3. Cultural and creative sectors
Croatia
Last update: December, 2020
The Law on the Preservation of Cultural Assets (NN 69/99, NN 151/03; NN 157/03, Amend., NN 87/09, NN 88/10, NN 61/11, NN 25/12, NN 136/12, NN 157/13, NN 152/14, NN 44/17, NN 90/18, NN 32/20, NN 62/20) states that every monument must have an owner and that licences will be granted for restoration and conservation work. The change of status application of this Law is continuously monitored and improved. The number of well-presented and well-managed archaeological sites has been growing. The Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture and Media is responsible for the upholding and updating of the Registry of Cultural Assets together with its web portal and GIS enhanced search engine. Cultural assets are registered according to three categories: cultural assets of national importance; preventively protected cultural assets and protected cultural assets.
Special provisions in the Law are made with regard to immaterial cultural heritage. On the initiative and in agreement with the Croatian Commission for UNESCO in 2002, a special Committee for Intangible Cultural Heritage was established. Croatia ratified the Convention for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2007, and the Ministry was established as a central body for its enforcement. According to the Registry of Cultural Assets the list of protected intangible cultural goods currently contains 171 units, fifteen of which were included in the UNESCO list of protected intangible cultural goods, and one item included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The Ministry of Culture and Media has developed a network of 21 local conservation departments that are spread all over the country, and an additional one - The Zagreb City Institute for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage. The Croatian Conservation Institute is an important heritage institution founded in 1997 by the Decree of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on a Merger of Public Institutions in the Field of Conservation and Restoration owned by the Republic of Croatia: the Institute for Restoration of Works of Art (founded in 1948) and the Conservation Institute of Croatia (founded in 1966).The main activity of the Croatian Conservation Institute is conservation and restoration of immovable cultural goods (architectural heritage, wall paintings and mosaics, stone sculptures and stucco), movable cultural goods (easel paintings, wooden polychrome sculptures, furniture, art on paper, artworks of leather, textile or metal), archaeological heritage, and other objects of cultural, historical or technical significance.
The Strategy of Protection, Conservation and Sustainable Economic Utilisation of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Croatia (2011-2015) was adopted in July 2011. The Strategy determined aims, measures and activities in order to ensure sustainable management of cultural heritage. The overall approach to cultural heritage is planned to be addressed in the Strategy of Cultural Development that is in preparation (see chapter 2.8). In 2019 the Ministry of Culture and Media published the Recommendations for the Application of Energy Efficiency Measures on Architectural Heritage that was coordinated with the Ministry of Construction and Physical Planning in order to improve the cross-sectoral approach to the common theme. In addition, one of the important strategic plans that was prepared in 2019 by the Ministry of Culture and Media is the National Plan for the Digitisation of Cultural Heritage 2025 that is presently in the adoption procedure (see chapter 2.4).
In the last couple of years, a number of new or reconstructed museums have been opened and one can say that the number of such institutions is high; according to the Registry of Public and Private Museums, available at the website of Museum Documentation Centre there are 162 such institutions in Croatia. While investment in cultural infrastructure was seen by many as very positive, there is also some criticism expressed that there is no adequate investment in modernisation and strengthening of the capacities of existing museums. The orientation towards developing of projects for EU funds has started, and there are visible results available. In 2019 several heritage projects financed from the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion have been finalised, such as the integrated development programme in Virovitica (total funding: 81 439 871 HRK-approx.10 858 649 EUR), CivitasSacra integrated programme on cultural heritage of Šibenik cathedral and palace Galbiani (funding in the amount of 36 380 859 HRK - approx. 4 850 781 EUR), Infocentre of industrial heritage – Holand house (29 282 809 HRK - approx. 3 904 374 EUR) etc.
Taking into account the Zagreb and Sisak-Moslavina County 2020 earthquakes of great magnitude that have caused major damage to cultural heritage buildings (see chapter 2.1), much work and funding will be needed in order to restore and renovate the destroyed monuments and other buildings with cultural purpose. (See links to ICOM reports on the situation in Zagreb and Sisak-Moslavina County).
