Croatian Cultural Association

The Croatian Cultural Association (Croatian: Hrvatski sabor kulture, HSK) is the umbrella organisation and federation of associations for amateur cultural and artistic activities in the Republic of Croatia. It brings together folklore and dance ensembles, traditional folk and singing groups, theatre, fine arts and literary societies, choirs, and wind and tambura orchestras. Its mission is to preserve, promote and develop amateur cultural expression across the country. The association traces its roots to the mid-19th century, during the Croatian National Revival. In 1858 the Karlovac Singers' Society began operating, and in 1868 it performed under the name First Croatian Singing Society ZORA. In 1875, about ten choirs founded the Croatian Singing Federation. After World War II, in 1948, the newly established Federation of Cultural and Educational Societies of Croatia took over that role, expanded to all amateur cultural and artistic activities. It operated under that name until 1955, then as the Educational Assembly of Croatia until 1983, as the Cultural and Educational Assembly of Croatia from 1983 to 1991, and since 1991 as the Croatian Cultural Association. Today HSK is a federation of associations and the umbrella organisation of amateur cultural and artistic activities in Croatia. It comprises 12 county associations of amateur cultural and artistic societies and associations, the City Federation of KUDs of the City of Kutina, KC Pešćenica – Zagreb Stage of Amateur Theatres, the Union of Czechs in Croatia, the Association of Wind Orchestras of Split-Dalmatia County, the Association of KUU of the City of Sisak, the Association of Wind Orchestras of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the Federation of Amateur Wind Orchestras of Slavonia and Baranja, the Association of Wind Orchestras of North and Central Dalmatia, as well as cultural and artistic societies and associations from counties where such associations have not yet been established. According to the official website, it currently gathers 1,040 associations with more than 80,000 members; the Croatian Wikipedia article states 929 associations with 2,080 sections and more than 80,000 members across Croatia. HSK's activities include organising courses and seminars for the professional development of leaders of amateur cultural and artistic associations (choir conductors, wind and tambura orchestra conductors, choreographers, and leaders of theatre and dance groups); encouraging creativity for choirs and orchestras by issuing competitions for new works; developing publishing activities, including printing award-winning compositions and books from the series Croatian National Costumes and Croatian National Dances; providing professional and organisational assistance in reviving inactive county associations and founding new ones; building a complete structure of Croatian amateur cultural and artistic activity throughout the country; organising national-level events where the best achievements in amateur cultural and artistic creativity are presented and evaluated (meetings of choirs, wind and tambura orchestras, theatre, folklore, dance ensembles, vocal, fine arts and literary groups and individuals); organising guest performances of the best ensembles and sections in Croatia; and international cultural cooperation, including selecting the best amateur ensembles to participate in international festivals and cooperating with similar European cultural associations such as AMATEO (European Network for Active Participation in Cultural Activities), AITA/IATA, and national cultural organisations of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and others. One of its most prominent annual events is the "Razglednica Hrvatskog sabora kulture" (Postcard of the Croatian Cultural Association), a gala concert held at the end of each year in Zagreb, usually in the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall or the Croatian National Theatre.

