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1. Acquiring cultural and creative competences through education and training

2. Specialised training for professionals in the education, culture and youth fields

3. Providing quality access to creative environments

Acquiring cultural and creative competences through education and training

Secondary schools, depending on the type of education programme, can be grammar schools, vocational schools, and arts schools.

Arts education in Croatia is regulated by the Arts Education Act and the Act on Education in Elementary and Secondary School. Arts education can be performed in arts schools and other public institutions. Arts schools include music, dance, visual, and other schools that perform arts programme in accordance with the Arts Education Act. For more information on THE organisation of art education in Croatia, please refer to Eurydice.

The following measures are envisaged:

• experimental introduction of the National Curriculum for Art Education and curricula for the acquisition of qualifications in formal art education into the education system, overseen by the competent bodies, the Ministry of Science and Education (MSE) and the Ministry of Culture and Media (MCM)
• implementation of the National Curriculum for Art Education and curricula for the acquisition of qualifications in formal art education, managed by the MSE and the MCM

Furthermore, within the preschool to higher education system, it is important to enable the transformation of ‘schools in the local community into centres for lifelong learning, culture, and sports’. It is also important to encourage the implementation of various public needs programmes (for children with difficulties, gifted children, national minority children, and children in preschool education) and other activities, in order to meet the needs and interests of children and youth. We point out this referral because it emphasises the importance of lifelong learning and ensuring appropriate premises and IT infrastructure for the implementation of formal and non-formal education programmes focused on adult education, which is identified, as one of the strategic goals, the encouragement of the “implementation of formal and non-formal education programmes, which would include the development of economic and financial literacy, parenting skills, civic, cultural, political and ecological awareness, consumer and media literacy. Foster and develop creativity, artistic and cultural expression”’ (The Strategy for Education, Science and Technology, New Colours of Knowledge).

Specialised trainings available to teachers in formal education are provided by the Education and Teacher Training Agency (ETTA). ETTA offers professional and advisory services in education and care, participating in monitoring, advancement, and development of education and care in primary and secondary education.

‘In addition to activities related to their studies, students should be provided with extra-curricular contents that are currently under-represented at the majority of higher education institutions in Croatia. For instance, the University of Zagreb only has five sports halls and has neither a theatre nor a venue that would be appropriate for music events. Therefore, in addition to constructing (or renovating) buildings at higher education institutions, facilities will be planned for activities aimed at increasing student participation in culture, sports and social events. This is particularly important for the construction of new student campuses. In addition, the specific needs of art students in students’ dormitories should also be taken into account. It is also necessary to enable the interaction of art students with other students on student campuses in order to develop new cultural activities available to all students.’(The Strategy for Education, Science and Technology, New Colours of Knowledge).

It is noteworthy that the implementation of the Strategy started in November 2014, and the process of preparing the Comprehensive Curriculum Reform began in 2015. However, both processes are currently in the phase of stagnation due to various political challenges.

Specialised training for professionals in the education, culture and youth fields

Teachers must complete professional studies before teaching artistic subjects at schools. To teach music or art subjects, teachers complete their education at one of the music academies (Zagreb, Pula), music or artistic pedagogy at artistic faculties (Split, Osijek), Academy of Fine Arts, or the Faculty of Teacher Education.

In addition to initial education through higher education institutions in the Republic of Croatia, teachers can also undergo professional development programmes offered by the ETTA for compulsory and optional art subjects. The ETTA publishes the Catalogue of State Professional Meetings annually. From this catalogue, teachers can choose courses according to their field of work and areas of additional training. These professional trainings and seminars, including those in the field of cultural and art education, are carried out by various experts from different institutions and organisations.

The Croatian Audiovisual Centre launched the Film Literacy portal. The portal serves as a central information site about film education and film literacy. It is intended for teachers, professors, as well as all those involved in the education of children and young people. The goal is to encourage them to actively seek knowledge and information about film and the ways in which they can positively influence the artistic development of children and young people. In addition to news and announcements of events in the field of film literacy, the platform includes links to professional books and manuals, educational film platforms, as well as methodological manuals and pedagogical materials for individual films.

The Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes offers teachers additional education and training opportunities through participation in the ERASMUS+, Jean Monnet, and CEEPUS programmes. Teachers can register their participation and, by doing so, acquire additional knowledge and skills for their work in the fields of education, culture, and engagement with young people.

The list of training courses for additional teacher training is also available through the medijskapismenost.hr portal. The promoters and founders of the portal are the Agency for Electronic Media (AEM) and UNICEF, with the portal being managed by the AEM. The portal serves as a platform for promoting media literacy and providing support to everyone engaged in media education, primarily children and young people, but also adults. Therefore, the portal provides a variety of educational materials for teachers to teach media literacy in kindergartens and schools. It includes examples of good practices, advice, and recommendations for parents and guardians. Additionally, it offers information on the impact of different types of media, media content, and social networks on children and young people. The portal covers topics such as Internet safety, the issue of misinformation, reports on global media and communication trends, and policies related to media literacy, media education, and media and digital platforms.

Providing quality access to creative environments

The MCM announces an annual call for financing projects that address public needs in culture in the Republic of Croatia. The call is intended to provide financial support to programmes, projects, activities, and manifestations in culture that are of interest to the Republic of Croatia. One of the basic criteria in evaluating applications for financing public needs in culture emphasises the importance of promoting programmes for children and young people. Through these calls, the MCM provides financial support to cultural institutions, artistic organisations, artists, civil society organisations, other individuals and legal entities, as well as local and regional self-government units.

Through annual calls, the MCM also funds programmes that facilitate access and availability of cultural content for individuals with disabilities and children and youth with developmental disabilities in the Republic of Croatia. The call finances programmes and projects primarily led by civil society organisations, including art organisations, foundations, and associations operating in the fields of culture, art, and social activities. The goal of financing programmes and projects is to adapt artistic and/or cultural content for individuals with one or more types of disabilities, as well as children and young people with one or more developmental disabilities. Additionally, the goal is to enhance the visibility of adapted and/or accessible programmes for individuals with disabilities and children and young people facing developmental challenges. The overreaching aim is to promote the value of equal access and availability of culture. For 2022, the awarded support ranged from a minimum of HRK 20,000.00 to a maximum of HRK 200,000.00.