Last update: December, 2020
Policy instruments that financially support archive and library activities are based on the yearly public calls for public needs in culture; measures for the support of library activities (development of projects, programmes and promotions) and for the support of programme activities in the archive sector. The Croatian Library Council and Croatian Archive Council are advisory bodies to the ministry responsible for cultural affairs that perform professional and other activities related to library and archives in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Libraries and Library Activity and the Law on Archival Materials and Archives.
The new Law on Archival Materials and Archives from 2018 defines the conversion from analogue to digital archival material and it creates the legal preconditions for the creation, transmission and storage of material that is created as original digital archival material. This implies preconditions for the digitisation of the overall archive service and it is a key novelty in relation to the old Law on Archival Material and Archives that was adopted back in 1997. The National Plan for the Development of Archival Activities (2020-2025) adopted in 2019 should create preconditions for the construction of a modern archival sector in Croatia and will enable the transformation of the archival service into a modern public service and the full availability and use of archival material and data on it, regardless of the form in which the material was created or the place where it is stored. At the same time, as the main strategic document in the field of archiving, it should serve as a basis for planning a comprehensive financial perspective for the next decade and the preparation and implementation of EU projects. A significant part of these activities is already planned by the Cultural Heritage Digitisation Project, which will be implemented in the period 2019-2022 and for which HRK 80 million has been provided from EU funds (see chapters 2.4 and 3.1).
The number of archives remains rather steady during the years; according to the Archive Registry available at the web site of the Ministry of Culture and Media, in addition to the Croatian State Archive currently there are 17 state archives, as well as an archival institution – Memorial-Documentation Centre on the Homeland War.
During the preparation of the new Law on Libraries and Library Activity that was adopted in 2019 (see 4.2.2) a number of issues were raised by the library community related to the first draft of the Law highlighting that the community was not consulted properly in the preparation of the Law and that Law will bring down the established librarianship standards in management and work of libraries. The above-mentioned Cultural Heritage Digitisation Project also takes into account the library system as a part of its plans and activities (see chapter 2.4). One also has to mention the adoption of the National Strategy for Promotion of Reading (2017-2022) in 2017 that is currently being implemented, which is focusing on better access to books, development of reading and literacy activities, taking libraries as an integral part of planned activities.
Last update: December, 2020
There is no specific national strategy for performing arts in Croatia. The instruments related to this sector are based on the yearly public calls for public needs in culture through three streams of financing: funding for professional theatres, funding for amateur theatre activities and funding for programmes in contemporary dance and movement. The Cultural Council for Theatre and Performing Arts is a consultative body to the Minister of Culture and Media in connection to performing arts activities. A special measure for encouraging Croatian drama and theatre creativity is the 'Marin Držić' Award given by the Ministry of Culture and Media (see chapter 7.2.3).
Debates within the sector were concentrated on the Draft Law on Artistic Activities in 2019 that would have an impact on performing artists and thus the performing arts sector in general. After a number of comments from the professional community, the draft Law was halted. Further discussions were related to the announcement of the Ministry that the changes in the Law on Theatres will be made in the upcoming calendar year. During 2020 the focus of the recent discussions in the performing arts sector were concentrated around the impact of the Zagreb earthquake on the theatre buildings and the assessment of the financial and social repercussions of the damages, the impact of COVID-19 on the (lives of artists and workers in the) performing arts, functioning of the private theatre companies and the applicability of the online environment for the performing arts sector.
Last update: December, 2020
There is no specific national strategy for visual arts and crafts in Croatia. The instruments related to this sector on the national level are based on the yearly public calls for public needs in culture through three major measures of financing: the first measure is dedicated to projects and programmes related to the promotion of contemporary visual creativity, promotion and protection of freedom of visual action, support for artistic events, preservation of national artistic heritage and cultural diversity, and encouragement of the development and promotion of visual arts; while the second measure relates to monographs in the visual arts. The third measure was developed in 2018 to give support to the creation, production and distribution of works in the visual arts. The Cultural Council for Visual Arts is a consultative body to the Minister of Culture and Media in connection to visual arts activities.
