On 4 October, the festival hosted a special full-day programme titled “Grad od riječi feat. URBACT”, dedicated to books, creativity, and community. The pilot action aimed to bring together local cultural stakeholders, encourage citizen participation, and revitalise public spaces through accessible cultural activities.
The programme included a variety of events for all generations – from creative and educational workshops for children and youth, to literary talks, book presentations, and a book exchange fair. Particular emphasis was placed on engaging local artists, cultural organisations, and associations, fostering collaboration and dialogue across Dubrovnik’s cultural scene.
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Organised by the Dubrovnik branch of Matica Hrvatska (one of the oldest and most prominent cultural institutions in Croatia), the “Grad od riječi” festival has quickly become a recognised cultural event that promotes the value of the written word and strengthens the local creative community. This year’s collaboration with the RECUP project highlighted the importance of connecting cultural initiatives with urban development strategies.
Through the RECUP project, DURA and the City of Dubrovnik are working towards establishing a self-sustaining cultural community, where citizens actively create and participate in cultural life. This pilot action represents an important step in that process and will serve as a valuable foundation for developing the City of Dubrovnik’s Investment Plan, as well as for designing future cultural programmes and events.
The experience gained through this activity will contribute to building a more open, dynamic, and inclusive cultural scene, with a special focus on engaging independent artists, associations, and cultural stakeholders, and identifying new, unconventional urban spaces with the potential to become vibrant hubs of Dubrovnik’s cultural life.
source: The Article was created with the strong help and input of the DURA team.