8.2 Administration and governance
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Governance
Main public actors
The Ministry of Culture and Media (MCM) of the Republic of Croatia performs administrative and other tasks in the field of culture. Aside from administrative units, the MCM is composed from: the Directorate for Art and Culture Development, the Directorate for International Cultural Cooperation and European Affairs, the Directorate for Cultural Heritage Protection, the Directorate for Archives, Libraries and Museums, and the Directorate for Media, Cultural and Creative Industries.
The MCM establishes cultural councils for specific areas of artistic and cultural creation. Their task is to propose cultural policy goals and measures, as well as to ensure the influence of artists and cultural actors on decision-making. The members of cultural councils are artists, cultural workers, and experts.
The Central State Office for Demography and Youth is responsible for youth policies.
Other public actors include the following:
- Kultura Nova Foundation. Its purpose is the promotion and development of civil society in the Republic of Croatia in the fields of contemporary arts and culture. The initiative was recognised and supported by the Croatian Government and the MCM, which continue to support further development of the Foundation. The establishment of a special foundation for the civil sector in culture was envisaged in the National Programme for the Youth 2009-2013.
- The Croatian Audio-visual Centre is the government-backed strategic agency for the audio-visual sector in Croatia. It aims to stimulate a successful, vibrant audio-visual industry while promoting the widest possible enjoyment and understanding of audio-visual works throughout Croatia.
- The State Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Croatia is the state administration body responsible for the protection of intellectual property rights.
- Libraries, operate either as integral parts of institutions or independently.
- Theatres including those specifically dedicated to children and young people:
- The Zagreb Youth Theatre, founded in 1948 as the Pioneer Theatre, has evolved from an acting studio for children and youth, initially with a hundred students, into a theatre institution. It has consistently managed to reconcile artistic and repertoire ranges with its pedagogical work.
- The City Youth Theatre Split, in addition to its professional acting company, houses a studio for children and youth: a drama studio for youth, a children’s drama studio, and a studio for singing and dancing that includes vocal- dancing groups ’Perle’ and ‘Perlice’.
- Rijeka Youth Theatre Kamov, school of the Croatian National Theatre ‘Ivan pl. Zajc’, has three studios: a drama studio for primary and secondary school children, a ballet-dance studio for children and young people aged 14 to 25, and a drama group conducted in the Italian language for children aged 8 to 12.
- Children’s Theatres in Čakovec, Zagreb, Slavonski Brod, and Osijek, as well as puppet theatres in Rijeka, Zagreb, Zadar, Split, and Osijek.
- Student's theatres and studios.
- State's archives.
- Museums, public and private.
- The Croatian Conservation Institute is the central public institution in the Republic of Croatia dedicated to conservation and restoration. It undertakes activities to protect cultural goods
- The Register of Cultural Property of the Republic of Croatia is a public record of cultural property kept by the MCM. It comprises three lists: The List of Cultural Goods, the List of Cultural Goods of the National Significance, and the List of the Cultural Goods under the Preventive Protection.
Other (non-governmental) organisations include the following:
- Student centres are independent institutions that attend to social and personal living standards of students at universities. The primary activities include accommodation, catering services, providing temporary and periodical part-time student employment, and organising leisure activities, including cultural events.
- Rijeka 2020 LLC was jointly founded by the City of Rijeka and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, to implement the European Capital of Culture 2020 project in Croatia. The company’s goal is to independently, efficiently, and transparently execute the Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture project through the implementation of operational, programmatic, and communication strategies. The infrastructural investments specified by the Bid Book will be managed by the City of Rijeka and Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
- The Museum Documentation Centre (MDC) was established as an independent institution on 22 July 1968. Its primary task is the systematic collection, recording, and cataloguing of materials related to the development and activities of museums. Additionally, it collects professional museological literature, documentation, and materials supporting professionals in their personal and overall development within the museum profession. The MDC also promotes the work and activities of museums.
- The International Centre for Underwater Archaeology (ICUA) is an independent public institution that holds the UNESCO category II centre status. Management is and primary funding is provided by the Republic of Croatia and UNESCO. ICUA works to protect, study, and preserve underwater cultural heritage in Croatia.
- The national network of socio-cultural centres is a network of civil society organisations. Its aim is to advocate for a public policies that ensure sustainable infrastructure for socio-cultural activities based on participatory management and civil-public partnership. The founding organisations are civil society organisations, platforms, and alliances:
- Art Workshop Lazareti, Dubrovnik
- Independent Culture Association's Forum – FUNK, Koprivnica
- Youth Centre Platform, Split
- Platforma Hvar, Hvar
- KAoperativa Alliance, Karlovac
- Clubture Network, Zagreb
- Molekula Alliance, Rijeka
- Operation City Alliance, Zagreb
- Rojc Alliance, Pula
- Youth Cultural Centre is non-governmental association that organises and promotes the cultural life of young people in Kutina
- POGON – Zagreb Centre for Independent Culture and Youth is a cultural institution based on a new model of civil–public partnership. In 2008, it was jointly founded and is currently managed by the ‘Operation City’ Alliance and the City of Zagreb.
- Numerous civil artistic organisations and associations.
- At the levels of regional and local self-government, city offices are responsible for youth programmes, specifically within departments for social activities. These departments often encompass not only young people but also culture, education, and sport. Local and regional self-government units allocate funds in their budgets to provide financial support for projects and programmes of youth associations, national youth associations, and youth and for-youth organisations, as well as umbrella youth organisations. This allocation is done in accordance with their capabilities and fiscal capacities. Local and regional self-government units can make their local youth programmes and establish youth advisory boards under the Act on Youth Councils.
Cross-sectoral cooperation
The Advisory Board for Youth of the Government of the Republic of Croatia is an intergovernmental advisory body tasked with participating in the development of youth policies. The MCM has its representative in it.
In carrying out its tasks, Advisory Boardl in particular:
- participates in continuous monitoring and analysis of public policy related to and/or affecting young people in the Republic of Croatia
- provides opinions to the Government of the Republic of Croatia on draft regulations of particular importance for improving the position of young people
- monitors ministries and other state administration bodies in implementing, monitoring, and evaluating youth policies within their jurisdiction, and, provides opinions and recommendations in this regard
- monitors the development of youth organisations and organisations for youth and prepares recommendations to enhance their work and support systems
- provides recommendations for developing youth policies and involving young people at local, regional, national, and international levels in implementing these policies
- monitors societal phenomena affecting young people and proposes relevant measures
- ensures ongoing dialogue among state bodies, civil society organisations, youth councils, the academic community, media, and other representatives of the interested public on enhancing the position of young people in the Republic of Croatia
- performs tasks aligned with the fundamental goals of the Council to create a stimulating environment for improving the position of young people