In 2019 debates and discussions within the sector were concentrated on the Draft Law on Artistic Activities that would also have an impact on visual artists and the visual arts sector in general. In 2020 major discussions related to the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of visual artists and the visual arts infrastructure with special focus on the consequences of the Zagreb earthquake on the key institutions and cultural infrastructure in general.
Last update: December, 2020
There is no overall legal framework to specifically promote and develop the cultural and creative industries. The legal provisions that affect cultural industries refer to specific cultural sectors (book production, music, audio-visual products, etc.) and to economic sectors, e.g., micro and small-medium sized enterprises, activities of transnational media corporations in Croatia, etc. Thus, they are administratively identified within the established cultural creativity areas like music, film, audio-visual, etc. and supported through regular public calls and subsidies of the Ministry of Culture and Media at the national level and through similar calls of cities and counties at the local level.
In October 2008 the first attempt to support the cultural industries as a specialised field of cultural production was launched by the (then) Ministry of Culture, in cooperation with the former Ministry of Economy, Labour and Enterprise. The competition for funds to cover the costs of technological equipment, administrative and office expenses etc. was opened and over 450 cultural entrepreneurs applied to the call.
In 2013 this model was partially changed and the Ministry of Culture was responsible for part of the project, while the Ministry of Enterprise developed a special line devoted to SMEs in creative industries as a part of the call, newly titled "Entrepreneurship Impulse" that distributed 3 million HRK (approx.400 000 EUR). In 2014 the Ministry of Culture distributed 1 526 900 HRK (approx. 200 000 EUR), while the Ministry of Enterprise and Crafts did not announce the new calls for creative industries’ projects, but did open a Pilot Project for contemporary design and artistic and traditional projects in the amount of 500 000 HRK (approx. 67 000 EUR). The Ministry of Culture and Media continued with the Programme with increased funds, which is now titled ‘Entrepreneurship in Cultural and Creative Industries’. The following table shows the number of supported projects and the amount of funding since the inception of the programme in 2008.
Table 2 – Number of projects and amount of funding (2008-2019) 'Entrepreneurship in Culture/Entrepreneurship in Cultural and Creative Industries' programme
| Year | Number of supported programs | Amount of funding HRK/EUR |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 70 | 2 000 000 HRK (approx. 280 000 EUR) |
| 2009 | 108 | 4 000 000 HRK (approx. 560 000 EUR) |
| 2010 | 136 | 4 000 000 HRK (approx. 560 000 EUR) |
| 2011 | 128 | 4 000 000 HRK (approx. 560 000 EUR) |
| 2012 | 90 | 4 000 000 HRK (approx. 560 000 EUR) |
| 2013 | 39 | 1 649 880 HRK (approx. 219 984 EUR) |
| 2014 | 44 | 1 526 900 HRK (approx. 203 586 EUR) |
| 2015 | 60 | 1 854 096 HRK (approx. 247 212 EUR) |
| 2016 | 60 | 1 817 577 HRK (approx. 242 343 EUR) |
| 2017 | 107 | 8 000 000 HRK (approx. 1 066 666 EUR) |
| 2018 | 119 | 8 000 000 HRK (approx. 1 066 666 EUR) |
| 2019 | 127 | 8 000 000 HRK (approx. 1 066 666 EUR) |
Source: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia.
The government, and in some cases local and regional authorities, subsidise book production, music production and the recording and film industries (see chapter 7). During the last decade, several innovations have been introduced, such as bursaries for writers and translators, fixed book price regulations in the form of an agreement between publishers and relevant ministries, and the implementation of public lending rights for authors (see chapter 3.5.2). Legislation regarding audiovisual activities was put into force in 2007 and 201, which established the Croatian Audiovisual Centre as an arm’s length body with changes in legislation in 2018. A cash rebate system for filming in Croatia has been heralded as one of the measures to support the cultural and creative industries (see chapter 3.5.3).
