/ Art and Intermedia Projects and Conferences
At the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, numerous artistic projects are continuously carried out, through which the artistic production of its students is presented to the wider public. The purpose of these projects is also to connect young artists, enable creative exchange of ideas and experiences, foster collaborative exploration, and enrich and expand learning outcomes achieved within regular teaching through workshops and project-based activities in the realization of artistic works in the fields of music, visual arts, performance in the broader sense, and experimental art forms – under the mentorship of Croatian and international faculty members and distinguished artists. The Academy also encourages and organizes artistic conferences and events, thereby promoting the application and dissemination of the results of artistic research and creative work.
/ ARTISTIC AND INTERMEDIA PROJECTS:
The project of innovative cultural practice, conceived at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, connects students and citizens through art outside traditional cultural venues. Artistic works are presented in public urban spaces and open-air locations, especially in places where art is not usually present. The programme encompasses music, performance, visual arts, literature, and applied arts, as well as photography, film, new media, and visual communications. This festival is designed as a direct link between the local community and students. Audiences of all generations can experience art in their everyday environment through workshops, concerts, performances, and artistic interventions. In this way, the project promotes community engagement, encourages creativity, and creates space for new cultural values. The programmes are often held in city districts and locations significant to the local community, thereby strengthening the identity of the city and actively involving audiences in the process of artistic creation. Admission to all events is free of charge, and the aim of the project is to motivate citizens to actively participate in cultural life and to promote art as an integral part of everyday life.
The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek launched Sustainability Day with the aim of promoting sustainable development in the fields of art and culture, thereby becoming the first higher education institution in Croatia to recognize sustainability as one of the key directions of its activity. Through a diverse range of events – cycling initiatives, lectures, exhibitions, theatre and music performances, workshops, literary readings, and interactive installations – the Academy highlights the importance of climate and social change and promotes the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN 2030 Agenda. The programme includes activities focused on human rights, equality, healthy lifestyles, inclusive education and society, as well as the green and digital transition. The particular value of Sustainability Day lies in its connection with the local and regional community – schools, institutions, associations, and the business sector – in a joint effort to create a sustainable future through art. In this way, the role of art and culture is affirmed as an active driver of positive social change and the development of artistic practices in accordance with the principles of sustainability.
The Julije Knifer Days Festival is an annual event dedicated to one of the most prominent Croatian artists, Osijek-born Julije Knifer. The aim of the festival is to raise public awareness of Knifer’s legacy while offering an interdisciplinary programme that connects various art forms through the lens of his artistic practice. All departments of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek participate in its realization, with a different department assuming organizational responsibility each year. This initiative began in 2014, when, at the proposal of the Academy, the Year of Julije Knifer was proclaimed to mark the 90th anniversary of his birth and the 10th anniversary of his death. The commemoration continued in 2016 with the establishment of the festival, which has since been held regularly with the aim of permanently affirming Knifer’s life and work. Alongside the festival, the Julije Knifer Forum was established as a biennial international gathering dedicated to the analysis of contemporary art, visuality, performativity, and music. The Forum is based on a central theme explored through panel discussions, round tables, and lectures, as well as through artistic presentations, workshops, film screenings, performances, and theatre productions. In this way, it connects theory and practice, scientific research and artistic performance, opening space for new interpretations of contemporary artistic practice. The Forum’s fundamental function is to utilize the scientific and artistic potential of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek in order to examine art beyond the canonical approaches of traditional academic disciplines. Particular emphasis is placed on encouraging student interest in research and involving young scholars and artists in the academic community, thereby ensuring the sustainable development of the Academy and contributing to the cultural and scientific advancement of eastern Croatia. Previous Forum themes have included: “How Does Art Concern Us?”, “The Digital Age and the End of the Image”, and “Do We Know Why Knifer Is a Great Artist?”.
DIONIZ – INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THEATRE ACADEMIES
From an initiative that brought together students and professors of theatre academies, Dioniz has grown into an internationally recognized festival that for more than a decade has connected domestic and international students of acting and puppetry, along with their teachers and professors. Over the years, numerous academies and higher education institutions from Croatia, neighbouring countries, and across Europe have participated in the festival, as well as institutions from Russia, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The festival encourages the exchange of experiences, knowledge, and skills among students and professors, enables participants to become acquainted with different pedagogical approaches, and promotes intercultural dialogue. The programme includes student examination productions in the fields of acting, movement, dance, and speech, as well as workshops led by distinguished professors and theatre pedagogues. The specific objectives of Dioniz are to open the theatrical medium to the wider community, strengthen the role of educational institutions in the cultural life of the city and region, develop international cooperation regardless of language barriers, raise awareness among young people of contemporary theatre trends, promote the study of acting and puppetry, and mark World Theatre Day and World Puppetry Day. Other constituent units of the Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, as well as all departments of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, participate in its realization, giving the festival a distinctly interdisciplinary character.
