STATUTE of the ARCHITECT JOŽE PLEČNIK FUND
On 14th October 2025, the Assembly of the Architect Jože Plečnik Fund, pursuant to the decision of its members, adopted the following:
STATUTE
of the
ARCHITECT JOŽE PLEČNIK FUND
(Only the Slovene text is authentic)
Preamble:
The Plečnik Award was established as a recognition of outstanding achievements in the design of our environment at the initiative of the workers' collective of Ambient, Ljubljana, on the centenary of the great Slovene architect Jože Plečnik's birth. The initiators entrusted the organisation of the award ceremony to Architects' Society of Ljubljana as the only active professional association at that time. The objective of the Plečnik Award soon became acknowledged on a broader scale, thus prompting the establishment of the Architect Jože Plečnik Fund, whose primary purpose is the conferment of Plečnik Awards.
I
General provisions
Article 1.
Purpose
(1) The Architect Jože Plečnik Fund (hereinafter: the Fund) is established with the purpose of the annual conferment of Plečnik Awards. The Fund also performs other tasks related to the research into, protection, and promotion of Jože Plečnik's work and its continuous topicality by means of the development of contemporary architectural practices.
(2) The areas of the Fund's expert activity include architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, spatial design, the interior, and other areas concerned with the design of space and structures within it.
Article 2.
The Fund
(1) The Fund is established and operates pursuant to this Statute.
(2) All members of the Fund are co-signers of this Statute.
(3) The Fund's registered address is DAL, 3 Karlovška Street in Ljubljana.
(4) The premises for the Fund's operation are provided by City Municipality of Ljubljana.
Article 3.
The Statute
(1) This Statute regulates and specifies the Fund's organisation, bodies, committees and their competencies, manners of deciding, and other questions pertinent to the Fund's operation and performing of activities.
(2) Any language employed in this Statute referring to persons is to be considered gender-neutral.
(3) The word "architecture" and all its derivations as employed in this Statute refer to architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and other areas specified in Paragraph 2 of Article 1 of this Statute.
II
Activities and tasks
Article 4.
Activities of the Fund
(1) The Fund performs the following activities:
- − conferment of Plečnik Awards,
- − organisation of exhibitions,
- − research,
- − education,
- − conferment of grants, and
- − other activities related to the purpose of the Fund's establishment.
(2) In pursuing the purpose of its establishment, the Fund may liaise with similar institutions, domestic and foreign.
(3) The Fund's activity is non-profit and non-gainful.
Article 5.
Plečnik Awards
(1) The Fund's primary objective is the conferment of Plečnik Awards. All other activities of the Fund are to be carried out in such a way that the annual conferment of Plečnik Awards is jeopardised in any way, and that the meaning and significance of Plečnik Awards are preserved.
(2) Plečnik Awards represent Slovenia's main recognition for outstanding work in the fields of architecture, urban design, landscape architecture, and interior design.
(3) The recipients of Plečnik Awards shall be determined by the Expert Committee for the Selection of Plečnik Awards (hereinafter: the Expert Committee) appointed by the Fund Assembly.
(4) The manner of selection and conferment of the Awards, the procedure for selecting the members of the Expert Committee, and other details relating to Plečnik Awards are stipulated in the Rules on the Conferment of Plečnik Awards, which are adopted by the Fund Assembly by a majority of the members present.
III
Members
Article 6.
Members of the Fund
(1) Members of the Fund are legal persons which support the purpose and operation of the Fund and gain membership to the Fund according to the procedures as stipulated by this Statute.
(2) New membership in the Fund may be gained by those organisations, institutions, ministries, municipalities, and other legal persons which are active in areas related to the Fund's areas of activity as defined in Article 1 of this Statute; which are committed to acting in public good; and which are not established with the objective of performing gainful or for-profit activities.
(3) The decisions on gaining membership in the Fund and the expulsion from the Fund are adopted by the Fund Assembly by a two-third majority of all the members.
(4) The membership in the Fund may be terminated also by a member's own decision. A member's membership status shall be regarded as terminated if said member has failed to pay the membership fees for two years, or has not fulfilled its duties according to agreed arrangements. The Fund Assembly will recognise such an event by means of a decision adopted by a simple majority of the members present.
Article 7.
Equality of members
(1) All members are equal in deciding on all matters relating to the operation of the Fund.
(2) Each member has one representative in the Fund Assembly with the right to cast an equal vote on all decisions and other resolutions of the Assembly.
Article 8.
Rights and obligations of members
(1) The members of the Fund have the obligation to be involved in the operation of the Fund.