Some sectors such as publishing or film and music distribution and production are almost entirely privatised and have generated funds from a variety of sources including public funding and sponsorship but also direct investment and their own income. The products of domestic cultural industries are mostly distributed and consumed in the domestic market with the exception of pop-music and soap-operas, which are successfully exported throughout the region of South East Europe. Films also find their way to international audiences (mainly through festivals) and the works of selected authors are translated and distributed internationally. Liberalisation of the audio-visual market, and the presence of private broadcasters on the Croatian market, has contributed to an increase in domestic audio-visual production. However, there is ample space for development of independent audio-visual productions, not only in relation to private broadcasters but also in the important role of Croatian Radio Television as a public broadcaster.
The most recent research results on 'Mapping of cultural and creative industries in the Republic of Croatia' (Rašić Bakarić et al., 2015) has been completed by the Institute of Economics on behalf of the newly established NGO Croatian Cluster of Creative and Cultural Industries (HKKKI) and financed by the Ministry of the Economy. It showed that cultural and creative industries have 2.3% share of Croatian GDP, employ 3% of the total number of employed in Croatia and have 5.7% share in the total number of business entities as well as 2.4% share in total revenues in Croatia (Rašić Bakarić et al, 2015: 178-179). The research also showed that the cultural and creative industries consist mainly of micro-enterprises, mostly employing people with a higher education, that is, self-employed people that are employed through non-typical forms of employment. The authors show that the cultural and creative industries in Croatia are competitive and more resilient to recession than other economic sectors, but are also weakened by long-term recession (Rašić Bakarić et al, 2015: 178-179).
It has to be highlighted that public funding remains the main source of financing of the cultural and creative industries in Croatia, which has become even more evident in the crisis caused by COVID-19 in 2020. As in other countries globally, Croatian cultural and creative industries have been seriously hit by the crisis on the level of production, distribution and consumption. What is more, the Zagreb earthquake in March 2020 has exacerbated this situation, as a number of exhibition and concert halls, clubs, ateliers, and offices have been damaged by the earthquake. A number of measures by the government have been developed to try to tackle different levels of problems caused by the pandemic and the earthquake. As the research data noted above has shown that Croatian CCI has shown resilience in previous recessions, the current situation tests these notions, and it also opened discussions in the cultural community on the need for the development of a more sustainable approach to financing of culture in general.
Last update: December, 2020
The policy instruments for the book industry are engrained within the yearly public calls of the Ministry of Culture and Media, which are oriented to supporting programmes and projects in book production, distribution and consumption. The Ministry also opens yearly public calls oriented to enhancing literary creativity in the forms of stipends for writers as well as financial stimulation in the form of grants for authors of lauded published works in literature. It also secures funding so that the public lending rights for authors (including writers, translators and illustrations) can be met on a yearly basis, which are enforced through the HDS-ZAMP service since 2015 (see chapter 7.2.2.)
The main strategic document in this field is the National Strategy for Promotion of Reading (2017-2022) that was adopted in November 2017. The thee key strategic goals are: (1) establishing an effective social framework to support reading; (2) developing reading literacy and encouraging readers to read actively and critically and (3) increasing the availability of books and other reading materials. The Strategy is currently being implemented through its adjacent Action Plan (2017-2022), which is supported through the work and financing of the Ministry of Culture and Media, Ministry of Science and Education but also through additional planned funding through projects financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). During 2020, a new ESF call was prepared and opened in December, entitled ‘Through Reading to Social Inclusion’ with a total fund of 41 million HRK (5 466 666 EUR). However, there are critiques from the cultural sector on the inadequately developed measures and slow implementation of the Strategy.
One of the major recent developments and discussions on the policy instruments in the book sector occurred during 2018 when the Ministry of Culture and Media opened public discussion on the new model of support for the publishing industry. The new support model is oriented to supporting programmes of the applicant publishing houses rather than supporting specific book titles. Following the public discussion, amendments to the new model have been implemented in the public call. During 2020 the main discussions in the sector were related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures that are necessary for the survival of the sector that has been severely influenced by the crisis. Following the epidemiological measures, libraries and bookstores remained opened most of the year, while a number of publishers, as well as bookstores, have enhanced their online web stores. Most of the activities of different book festivals and manifestations (even the biggest publishing fair Interliber) shifted online during 2020.
