TULIPÁN

Join us to experience today’s Hungarian craft movement—inspired by timeless tradition and artistry—at this year’s Madison Avenue Spring Gallery Walk! Tulipán Gallery's Sensibility of Hand—Art of Creative Craftship exhibition features the artwork of the 2021 Réka Darida Foundation Folk Design Scholarship recipients. The artists represent the colorful spectrum of today’s Hungarian craft movement: Ildikó Fekete, egg decorator; Tamás Gyenes, woodworker; Melinda “Meyke” Molnár-Madarász, fashion designer; Bernadett Pap, embroiderer; Gergely Pattantyús, glass designer; Students and Teachers of Nádudvar Folk Handicrafts Vocational High School.

The Réka Darida Foundation, the Arany János Hungarian School, and the Hungarian Scout Troops collaborated to host an authentic Hungarian family Advent event in New York, where guests could immerse themselves in the rich customs and traditions associated with the holiday season. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in a variety of traditional Hungarian arts and crafts activities, while also enjoying the delightful surprise of a visit from St. Nick who distributed goodies to the children after the festivities.

The Réka Darida Foundation hosted Dr. Gabor Maté's first book launch event in the United States for his latest work, "The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, & Healing in a Toxic Culture". Dr. Maté, a renowned physician, a bestselling author of four books published in over thirty languages, and an international speaker on addiction, trauma, childhood development, and the relationship of stress and illness.

In collaboration with the Arany János Hungarian School, the Réka Darida Foundation organized a delightful family Easter celebration, featuring a stunning display of 200 intricately decorated eggs by renowned wax-resist egg decorator, Ildikó Fekete. As a recipient of the Junior Prima Award and a Young Master of Folk Art, Fekete expertly showcased various decorating techniques and traditions, while also imparting her knowledge and skills to attendees through hands-on demonstrations of wax-resist dyeing techniques using "iróka" and pinhead.

The Réka Darida Foundation, in collaboration with the Arany János Hungarian School, proudly presented a Hungarian Traditional Carnival event. The occasion featured a display of original busó artifacts imported from Mohács, Hungary, and was enhanced by children dressed in their best costumes, engaging in folk dancing, and participating in traditional Hungarian games. Our activities included the creation of busó masks made from cardboard and real fur, noise-making drums crafted from home-grown pumpkins and sheepskin, as well as learning the art of felt-making and the creation of lace masks. A highlight of the event was the highly-anticipated doughnut eating contest.

Grant Programs

In 2021, the Réka Darida Foundation introduced various programs for Hungarian artists and organizations dedicated to Hungarian culture. One notable initiative was the Folk Design Scholarship Program, which provided one-year scholarships to five accomplished artists and six talented students. In addition, the foundation has consistently extended its support to organizations actively engaged in promoting Hungarian culture in Hungary and in the U.S. While the Réka Darida Foundation is currently not accepting unsolicited proposals, it aims to announce open calls for applications as part of its future plans.

Innovation Award

The Réka Darida Foundation Innovation Award, in collaboration with the Associations of Folk Artists, celebrates and acknowledges folk artists who blend tradition and innovation in Hungarian folk art, creating bold and inventive designs that infuse their community's heritage with their unique expressions. The three honorees of the Réka Darida Foundation Innovation Award are selected each year among the Hungarian craftsmen participating in the Festival of Folk Arts (Mesterségek Ünnepe) held in the Royal Castle in Budapest by a jury of experts in the field designated by the Foundation.

Réka Darida Foundation

The Réka Darida Fondation was established in 2020 as a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation. The foundation's mission is to enrich and preserve Hungarian culture through a diverse range of educational, artistic, academic, and community-centered grants and programs. The foundation is dedicated to creating outreach opportunities that foster knowledge sharing, experiential learning, and appreciation of Hungarian arts, both within the American-Hungarian communities and for the broader American public.