(2) The members of the Fund have the obligation to pay a yearly contribution in accordance with this Statute unless a different arrangement has been agreed upon by means of a decision adopted by the Assembly. The members of the Fund have the obligation to discharge all other duties stipulated by this Statute, the Fund's rules, and decisions by the Fund Assembly.
(3) The members of the Fund may bring to public notice their membership in the Fund.
IV
Bodies and Committees of the Fund
Article 9.
Bodies and committees of the Fund
(1) The bodies of the Fund are as follows:
- − the Assembly,
- − the Chair,
- − the Management Board.
(2) To perform tasks within their respective remits, the Assembly and Management Board may institute further standing or temporary committees or offices in accordance with the Statute.
V
Fund Assembly
Article 10.
Fund Assembly
(1) The Fund Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Fund.
(2) The members of the Assembly are the representatives of the Fund members.
Article 11.
Tasks of the Fund Assembly
The tasks of the Fund Assembly are be as follows:
- − election and appointment of the Fund Chair,
- − appointment of members of the Management Board,
- − deciding on new Fund members,
- − adopting the Statute,
- − adopting other acts,
- − approving the financing plan, adopting the financial report and setting the yearly financial commitment of the Fund members,
- − adopting the yearly report by the Fund Chair on the operation of the Fund,
- − overseeing the activities of the Fund Chair and other bodies and committees in performing their tasks,
- − deciding on disputes lodged against the operation of the Fund and against the operation of the Fund's bodies or committees,
- − instituting and appointing standing and temporary commissions and working bodies,
- − adopting other decisions relevant to the Fund's organisation and the pursuit of its objective,
- − other tasks as stipulated by this Statute or other acts of the Fund.
Article 12.
Assembly leadership
(1) The Assembly is chaired by the Assembly Chair.
(2) The members of the Assembly elect the Assembly Chair from among themselves by secret ballot. Candidates for the Assembly Chair submit their own respective candidacies by expressing their intention at the session of the Assembly on which the Chair is being decided upon. In the event of more than two candidates standing, the Assembly Chair is elected via a two-round electoral system.
(3) The Assembly Chair's term is four years. After the end of the term, the sitting Assembly Chair performs their tasks until the election of the new Assembly Chair.
Article 13.
Assembly members
(1) Each legal person which is a Fund member shall appoint one representative as an Assembly member.
(2) An Assembly member's term is not limited in time. The term of a representative of a Fund member in the Assembly expires when a Fund member appoints a different representative to the Assembly.
(3) An Assembly member's term shall also expire in the event that the membership in the Fund of the legal person which they represent has terminated.
Article 14.
Calling an Assembly session
(1) Assembly sessions are called by the Fund Chair. An Assembly session may also be called upon a written request of no fewer than three Assembly members or the Assembly Chair. In the event that the Fund Chair does not call an Assembly session within 14 days of the submission of the request, a session may also be called by the Assembly Chair.
(2) A notice on an Assembly session shall be given no fewer than 7 days before the respective session is called. The notice shall be accompanied by the agenda, and any and all relevant documents.
Article 15.
Proceedings of the Assembly session
(1) An Assembly session is conducted by the Assembly Chair. In the event of the Assembly Chair's absence, the session is conducted by a member of the Assembly chosen by Assembly members.
(2) An Assembly member may be replaced at an Assembly session by another individual acting as the alternate member provided that the individual calling the session has been duly notified in writing before the start of the Assembly session.
(3) The quorum is met at an Assembly session if more than half of the Assembly members are present.
(4) Each session shall be minuted. The minutes must include a record of all decisions of the session with the respective outcomes of the vote.
(5) As a rule, Assembly sessions are not open to the public.
Article 16.
Correspondence Assembly sessions
(1) In exceptional cases, Assembly sessions may be conducted as correspondence sessions via e-mail.
(2) A notice on a correspondence Assembly session shall be given no fewer than 7 days before the session is called. The notice shall be accompanied by the agenda, any and all relevant documents, and the time allotted for deliberation.
(3) All deliberation at a correspondence session shall be carried out in such a way that all e-mail messages, including messages containing votes cast in open ballots, are visible to all Assembly members.
(4) Decisions which require a secret ballot may be adopted only if the technology used ensures the secrecy of the vote.
(5) Voting in a correspondence session shall be considered valid if more than half of the Assembly members have cast their vote.
(6) If in the time allotted for deliberation the majority of all Assembly members oppose a correspondence session, the correspondence session is adjourned with no decisions adopted.
Article 17.
Decisions of Assembly
(1) The Statute and amendments to the Statute are adopted by the Fund Assembly by a two-third majority of all Fund Assembly members.