Last update: December, 2020
The first National Programme of the Development of Audio-visual Activities (2010-2014) was adopted by the Croatian Audiovisual Council of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and approved by the (then) Ministry of Culture in October 2010. In 2012, the results of the first two years of the implementation of the Strategic Programme were presented: positive changes occurred in four of the five strategic goals – audiovisual legislation, increased number of produced films, increased number of viewers of Croatian films, and an increase in digitalisation of independent cinemas and audiovisual (heritage) content. The second National Programme of the Development of Audio-visual Activities (2017-2021) was adopted and then approved in 2017. The new strategic programme followed in the steps of the former programme, while focusing on four strategic goals: providing material conditions for the further development of the overall audio-visual industry as an economic force, while ensuring the creative growth of Croatian cinema as an artistic expression; encouraging film literacy and audience development; preservation of audio-visual heritage and promotion of public accessibility of culturally valuable domestic and world audio-visual heritage; and positioning Croatia in the processes of formation of the European digital single market.
There are no specific strategic or policy documents in relation to the interactive media industry. However, in 2018, with the adoption of the new Law on Audiovisual Activities, video games were introduced within the remit of the Law and HAVC as the centre. Already during the public discussion on the draft Law this caused a stir in the audiovisual community in relation to: the expanded remit of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the prerequisite of the introduction of different administrative procedures related to video games and the need for augmented funding for the overall audiovisual industry if video games are introduced within the Law. During 2020 the implementation of the measures related to video games was still in preparation. The video games industry is a nascent, small but growing sector that has been developing through projects such as incubator PISMO, EDU4GAMES, and through the Croatian Game Developers Association (CGDA).
Following the new Law, changes to the Book of Regulations of the Film Production Incentive Programme were also introduced. They related to the increase of cash rebate from 20% to 25% of production costs incurred in Croatia and an additional 5% to those that are filming in regions of Areas of Special State Concern (Područja posebne državne skrbi-PPDS). This prompted discussions during 2019 and 2020 on the implications of the Film Production Incentive Programme for the overall audiovisual industry and on the feasibility of opening up a film studio in Croatia, for which the Croatian Audiovisual Centre commissioned a feasibility study during 2020.
The Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) is an independent regulatory body whose mission is to promote public interest and media pluralism, justify public trust through professional and transparent activities, encourage media literacy, create conditions for the production of quality Croatian audiovisual content and ensure that equal conditions for media development and media freedom are met. Within the Strategic Plan of AEM (2017-2020) that is based on six strategic goals, three are related to the promotion of the audiovisual and interactive media industry: to proactively influence future amendments to the Law on Electronic Media and participate in the creation of a new media strategy of the Republic of Croatia; to create conditions for the production of quality Croatian media content; and to continue activities to develop and advocate for media literacy. This has been visible through discussions related to the Fund for the Promotion of Media Pluralism (see chapter 4.2.6), a yearly Public Call for Development of Media Literacy Programmes and a website for the project ‘Medijska pismenost’ (Media literacy). In 2020 the new measure was introduced by the Agency through a Call for the Support of Quality Journalism financing journalistic work published in electronic publications. During 2020 discussions related to the new Law on Electronic Media that was put into the adoption procedure (see chapter 4.2.6). Most comments during public discussions connected to the proposed Law related to the regulation of user-generated content on the Internet and the responsibility of the owners of electronic publications in relation to such content.
Last update: December, 2020
There is no specific strategy to promote the music industry in Croatia but there are several policy instruments oriented towards developing music creativity and music production in general. These instruments are present through the yearly calls for public needs in culture published by the Ministry of Culture and Media where the support for production and distribution of (primarily) classical music is offered, while additional minor support for rock music is available within the remit of the Cultural Council for Innovative Artistic Cultural Practices. In the last couple of years, a number of initiatives have been active that advocated for more support to be given to the new types of popular musical offer (e.g. the initiatives of the Association of Concert Promoters), while a number of public discussions have stressed the importance of recognising the music industry as a cultural industry within public policy as well (e.g. during the MAKK conference and similar events).
