The event is organised by the Croatian Dream association of Salzburg and the Dubrovnik branch office of the Croatian Heritage Foundation.
The Days of Croatian-Austrian Culture & Friendship were staged in Salzburg by event organisers the Croatian Dream association of Salzburg, led by Vera Papić, and the Dubrovnik branch office of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, represented by Maja Mozara. The core mission of this long-standing event is to build bridges between emigrant Croatians living in Austria and the homeland, and to exchange cultural content, to communicate through lectures, present books, set up exhibitions and similar activities.
The very valuable gilded ‘White Crèche’ by renowned ceramics artist Lucija Perojević – which also represented Croatia at the nativity scene exhibition at the Vatican – was exhibited at an international exhibition of nativity scenes at the Heimatwerk house of art and crafts in Salzburg.
At the opening of the exhibition the Croatian representatives were greeted by Heimatwerk director Hans Khöl. Maja Mozara thanked the hosts and presented celebrated artist Lucija Perojević. Marin Ivanović, the president of the City of Dubrovnik Culture Council was also on hand and greeted everyone on behalf of the City of Dubrovnik.
The delegation from Dubrovnik joined Croatians living in Salzburg at a lecture and presentation of a book by renowned psychologist Ljubica Uvodić-Vranić at the premises of the Croatian Catholic parish of the Blessed Alojzije Stepinac.
Playing host for this event was parish priest Friar Zlatko Špehar, who invited the guests from Dubrovnik to visit the Saturday school the parish organises for Croatian youth.
There are some ten thousand Croatians living in Salzburg and they form a tight-knit community in their spiritual and cultural life, working hard to keep the torch of national identity and language alight and diligently passing these traditions on to the children. That Saturday a documentary about Vukovar was shown for the children and they learned about the Homeland War of Independence on the occasion of the anniversary of the tragic fall of Vukovar.
The traditional Duvno Evening was held November 15th to coincide with the Days of Croatian-Austrian Culture & Friendship. The event features a culture and entertainment programme with diverse folklore performances and is also an opportunity for emigrant Croatians from all across Austria to meet in Salzburg when they are joined by representatives of the city of Tomislavgrad (Bosnia-Herzegovina) led by Mate Kelava.
Fashion designer Tajana Jurišić presented creations inspired by Croatian folk costumes that incorporate original hand-made textile.
Sunday saw a Catholic mass served at the Church of Saint Andrew for some one thousand gathered faithful at which Friar Zlatko Špehar greeted the participants of the Days of Croatian-Austrian Culture & Friendship that had come from Croatia and the organisers in Salzburg.
(dubrovački.hr)