An artistic and educational project that brings together students of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, the Academy of Music in Zagreb, and related institutions is developed through the International Chamber Music Festival. Its central focus is the performance of works intended for chamber ensembles, providing students with valuable experience in collaborative music-making and public performance. In addition to the concert programme, an important component of the festival is the chamber music masterclass led by distinguished guest professors, offering students further opportunities for education and professional development. The project is led by the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, with the support of Glazbena mladež Osijek, enabling the festival to grow into an important platform for the artistic development of young musicians and for the promotion of chamber music within academic and cultural life.
The Young Theatre Festival is held annually in the Istrian town of Bale as an international event organized by the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. It is a unique meeting point for students, professors, and artists from Croatia and abroad, united by the idea of cultural exchange, creative exploration, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The festival brings together actors, dancers, musicians, costume designers, pedagogues, and professionals from various fields, providing them with opportunities for collaborative creation and learning. The programme includes student performances, educational workshops and seminars in acting, musical theatre, costume design, lighting, and make-up, as well as content dedicated to media literacy, public speaking, nutrition, and martial arts. Under the motto #daretobecreative, the Young Theatre Festival promotes artistic courage, social connection, and theatre as a space for dialogue and cultural exchange.
This concert series is designed with the aim of achieving a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of the geography of music. The programme is based on the idea that geographical origin and spatial connections strongly shape musical practices, aesthetics, and identities, especially at a time when music is increasingly viewed through the lens of the modern creative industries. Through the integration of scholarly presentations and concert performances, the series examines the role of place in shaping musical processes and encourages interdisciplinary dialogue between musicology, ethnomusicology, cultural studies, and the performing arts. In this way, Music with an Address affirms the connection between theory and practice, the scholarly and the artistic, offering audiences and participants a new perspective on the cultural and social significance of music.
GLAZ-B-OS – CHRISTMAS MUSIC FESTIVITIES
In the pre-Christmas season, Osijek becomes each year the centre of a rich musical programme that brings together students, professors, and guest artists from Croatia and abroad. This event, known as the Christmas Music Festivities – GLAZ-B-OS, is a festival that has, over nearly two decades, established itself as a recognized and highly regarded cultural event in the city and the wider region. The festival integrates art, scholarship, and education through a diverse programme that includes concerts, premieres, workshops, lectures, round tables, and competitions of student ensembles. It traditionally begins on World Choral Day, celebrated on the second Sunday of December, and concludes with a competition in the performance of Christmas repertoire by student choirs and vocal ensembles. Over the years, the festival has hosted numerous national and international participants – from students and ensembles to established artists – and has featured performances of major vocal-instrumental works as well as concerts dedicated to vocal music by contemporary composers. A particularly important aspect of the festival is the premiere performance of new compositions, through which it actively contributes to the development of Croatian musical creativity.
ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF THE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN OSIJEK
The Annual Production of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek is a unique event that presents, in a single setting, the works of students from all six departments. The event reflects the Academy’s distinctive approach, which integrates art and scholarship while emphasizing interdisciplinarity and collaboration among different artistic disciplines. The exhibition features a wide range of visual expressions, including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, illustration, and comics, as well as photography, film, video, and new media. A special place is given to works in the fields of design and puppet technology, costume design, and scenography, alongside multimedia approaches to performance design that incorporate contemporary technologies. The opening programme is conceived as an evening-long event bringing together instrumentalists, vocal performers, actors, puppeteers, students of nonverbal theatre, multimedia artists, and authors of poetic texts, thereby highlighting the Academy’s orientation toward the cultural industries, media, and management. The aim of the Annual Production is to present the achievements of students during the academic year and to affirm the Academy of Arts and Culture as an interdisciplinary and pluralistic institution that fosters the interrelationship between scholarly and artistic components, encourages creative diversity, and creates space for innovative connections among artistic disciplines.
