Croatian Writers’ Association of Herzeg-Bosnia

The Croatian Writers’ Association of Herzeg-Bosnia (Croatian: Društvo hrvatskih književnika Herceg-Bosne, abbreviated DHK HB) is a voluntary, non-party organisation of writers founded at a constitutive assembly in Mostar on 20 November 1993. It brings together writers who live and work in Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as writers born there who now live and work abroad. Its seat is in Mostar, at Trg hrvatskih velikana, in the Hrvatski dom Herceg Stjepan Kosača. The association’s stated tasks are to develop and affirm the Croatian language, advocate for the diverse and continuous advancement of Croatian literature, encourage contemporary literary creation and the evaluation of Croatian literature, improve and protect the freedom of literary creation and activity, protect the literary works and work of its members, take part in preparing laws and regulations affecting literary creation, secure lasting influence in shaping cultural policy, protect the social rights of its members and their families, organise public literary forums and other literary events, advocate for the affirmation and promotion of Croatian literature worldwide, organise inter-republic and international gatherings, award literary prizes as an incentive for literary creation and public affirmation of members’ works, publish publications, journals and books through its own publishing arm, and care for the storage and preservation of its archives in line with legal regulations. DHK HB publishes Osvit, a journal for literature, culture and social topics. It organises poetry events including Humske dane poezije and Šimićevi susreti, at which it awards the Antun Branko Šimić prize. Its current president is Ivan Sivrić, with Željko Kocaj and Vlatko Majić as vice-presidents. The association remains active in Mostar and across the Croatian literary community in Bosnia and Herzegovina, running competitions, book promotions and awards, and maintaining a public presence through its website dhkhb.org.

The Croatian Writers’ Association of Herzeg-Bosnia (Društvo hrvatskih književnika Herceg-Bosne, DHK HB) was founded at a constitutive assembly in Mostar on 20 November 1993. It was established as a voluntary, non-party organisation of writers who live and work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as writers born there who live and work outside its territory. Its headquarters were set in Mostar, at Trg hrvatskih velikana, in the Hrvatski dom Herceg Stjepan Kosača. From its founding, the association defined a broad cultural and professional mission. Its tasks include developing and affirming the Croatian language, advocating for the diverse and continuous advancement of Croatian literature, encouraging contemporary literary creation and the evaluation of Croatian literature, and improving and protecting the freedom of literary creation and activity. It also works to protect the literary works and work of its members, to participate in preparing laws and regulations that affect literary creation, to secure lasting influence in shaping cultural policy, and to protect the social rights of its members and their families. DHK HB organises public literary forums and other literary events, advocates for the affirmation and promotion of Croatian literature worldwide, and organises inter-republic and international gatherings. It awards literary prizes as an incentive for literary creation and public affirmation of members’ works, publishes publications, journals and books through its own publishing arm, and cares for the storage and preservation of its archives in line with legal regulations. The association publishes Osvit, a journal for literature, culture and social topics. It organises poetry events including Humske dane poezije and Šimićevi susreti, at which it awards the Antun Branko Šimić prize. Its current leadership includes president Ivan Sivrić and vice-presidents Željko Kocaj and Vlatko Majić. In the 2020s DHK HB has remained active in Mostar and the wider Croatian literary community. Its website records book promotions, awards, competitions and commemorations, including the presentation of a book of selected occasional poems by Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević in Mostar in September 2026, an exhibition marking the 140th anniversary of Kranjčević’s arrival in Mostar, the announcement of a competition on the theme of Herzegovinian Franciscan victims during and after World War II, and the death of member Malkica Dugeč in Stuttgart in September 2026. The association also runs the Petar Miloš literary award and maintains ties with Croatian writers and institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and the diaspora.

• Founded at a constitutive assembly in Mostar.

• Announced competition for the Petar Miloš literary award.

• Exhibition ‘Kranjčević in Mostar’ marked the 140th anniversary of Kranjčević’s arrival in Mostar.

• Book of selected occasional poems by Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević presented in Mostar.

• Member Malkica Dugeč died in Stuttgart, Germany, at age 91.

A non-party writers’ association dedicated to Croatian literature in Bosnia and Herzegovina, operating from Mostar with publishing, awards and literary events.

• Osvit

  Journal for literature, culture and social topics published by DHK HB.

• Antun Branko Šimić Award

  Literary award presented at the Šimićevi susreti poetry event.

• Petar Miloš Award

  Literary award for which DHK HB announced a competition in 2026.

1. 1DHKHB – DRUŠTVO HRVATSKIH KNJIŽEVNIKA HERCEG BOSNEdhkhb.org
2. 2Wikidata: Croatian Writers’ Association of Herzeg-Bosniawikidata.org
3. 3Društvo hrvatskih književnika Herceg-Bosne – Wikipediahr.wikipedia.org