(2) Decisions on admitting a new member and the expulsion of an existing member, on claims against a member for the settlement of damages to the Fund, and on the dismissal of the Fund Chair or a member of the Management Board are adopted by a two-third majority of all Fund Assembly members.
(3) Decisions on other matters are adopted by a majority of all votes cast unless this Statute or other general act of the Fund stipulate otherwise.
(4) The Assembly votes by public ballot unless this Statute or other general act of the Fund stipulate otherwise.
(5) The Assembly adopts decisions by voting on decisions. Assembly members may vote for a decision, against it, or register an abstention. In the counting of the votes, the Assembly members who have not cast a vote shall be regarded as not present.
(6) When voting by secret ballot, Assembly members circle or otherwise indicate the name of the chosen candidate or candidates. The result of the vote is validated by a public ballot in accordance with the previous paragraph.
(7) Those not present at the time of voting may not cast the vote. Indirect voting is disallowed.
VI
Chair
Article 18.
Fund Chair
(1) The Fund is administered and represented by the Fund Chair.
(2) The Fund Chair organises and conducts the operation of the Fund, appears for the Fund and represents it, and is responsible for the legality of its operation.
(3) The tasks of the Fund Chair are as follows:
- − administering and representing the Fund,
- − signing contracts entered into by the Fund,
- − nominating the members of the Management Board,
- − calling and conducting Management Board sessions,
- − calling Assembly sessions,
- − executing the Assembly's decisions,
- − autonomously concluding transactions up to the value of €3,000 on the basis of the financing plan,
- − drafting the calls for applications for the Fund Chair and other calls for applications,
- − performing other tasks pursuant to authorisation by the Assembly,
- − performing other tasks in accordance with the Statute.
(4) The Chair's term is four years. The same individual shall serve no more than two successive terms as the Fund Chair.
Article 19.
Appointment of Fund Chair
(1) The Fund Chair is elected, appointed, and dismissed by the Assembly.
(2) The call for applications for the Fund Chair is published on the on the Fund's web site and may also be published in other media. It shall be published no later than one month before the Fund Chair election.
(3) An application for the Fund Chair shall include at least the candidate's basic personal details, their curriculum vitae, and their vision of leading the Fund.
(4) Fund Chair election is carried out by secret ballot in an Assembly session. If more candidates have applied, the election is carried out via a two-round electoral system. The candidates shall be granted the opportunity for an in-person presentation.
(5) After the election has been concluded, the Assembly shall adopt a decision appointing the chosen candidate as the Fund Chair.
(6) The Fund Chair's term shall be subject to early termination if the Chair resigns, is dismissed, passes away, or is unable to exercise their function. The decision on the Fund Chair's term termination shall be adopted by the Assembly by a majority of all votes cast, and by a two-third majority of all Assembly members in the event of the Fund Chair's dismissal. In the event of an early termination of the Fund Chair's term, the Assembly may appoint an Acting Fund Chair until a new Fund Chair has been elected.
(7) The Fund Chair may not be a member of the Fund Assembly. If a member of the Fund Assembly is elected the Fund Chair, their term in the Assembly shall terminate and a new representative appointed to the Assembly by their organisation.
VII
Management Board
Article 20.
Management Board
(1) The Management Board is the Fund's working and executive body. The Management Board is composed of the Fund Chair and seven members.
(2) The Management Board ensures that the Fund's tasks are performed. The work of the Management Board is governed by the Fund Chair.
(3) The tasks of the Management Board are as follows:
- − authoring and managing the Fund's projects,
- − executing the Assembly's decisions,
- − taking part in the drafting of plans, reports, and proposals within the Fund Chair's remit,
- − giving approval to concluding transactions above the value of €3,000,
- − drafting of proposals of the Statute and general acts of the Fund,
- − drafting of proposals for the yearly report on the Fund's operation,
- − drafting of proposals for the financing plan, financial report, and the proposal of the yearly financial contribution of the Fund members,
- − developing and managing the Fund's projects,
- − establishing other working bodies of the Fund within the Board's remit and appointing their members,
- − performing other tasks pursuant to authorisation by the Assembly,
- − performing other tasks in accordance with this Statute and other acts.
Article 21.
Management Board members
(1) Three Management Board members are nominated by the Fund Chair. Four Management Board members are nominated by the Assembly, as a general rule from among its members. The Management Board members are confirmed individually, each by secret ballot. As a general rule, the vote on the Management Board members is undertaken as part of the same session immediately following the election of the Fund Chair.