The Red Concert Series is held in the Ceremonial Hall of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek and is conceived as a platform for the promotion of the new Fazioli F278 concert piano and the affirmation of the hall as a premier performance venue. The project brings together performances by professors, assistants, and students of the Academy, as well as guest musicians from Croatia and abroad, offering a diverse and artistically demanding programme. The series includes performances of classical repertoire, original compositions, and thematic concert evenings, with particular significance given to premiere performances and first Croatian performances of selected works. Highlights of the programme include integral performances of piano repertoires and concerts dedicated to contemporary music. All concerts take place in the Ceremonial Hall of the Academy and are open to the public, thereby promoting accessibility to high-quality musical performance for a wider audience. In a relatively short period, the Red Concert Series has established itself as an important cultural event in Osijek, promoting artistic excellence and collaboration within the academic community while contributing to the development of the city’s and region’s concert life.
Concert Intermezzo is a regular music programme of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek that provides students, professors, and the wider public with the opportunity to perform and experience a diverse repertoire. Conceived as a more intimate musical gathering, often taking place between larger events, this series promotes classical and contemporary works in an immediate and welcoming atmosphere. The programme brings together talented performers – students and faculty of the Academy, as well as guest musicians – ensuring diversity and a high level of artistic quality. Concerts are held in the Academy Hall, allowing audiences close contact with the performers and a direct experience of live musical performance. Intermezzo encourages the artistic development of young musicians, offering them a platform for public performance and experimentation with styles and genres, and has become an important part of the cultural life of both the Academy and the city of Osijek, promoting musical excellence and community through music.
LAV MIRSKI – INTERNATIONAL SINGING COMPETITION / INTERVOX – INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF VOCAL MUSIC
In recent years, Osijek has become a recognized gathering place for vocal art, with an event that places the voice at the centre as both an instrument and a means of artistic expression. The programme brings together national and international performers of all generations and includes concerts, lectures, seminars, and masterclasses, with a particular emphasis on education and the encouragement of young singers. Within this framework, InterVox has developed as an international festival of vocal art that combines concert practice, pedagogical work, and a competitive spirit. A central component of the programme is the Lav Mirski International Singing Competition, which attracts young singers up to the age of 32 from numerous European and international countries. The number of performers and participating institutions continues to grow each year, confirming the festival’s recognition and importance. Competitors are evaluated by an expert jury composed of distinguished singers, vocal pedagogues, and conductors, and the most successful participants receive valuable awards from partners and sponsors. In this way, InterVox promotes vocal art, supports the professional development of young artists, and contributes to the international cultural visibility of Osijek.
LUTKOKAZ – INTERNATIONAL PUPPET THEATRE SHOWCASE
From a student platform for examination productions to an internationally recognized event of contemporary puppetry, Lutkokaz has grown into one of the most important gathering points for puppetry artists, students, and professional theatres. The showcase takes place at various locations – including the premises of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, theatres, and cultural centres – and brings together national and international puppetry groups, professional and independent artistic organizations, as well as students who enrich the programme with their performances, exhibitions, and films. Special attention is given to education through workshops and lectures led by puppetry experts from Croatia and abroad, as well as to critical reflection on contemporary puppetry. The programme includes puppet films, performances, student productions, exhibitions of puppets and visual design solutions, and original films revealing the creative process behind their creation. The showcase is further enriched by a selection of guest performances by leading puppetry theatres, and over the years, in addition to Osijek, it has also been held in Virovitica, thereby expanding its reach. Lutkokaz successfully connects the educational, artistic, and research dimensions of puppetry, opening new spaces of expression and engagement with audiences.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT SCULPTURE WORKSHOP JARČEVAC
The guiding idea behind the establishment of the Jarčevac Workshop was the popularization of wood sculpture and contemporary sculptural techniques among students of fine arts and art academies. The workshop was initiated as a form of field teaching within the Sculpture course at the Department of Visual and Media Art of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. During the seven-day programme, students create original large-format wooden sculptures with the professional guidance of professors and assistants, with a particular emphasis on classical sculptural techniques of material processing. Over time, the workshop has developed into a respected event that has also included guest participants from art academies across the region. In addition to its educational objective – acquiring knowledge about wood, tools, material processing, conservation, and protection – the workshop encourages the development of students’ artistic aesthetics and individual expression. Working with a demanding material such as wood fosters confidence and courage for future artistic challenges, while also promoting the development of social and motivational skills through collaboration and interaction with mentors and peers. A special value of the workshop is reflected in its connection with the natural environment of the Jarčevac forest and in raising awareness of the importance of sustainable resource use. The outcomes of the workshop are not only sculptures that remain as lasting testimonies of the creative process but also public exhibitions through which the works are presented to a wider audience. Sculptures have been exhibited outdoors in the Jarčevac forest, on the Academy campus, at the Archaeological Museum Osijek (Green Wood, 2014), and internationally, for example at the joint exhibition of students from Osijek and Pécs at the Nador Gallery. Previous editions of the workshop were held at the Jarčevac Hunting Lodge in Petrijevci, and in 2025 the workshop took place at the Merolino Hunting Lodge in Prkovci.
