On this page

1. Existence of a national strategy

2. Scope and contents

3. Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

4. Revisions/updates

Existence of a national strategy

There is no national strategy on creativity and culture for young people in Croatia. 

• There was a previous national youth strategy, the National Youth Programme 2014-2017, which included dedicated chapter  on culture (Culture and Youth). However, the Programme expired in 2017. 
• The new National Youth Programme 2023-2025 does not include a specific chapter or priority dedicated to culture. 

Several other strategies in the cultural field partially target young people. These include:

• The National Culture and Media Development Plan 2023-2027

• The Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Culture 2020-2022  
• The National Strategy to Revive Book Reading 2017-2022

Scope and contents

The sole key political objective on the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Culture 2020-2022 dedicated to young people is the key goal ‘Development of artistic and cultural creation and production’, accompanied by youth-related measures. 

The first measure, ‘Art and culture - support to social inclusion and civil-public partnership development’, regards young people as a part of a vulnerable social group, alongside minorities, the unemployed, and other vulnerable social groups. The Ministry of Culture and Media (MCM) is responsible for preparing and implementing cultural projects under the Operational Programme ‘Effective Human Resources’, including the initiative ‘Art and Culture for Children and Youth’ (refer to Chapter 8.4).

The second measure is ’Cultural participation and audience development’, which encompasses the cultural programme ‘A Backpack full of culture’. This programme aims to enhance the accessibility of cultural content for youth in rural areas (refer to Chapter 8.4).

One of the three strategic goals of the National Strategy to Revive Book Reading is the development of reading literacy and the encouragement of readers to engage in active and critical reading. This goal will be accomplished through various actions, including supporting reading programmes for early childhood, preschool, and school children (both elementary and high school). 

Responsible authority for the implementation of the strategy

The responsible authority for the implementation, coordination and monitoring of the Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Culture 2020-2022 and the National Strategy to Revive Book Reading 2017-2022 is the MCM. The MCM cooperates with the Ministry of Science and Education in the implementation of certain measures. 

Revisions/updates 

In the National Culture and Media Development Plan 2023-2027, young people are marginally mentioned under Goal 1, ‘Development of cultural creativity, production and distribution’, specifically within its sub-goal 1.4, ‘Ensuring access and participation in culture’. Access and participation in youth culture is provided through ‘support for fostering participation in culture and audience development, with an emphasis on programmes intended for children and young people, including encouraging the cooperation of cultural institutions and art organisations with primary and secondary schools". The MCM is responsible for the creation of this document.