The initiative to set up the Forum of Slavic Cultures was presented for the first time during the Bush-Putin Summit at Brdo pri Kranju in June 2001. The Forum of Slavic Cultures is an international institution established in 2004 as a legal entity of private law. In 2005 the Republic of Slovenia decided that all responsibilities of the Ministry of Culture regarding the organisation and operation of the Forum of Slavic Cultures should be transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Members of the Forum include Slovenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, Serbia and Ukraine. The Czech Republic and Poland hold observer status. In keeping with the standing statute of the Forum, each member country names one member of the Board as well as its own Programme Council (PC). The number of Council members is not limited, however, no more than three members per country can co-operate internationally or take part in international meetings.

The Forum aims to preserve and develop cultural values, traditions and contents shared by Slavic-speaking countries. To this end it promotes co-operation among these countries in the cultural, educational and scientific spheres, develops cultural exchanges, organises meetings and provides for the design of joint projects. Achievements in these spheres are presented to the broad international public. The Slovene EU Presidency of 2008 provided a unique opportunity to present the Forum and the achievements of its members to a broad European public.

The Forum's seat is at Jablje Castle in Trzin near Ljubljana.