ORG – OSIJEK PRINTMAKING WORKSHOP
The educational and artistic project Osijek Printmaking Workshop (.ORG) was developed as a platform for research and experimentation in the field of contemporary printmaking practices. The workshop brings together students, professors, and artists from Croatia and abroad, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity, openness to current social and technological issues, and the creative exchange of experiences. Through a range of techniques – from traditional to digital – participants develop their own artistic expression and explore phenomena such as digital identity, artificial intelligence, visual communication, and disinformation in contemporary society. The project also includes collaboration with other institutions, while final exhibitions, public presentations, and discussions provide broader visibility for the works produced. As a space for research, dialogue, and collaborative creation, the .ORG workshop makes a significant contribution to the artistic scene of Osijek and the wider region, opening new fields of activity in contemporary printmaking and visual practices.
PUNKT – INTERMEDIA LITERATURE FESTIVAL
PUnKt – the Intermedia Literature Festival – is a cultural event jointly organized by the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. The festival connects literature with other artistic forms – visual art, music, performance, and theory – creating a space for interdisciplinary dialogue and creative exploration. The programme is structured into four segments: the theoretical punkt, interpretations, artestations, and receptions, which include lectures, round tables, artistic performances, and conversations with authors. Writers, artists, theorists, students, and professors from Croatia and abroad participate in the festival, and the programme takes place across multiple city venues. As an important platform for contemporary reflection on literature and art, PUnKt encourages innovative approaches, affirms new forms of expression, and contributes to positioning Osijek as a relevant cultural centre.
STARTER – EXHIBITION OF AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VISUAL AND MEDIA ART
The STARTER Exhibition is an annual event dedicated to presenting the works of award-winning students of the Department of Visual and Media Art at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. Its aim is to affirm emerging artists and present them to the wider public through exhibitions in professional gallery spaces. The exhibition features works from various disciplines – including painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography, video, and new media – demonstrating the students’ research-oriented approach and their ability to express themselves across diverse artistic forms. STARTER thus serves as an important stimulus for further artistic development, providing students with an opportunity for their first engagement with relevant gallery spaces and the professional art scene. In addition to affirming new talents in the visual arts in Osijek, the exhibition also seeks to promote young artists within the broader artistic and cultural landscape.
QUATTROMANIA – PIANO DUO FESTIVAL
Quattromania – the Piano Duo Festival – is a specialized music festival organized by the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. It is dedicated to the performance and promotion of repertoire for piano duos – both four-hand and two-piano formats – with an emphasis on artistic collaboration, education, and the promotion of classical music. The festival brings together national and international artists, students, professors, and music enthusiasts. Through a rich programme of concerts, lectures, and masterclasses, it promotes high performance standards and the importance of chamber music-making. In addition to performances of well-known works, the festival also presents new arrangements and works by lesser-known composers, thereby contributing to the research dimension of musical art. The educational component of the festival is of particular importance: workshops and lectures focus on ensemble techniques, interpretation, style, and the historical development of piano duo repertoire. The festival is intended for students and young musicians, as well as for the wider public, creating a space for cultural dialogue and the affirmation of classical music in a contemporary context. Situated within the culturally stimulating environment of Osijek, Quattromania has quickly established itself as an important musical event that contributes to international cooperation, cultural exchange, and the strengthening of the role of music in education and society.
From an initiative dedicated to promoting tambura art, Tambura Academica has developed into a two-day festival organized by the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, focused on presenting the tambura in both academic and concert contexts, as well as on educating young musicians. The festival brings together students of tambura studies from Osijek and the Academy of Music in Zagreb, with the participation of guest artists, such as mandolinists from the Arts Academy in Split. The programme includes concerts by the Strossmayer Academic Tambura Orchestra, solo and chamber performances by students, and educational activities such as lectures and round tables. For example, at the 2024 edition, a lecture on the history of the Croatian tambura was delivered by Jadran Jeića, while students performed works originally composed for tambura instruments. Tambura Academica represents a unique platform for affirming the tambura and its artistic value, bringing it closer to a wider audience and encouraging the further development of tambura music in Croatia.