The Croatian Cultural Association (Hrvatski sabor kulture, HSK) is built on a centuries-long tradition and continuity of amateur cultural and artistic activity whose beginnings reach back to the mid-19th century and the era of the Croatian National Revival. In 1858, the Karlovac Singers' Society (Društvo karlovačkih pjevača) began operating in Karlovac, and from 1868 it performed under the name First Croatian Singing Society ZORA (Prvo hrvatsko pjevačko društvo ZORA). The need to unite amateur cultural and artistic organisations for mutual cooperation and coordination was expressed in 1875, when about ten choirs of that time founded the Croatian Singing Federation (Hrvatski pjevački savez). The role of that federation, expanded to all amateur cultural and artistic activities, was taken over after World War II in 1948 by the newly established Federation of Cultural and Educational Societies of Croatia (Savez kulturno-prosvjetnih društava Hrvatske). It operated under that name until 1955, and from then until 1983 it operated under the name Educational Assembly of Croatia (Prosvjetni sabor Hrvatske). From 1983 to 1991 it operated as the Cultural and Educational Assembly of Croatia (Kulturno-prosvjetni sabor Hrvatske), and from 1991 to the present day as the Croatian Cultural Association (Hrvatski sabor kulture). Today's Croatian Cultural Association is a federation of associations and the umbrella organisation of amateur cultural and artistic activities in the Republic of Croatia. It consists of 12 county associations of amateur cultural and artistic societies and associations, the City Federation of KUDs of the City of Kutina, KC Pešćenica – Zagreb Stage of Amateur Theatres, the Union of Czechs in the Republic of Croatia, the Association of Wind Orchestras of Split-Dalmatia County, the Association of KUU of the City of Sisak, the Association of Wind Orchestras of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the Federation of Amateur Wind Orchestras of Slavonia and Baranja, the Association of Wind Orchestras of North and Central Dalmatia, as well as cultural and artistic societies and associations from counties where such associations have not yet been established. According to the Croatian Wikipedia article, the federation today gathers 929 associations, or 2,080 sections, with more than 80,000 members across the entire territory of Croatia. The official website states that it gathers 1,040 associations with more than 80,000 members. The regular and successful programme activities of the Croatian Cultural Association are to a significant extent supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia. In order to continue the historical continuity and further successfully develop amateur cultural and artistic activity in the Republic of Croatia, the activities of the Croatian Cultural Association as an umbrella association are directed towards the following tasks: organising courses and seminars for professional development and training of professional leaders of amateur cultural and artistic associations (choir conductors, conductors of wind or tambura orchestras, choreographers, and leaders of theatre and dance groups); encouraging creativity for choirs and orchestras by issuing competitions for new works for wind and tambura orchestras and choirs; developing publishing activities by printing award-winning compositions and books from the series Croatian National Costumes and Croatian National Dances; providing professional and organisational assistance in reviving the work of inactive county associations and societies and founding new ones in counties where they do not exist; working on the further construction of a complete structure of Croatian amateur cultural and artistic activity throughout the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia; organising events at the state level where the best achievements of amateur cultural and artistic creativity are presented and evaluated (meetings of choirs, wind and tambura orchestras, theatre, folklore, dance ensembles, vocal, fine arts and literary groups and individuals); organising guest performances of the best ensembles and sections in the Republic of Croatia; and international cultural cooperation, including the selection of the best amateur ensembles for participation in international festivals and cooperation with similar European cultural associations such as AMATEO (European Network for Active Participation in Cultural Activities), AITA/IATA, and national organisations for culture of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and others. One of the most prominent events organised by HSK is the "Razglednica Hrvatskog sabora kulture" (Postcard of the Croatian Cultural Association), a gala concert held at the end of each year in Zagreb, usually in the large Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall or in the Croatian National Theatre. The programme of that concert features the best participants from almost all Croatian events of national significance, that is, the best performers of drama, music, dance, literature and fine arts amateur creativity, who present their most valuable amateur cultural and artistic achievements to the Zagreb audience and the entire Croatian public.

• 1991

  The organisation adopts the name Hrvatski sabor kulture (Croatian Cultural Association).

• 1983

  The organisation begins operating as Kulturno-prosvjetni sabor Hrvatske (Cultural and Educational Assembly of Croatia).

• 1955

  The organisation begins operating under the name Prosvjetni sabor Hrvatske (Educational Assembly of Croatia).

• 1948

  The newly established Savez kulturno-prosvjetnih društava Hrvatske takes over the role, expanded to all amateur cultural and artistic activities.

• 1875

  About ten choirs found the Croatian Singing Federation (Hrvatski pjevački savez).

• 1868

  The society performs under the name Prvo hrvatsko pjevačko društvo ZORA (First Croatian Singing Society ZORA).

• 1858

  Društvo karlovačkih pjevača (Karlovac Singers' Society) begins operating in Karlovac.

Umbrella organisation and federation of associations for amateur cultural and artistic activities in Croatia, supported by the Ministry of Culture.

1. 1HRSK.hr - Hrvatski sabor kulturehrsk.hr
2. 2Croatian Cultural Association - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Hrvatski sabor kulture - Wikipedia (hr)hr.wikipedia.org