The program of the 50th International Folklore Festival should, on the occasion of its golden jubilee, worthily mark the festival’s contribution to the national culture, for which it was declared a national festival under the decision of the Croatian Ministry of Culture and the City of Zagreb in 2014. The festival’s 50th edition should recall the history and role of folklore festivals in Croatia, as well as the changes the festival has undergone over time. The program will include performances by folklore groups and individuals who represent the diversity of Croatian ethnographic heritage (three cultural zones and a number of smaller areas with distinctive dance and music traditions, costumes and customs), along with the representatives of national minorities, Croats from neighboring countries, emigrants and the old Croatian Diaspora. Furthermore, a dozen ensembles will present the heritage of other nations and cultures. (prepared by: Petra Radeljak, PhD)
Source: msf.hr

Trešnjevka Cultural Centre organizes interdisciplinary project through a series of lectures that will deal with popular culture in Croatia and the ways in which it is the catalyst of social exclusion and its potential in the field of social inclusion.
Through academic and professional study of popular culture (through films, comics, literature, reality show programs, sports, newspapers and
television) project will point out the different discourses about youth, disabled, race, ethnicity, gender and nation that have become part of the ideology that forms today's contemporary identity and contributes to construct the stigma, discrimination and human rights violations. (prepared by: Slaven Gašparović, PhD)

The competition for promotion sustainable development of natural heritage is opened

The Ministry of regional development and funds of European Union has announced competition which is called „Promotion of sustainable development of natural heritage“ through which is insured 196 millions of kunas for projects which will contribute to economic, cultural and touristic development of destinations of natural heritage in Croatia. (Prepared by: Jasminka Dimšić)

The project “Connecting Separated” is based on a Roman road which used to connect Salona (Solin) and Bigeste (Ljubuški), continuing to Narona (Vid). It was situated in the middle part of the important Roman road through the hinterland of the Adriatic coast, from Aquileia in the north of Italy to Dyrrachium (Durrës) in Albania. To a great extent, it still serves as a backbone of the inner parts of Dalmatia and Herzegovina.
The project is aimed at connecting cultural and natural heritage, cities, towns and people through a theme route, as a material and symbolic connection of Solin and Ljubuški, but also the whole border area. It lasts for 24 months, and is a part of the IPA Cross Border Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 – 2013 framework. (Prepared by: Andrija Jelavić)

SOURCE: connectingseparated.eu

United through cultural and natural diversity - learning through research

Erasmus+ project KA2 activity – cooperation between schools was conceptualized by teachers from Odra Elementary School.  
Odra Elementary School is the coordinator of the project United through cultural and natural diversity - learning through research.
The project is carried out in cooperation with European partner schools from Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Romania. Six schools are participating in the project, and the official language is English.

Project partners:
a) Odra Elementary School, Zagreb, Croatia
b) Miejski Zespol Szkol nr 2 w Boleslawcu, Poland
c) Gymnazium, zakladni skola a materska skola Hello s.r.o., the Czech Republic
d) Masarykova zakladni skola Navsi, the Czech Republic
e) Zakladna skola, Pugacevova 1381/7, Humenne, Slovakia 
f) Scoala Gimnaziala "Ion Pop Reteganul", Sincel, Romania
Project duration: 2 November 2015 – 2 November 2017
The project is financed by the EU and the Agency for mobility and EU programmes.

Main aims: 
a) The development of literacy as a basic skill, as well as entrepreneurship, multilingualism, and digital skills as transversal skills in pupils
b) The aim of the activities in the project is to contribute in improving the performance of the pupils in all of the countries included in this project during the PISA 2018: reading literacy, problem solving skills, and computer literacy
c) The creation of a regional heritage collection

Why the project? 
a) By using specific learning strategies and methods we encourage pupils in multinational groups to learn through research.
b) We are developing in pupils the skills and qualifications which will be useful beyond the borders of our own country (volunteering, online learning, team work)    
c) A firmer bond between the local community, cultural institutions (museums) and schools will be established

How is the project realized?
a) Local heritage is explored through 7 research topics: legends, wooden architecture, wooden objects and pottery, distinctive features of the local community (language, customs), music and dance, food and folklore costumes 
b) Students aged 11-14 participate in 5 mobilities (visits to partner schools).
c) Partaking teachers meet at 3 transnational meetings in Croatia, Poland and Romania.

Erasmus+ project and the International Year of Global Understanding 2016
During students' mobility in the Czech town of Navsi, one of the activities had as its goal to mark the International Year of Global Understanding – Cultural understanding. 
Students were assigned to keep a diary of the mobility activities taking place 8 – 14 May 2016. Each partner country presented one mobility day in their mother tongue and in English. Students of the host school filmed students taking part in project activities and made a movie which was a result of cooperation of students from the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, Slovakia and Romania.
We believe that the movie, which is a result of the project United through cultural and national diversity – learning through research, contributed in marking the Interational Year of Global Understanding. 

Tanja Horvat, prof.
Project coordinator