TVORNICA ZEMLJA – INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE WORKSHOP
The sculpture symposium takes place in a factory setting, where artists, professors, and sculpture students collaboratively create sculptures from white and red clay. Over the course of ten days, works of various formats, styles, and themes are produced, and the absence of a predetermined theme encourages freedom of expression and experimentation in form. A distinctive feature of the symposium is the industrial environment in which the sculptures are created. The final processing stage involves collaboration with factory workers, who participate in firing the works in industrial kilns and thereby become the first audience and direct participants in the artistic process. This fusion of art and industry gives the symposium a unique identity, while its educational and research-oriented character enables encounters between different generations, fosters connections between students and experienced artists, and promotes international collaboration. The resulting works remain lasting testimonies to the dialogue between creative ideas and technical processes, enriching the cultural life of Vinkovci and the wider region.
// ARTISTIC CONFERENCES:
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND ARTISTIC SYMPOSIUM ON PEDAGOGY IN THE ARTS:
📍 2020 (Programme / Proceedings) / 📍 2017 (Programme / Proceedings) / 📍 2014 (Proceedings)
The Symposium on Pedagogy in the Arts encompasses a broad field of interest, including music, visual arts, drama, puppetry, dance, film, and media pedagogy. Its particular value lies in the interdisciplinary character of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, where study programmes are offered in all of these areas, as well as in the research and artistic interests of its academic staff. The continued development of this symposium tradition is of strategic importance to the Academy, which aims to position itself as a leading authority in the field of arts pedagogy.
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ART, SCIENCE, EDUCATION, AND TRAINING:
📍 2023 (Programme / Proceedings) / 📍 2021 (Programme / Proceedings) / 📍 2019 (Programme / Proceedings)
The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek organizes an international artistic and scientific conference dedicated to inclusion and the role of persons with disabilities in art, science, education, and training. The conference brings together experts from the fields of art, pedagogy, rehabilitation, education, and the social sciences, with the aim of exchanging knowledge and practices that promote equality and accessibility within cultural and educational environments. The programme includes scholarly papers, artistic presentations, round tables, exhibitions, and workshops, emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach and the connection between theory and practice. A particular value of the conference lies in the active participation of persons with disabilities as contributors, lecturers, and artists, thereby fostering their visibility, creative expression, and academic contribution. This conference represents an important step toward a society of equal opportunities, in which art and science are understood as spaces of inclusion, empowerment, and human connection, regardless of individual differences. Through this initiative, the Academy affirms its commitment to the development of inclusive culture and education in both local and international contexts.
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM ON STAGE SPEECH AND VOICE:
📍 2025 (Programme) / 📍 2023 (Programme / Proceedings)
The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek organizes the International Artistic and Scientific Symposium on Stage Speech and Voice, a unique event that brings together actors, directors, phoneticians, speech therapists, educators, and researchers from Croatia and abroad. The aim of the symposium is to explore the role and development of speech and voice in contemporary theatre, education, and communication. The programme includes scholarly papers, practical workshops, artistic presentations, and panel discussions, covering topics such as speech expressiveness, phonetics, vocal techniques, speech stylization, and interdisciplinary approaches to performer education. Particular attention is given to vocal health, speech in multicultural contexts, and innovations in stage pedagogy. The symposium is of exceptional importance for the development of speech and vocal culture in arts education and for strengthening the connection between scholarly research and the performing arts. In this way, the Academy further affirms its role as an important centre of voice pedagogy, artistic practice, and scientific research in the field of performing arts.
INTERNATIONAL INTERDISCIPLINARY ARTISTIC AND SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE PAJO KOLARIĆ AND HIS TIME:
📍 2021 (Programme / Proceedings)
The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek organizes the International Interdisciplinary Artistic and Scientific Conference Pajo Kolarić and His Time, dedicated to the life, work, and cultural-historical context of one of the most important founders of tambura music in Croatia. The conference brings together music and cultural experts, ethnomusicologists, historians, educators, and artists in order to examine, from diverse perspectives, the significance of Kolarić’s creative work and the period in which he lived and worked. The programme includes scholarly papers, round tables, concert performances, exhibitions, and professional presentations that explore not only Kolarić’s musical oeuvre but also the broader social, educational, and cultural context of the nineteenth century. Particular emphasis is placed on traditional music, tambura heritage, and the cultural institutions of the time, as well as their connection to contemporary cultural identity. In this way, the conference simultaneously pays tribute to an important historical figure and fosters collaboration between the scholarly and artistic communities in researching and interpreting cultural heritage. Through this project, the Academy affirms its role in preserving musical tradition, advancing scholarly thought, and nurturing the cultural memory of Slavonia and the wider region.