It can be said that the music sector in Croatia has a good organisational backbone through the work of several professional associations (see chapter 4.1.6). This has been especially evident in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting the music sector very hard through the cancellation of a number of concerts and events, closing down of cafes and bars that impact on the collecting rights measures and thus authors’ themselves. However, this resulted in a number of coordinated efforts between different authors associations that have issued appeals for help for the music industry (from the Croatian Composer’s Society, the Croatian Musicians' Union, the Croatian Association of Featured Musicians, the Croatian Association of Orchestral and Chamber Musicians, and the Croatian Performers’ Rights Collecting Society).
Last update: December, 2020
There are no specific policies that promote the design and creative services in Croatia.
Within the public call for ‘Entrepreneurship in Cultural and Creative Industries’ published yearly by the Ministry of Culture and Media, workers in these fields as well are eligible to apply for support for their projects (chapter 3.5.1).
There were several initiatives for creating the strategy of design, but so far there are no further steps in this regard. The first initiative occurred more than ten years ago when the draft of the National Strategy for Design (2007-2011) was created by a Croatian Designers Association on the initiative of the (then) Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. However, the government never adopted the finalised strategy. Five years later, the initiative came again from the Croatian Cluster of Creative and Cultural Industries (HKKKI), but with no further actions.
The Croatian Designers Association is the professional organisation of designers in Croatia that is very active nationally and internationally in different projects related to the development of professional standards of design and advocating for a strategic approach to the field.
Similarly, the Croatian Chamber of Architects, together with the Association of Croatian Architects, initiated the creation of the document for architectural policy on several occasions. Guidelines for the development of Croatian architectural policy were promoted from developments at various initiatives: at the1st Congress of Croatian Architects in 2004, then at the 2nd Congress of Croatian Architects in 2007, and as a part of the 3rd Congress of Croatian Architects ApolitikA 2013, held in 2010. After the 3rd congress, the work on defining and drafting the document began and after it was finalised as "Architectural Policies of the Republic of Croatia 2013-2020, ApolitikA, National Guidelines for Excellence and Culture of Construction" and it was promoted in 2012. This resulted in the signing of a joint statement between several ministries and professional architectural associations, but with no further actions in this field.
In regards to other creative services one should also mention the role of the Croatian Association of Communications Agencies (HURA) as a professional association that also organises Days of Communications, a national advertising festival featuring industry competitions (Effie, IdejaX, and Young Lions), as well as HURA’s HOWtoWOW marketing academy, BalCannes regional marketing agency showcase and numerous other projects.
Last update: December, 2020
The concept of cultural tourism is not novel for the Croatian tourism industry as the first Strategy of Cultural Tourism was adopted in 2003 by the Ministry of Tourism. At that time, cultural tourism was not recognised as an independent tourism product and many efforts have been made in order to further explain the concept to the different stakeholders. In the following decade many changes have occurred in the development of cultural tourism in Croatia and additional efforts have been made on the national level either through the work of the Ministry of Tourism and Croatian Tourist Board, or further on the local level through the work of local governments, and also through the work of private and civil society initiatives. In 2013, with the adoption of the ‘Strategy of Tourism until 2020’ cultural tourism has been identified as an important field of the present and future tourism offer in Croatia, with creative tourism as one of its specific products. Following the adoption of the Strategy, the Ministry of Tourism initiated also the preparation of an ‘Action Plan on Cultural Tourism’ that was finalised in 2015 by the Institute for Tourism. Although many efforts have been made in this field, there is still ample space for further strategic development of this sector. Different programmes of the European Union have been used by local governments and local communities in order to renovate cultural heritage monuments and revitalise certain towns and regions through the cultural tourism offer (see chapter 3.1). Currently, the new Strategy of Tourism and Sports is in preparation and according to the administrative plan of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (2021-2014) it can be expected that cultural tourism will find its niche as a specific form of tourism (e.g. together with cycle-tourism etc).