The aim of the People’s University, founded in 1922, was to culturally educate all social
classes. The organization, headed by Janko Kukovec, did not support any political party.
By organizing lectures, professional courses, exhibits, literary and music events, etc., it
became a prominent educational center. In the period between World War I and World War
II Maribor was also the center of two other important educational organizations, liberal
Cultural Societies’ Federation (CSF) and catholic Federation of Education. CSF fostered
national awareness and education in northeastern Slovenia, where it founded libraries and
rural theater companies, organized music events, lectures and courses. Catholically
oriented Federation of Education, whose aim was to raise devout catholics, was active in
the larger Maribor area as well. It opened a library and organized educational soirées and
youth camps.