(2) The Management Board members' respective terms are equivalent to the Fund Chair's term.
(3) A Management Board member's term shall be subject to early termination if the member resigns, is dismissed, passes away, or is unable to exercise their function. The decision on a Management Board member's term termination shall be adopted by the Assembly. A replacement Management Board member shall be nominated by the body upon whose nomination the Management Board member whose term has been terminated was appointed.
Article 22.
Management Board sessions
(1) Management Board sessions are called and conducted by the Fund Chair.
(2) The Fund Chair may temporarily authorise another member of the Management Board to call and conduct sessions. In the event of the Fund Chair's absence, a session may be called also by two members of the Management Board. Such a session is conducted by one of the two members.
(3) The quorum is met at a Management Board session if more than half of the members are present.
(4) A correspondence Management Board session may also be called. In such an event, the deliberation and voting shall be carried out simultaneously with the time allotted for voting set by the person having called the session. A voting majority in a correspondence session shall be verified under the assumption of all Management Board members being present at the session.
(5) The Management Board adopts decisions by a majority of the members present.
(6) Each Management Board session shall be minuted and the minutes shall be presented for consultation of the Assembly Members or published on the on the Fund's web site. Minutes are authenticated upon the approval of all the Management Board members having been present at the session. In the event of a correspondence session, the minutes are authenticated upon the approval of all the Management Board members having cast their vote.
VII
Financial operation of the Fund
Article 23.
Financial turnover
Financial turnover shall be conducted via the current account belonging to Architects' Society of Ljubljana (hereinafter: DAL). The resources intended for the Fund's operation shall be collected separately from other resources of DAL.
Article 24.
Resources for Fund operation
(1) The Fund shall acquire resources for its operation from the following sources:
- − member contributions,
- − public funds from public tenders,
- − donations, patronages and sponsorships, and
- − other sources in the manner and under the conditions stipulated in the Statute and laid down by law.
(2) The Fund may only use surplus revenue against the expenditures for the purpose of performing and developing the Fund's activities. The use of the surplus revenue against the expenditures shall be decided by the Assembly in accordance with the Fund's operation programmes and plans.
(3) The Fund shall cover a shortfall of resources by means of amending the yearly financing plan and with resources which it is authorised to allocate independently.
(4) The Fund's resources shall be managed in such a way that the annual conferment of Plečnik Awards is not put in jeopardy.
Article 25.
Yearly contribution from members
(1) Fund members shall pay a yearly contribution towards the Fund's operation.
(2) The minimum yearly contribution amount shall be set by the Assembly on a proposal by the Management Board.
(3) Pursuant to a decision by the Assembly or to the adopted fee schedule, individual Fund members may be exempt from paying a yearly contribution, as a general rule only in the event that they have contributed resources to the Fund in another manner.
Article 26.
Donors
(1) Donors are corporations, organisations, or individuals that support the Fund's operations. They donate financial or other resources to the Fund and sign a donor contract with the Fund.
(2) Donors are not members of the Fund and shall not exercise influence over the Fund's operations or over the decisions of its bodies and committees.
(3) A donor contract shall be limited in time. As a general rule, it shall be signed for the period of no less than one year.
(4) A donor contract shall be subject to approval by the Management Board.
(5) Stipulations of a donor contract shall not infringe on the purpose of the establishment of the Fund and on other stipulations of this Statute. A donor contract shall not grant the donor influence on the conferment of Plečnik Awards or other expert decisions on the part of the Fund's organs and bodies. The Assembly may adopt a decision stipulating additional conditions on donor contracts.
VIII
Operation of the Fund
Article 27.
Publicity of operation of the Fund
(1) The operation of the Fund shall be public unless this Statute or other general act stipulate otherwise.
(2) Fund officials shall protect the Fund's trade secrets, and those of Fund members'.
Article 28.
Web site
(1) The Fund shall operate a web site.
(2) Any and all publication on the Fund's web site shall be regarded as official publication of the Fund.
(3) The Fund shall operate an official e-mail address intended for electronic operation of the Fund. Any and all e-mail sent to the Fund's official e-mail address shall be treated as written communication for the Fund.
IX
Final provisions
Article 29.
Final provision
(1) This Statute shall be published the on the Fund's web site and shall enter into force immediately following the publication. It shall become applicable co-incidentially with the publication of the call for applications for new Fund leadership.
Drawn up at ______________, on this day of:
This Statute was supplemented on 7th March 2001.
This Statute was supplemented and amended on 21st April 2006.
This Statute was supplemented and amended on 11th January 2023.
This Statute was amended on 14th October 2025.
