic Heritage Program
- Program on Hungarian Communities and Interethnic Relations in the Carpathian Basin
- Local Heritage, Community Identity and Cultural Repository Program
- Halász Péter Legacy Processing Program
Staff
Dr Orsolya Gyöngyössy
Director
Dr Gergely Agócs
Senior Research Fellow
Dr Árpád Papp
Senior Research Fellow
Gábor Nagy
Assistant Research Fellow
Imre Harangozó
Research Administrator
