The Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek
organises and invites you to
the 7th International Scientific Conference “European Realities”
/PEACE/
(Osijek, 14 – 15 April, 2026)
Program of the 7th International Conference PEACE
Presentations up to 15 minutes
We invite you to the 7th International Scientific Conference European Realities which deals with interdisciplinary reflection and analysis of cultural, educational, artistic and scientific policies in the European context as well as their consequences on specific aspects of contemporary social and cultural environment.
Addressing popular topics, the conference has been organised since 2013. The topic of the 7th International Scientific Conference will be PEACE and the conference will take place at the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek. The conference is organised by the Department of Culture, Media and Management. Additional information about the previous conferences is available at:
https://www.uaos.unios.hr/eng/conferences-3
The conference European Realities 2026 will focus on the multidimensional approach to the notion of peace – as a fundamental value of contemporary society. Peace will signify more than just political and social stability. It will also be regarded as a cultural, economic and media construct, a means of dialogue, resistance, creativity and sustainable coexistence.
As a multidisciplinary platform for scientific research, the conference European Realities 2026 PEACE offers an opportunity to analyse and discuss the notion of peace as a cultural, economic and communication process which goes beyond the political framework. The conference will gather experts in different scientific and professional fields who will analyse peace as everyday practice as well as an ideal which defines the arts, community, economic justice and responsible media. The goal will be to encourage inter-, multi- and transdisciplinary discussions and offer insights into the changes which could create more stable, empathetic and sustainable societies, locally and globally.
PROGRAMME / TOPIC AREAS
1. PROGRAMME: Culture of Peace
Description:
The culture of peace implies the systematic nurturing of tolerance, dialogue, coexistence, interculturalism and non-violence by means of education, the arts, culture and heritage. Stability relies on the cultural practices and policies which promote peace, understanding and solidarity among communities, especially in the context of contemporary challenges such as migrations, identity conflicts and cultural tensions. They are based on the notion of positive peace which goes beyond the absence of war – it includes just social structures, peace education, cultural exchange and intercultural dialogue. The cultural practice of peace implies the conservation of intangible cultural heritage, art therapy, socially engaged art, community participation and the political responsibility of cultural institutions.
Topic areas:
- Cultural diplomacy and peace: how can the arts build bridges
- Intercultural dialogue and peace education
- Peace as an existential resource
- Peace phenomenon in a broader interdisciplinary context
- Music and peace: ethnomusicology, therapy and music as a universal language of reconciliation
- Participatory art and community: enabling dialogue using art processes
- Gender, culture and peace: artistic and cultural practices of gender justice
- UN goals of sustainable development as the global prerequisites for peace
- European capitals of culture and the culture of peace – trends and perspectives
- Cultural heritage as a bridge between the past of conflicts and the future of peace
2. PROGRAMME: Economy of Peace – Creative Industries and Social Cohesion
Description:
The economy of peace deals with economic policies, initiatives and development models which actively contribute to stability, poverty prevention, social equality and the development of an inclusive society. The focus is on creative and cultural industries which improve the local and global stability and peace in every social aspect by means of innovations, participation and cooperation between sectors. The economy of peace is related to social cohesion, the economy of solidarity and creative industries which can transform local communities. It is based on the theories of social capital (Putnam, 2000), cultural entrepreneurship, peace economy in post-conflict areas and non-governmental organisations which bring about changes.
Topic areas:
- Cultural and creative industries as the instruments of social regeneration
- Economic development in post-conflict areas
- Social entrepreneurship and peace: from idea to practice
- Creative urban initiatives: culture as a means of revitalising neighbourhoods and improving cohesion
- Digital economy and social entrepreneurship: peace in an age of platforms
- Tourism as a means of intercultural peace education
- War memories and memorial tourism: between memories and reconciliation
- Digital tourism and the online nurturing of the culture of peace
- Young people as peace ambassadors by doing volunteer work and participating in exchanges
- Non-profit sector as the starting point for social changes and peace
3. PROGRAMME: Media, Communication and the Narratives of Peace
Description:
In a society of information noise and polarisation, the media become the most important means of creating the narratives about peace, conflict, fear and hope. The goal of this programme is to research the ways in which media content, communication strategies and digital technologies can promote the culture of peace, empathy and understanding – or contribute to social fragmentation and radicalisation. The media have the power to create reality – they can incite hatred and polarisation or dialogue and reconciliation. The theoretical framework relies on peace journalism, media ethics, critical theory of communication and the new approaches to digital storytelling, participation and algorithmic accountability.
Topic areas:
- Media literacy and peace education
- Conflict heuristics: how do the media create the perception of conflicts
- Digital empathy: social media as the agents of reconciliation or polarisation
- The media as the promotors of peace: the examples of good practice
- Peace journalism: ethics, practice and challenges
- Media representation of refugees, migrants and minorities in the context of peace
- Digital storytelling as an initiative of civil society
- Media for children and young people: using animation, games and comics to learn about peace
- Smart cities and the communication of peace: interactive public campaigns
- Disinformation and peace: how to fight media lies which cause conflicts
The proposed guidelines are not mandatory. They simply indicate some of the possible approaches to the notion of PEACE with its many layers and dimensions. Therefore, the participants of the 7th International Scientific Conference European Realities are invited to address this issue in an interdisciplinary manner since the division into three programmes is for orientation purposes only.
Plenary Speakers
Organising committee
associate professor Marta Borić Cvenić, PhD, president
Maja Haršanji, PhD, secretary
associate professor Tatjana Ileš, PhD, member
associate professor Marina Đukić, PhD, member
associate professor Borko Baraban, PhD, member
associate professor Hrvoje Mesić, PhD, member
assistant professor Snježana Barić-Šelmić, PhD, member
assistant professor Luka Alebić, PhD, member
Tomislav Levak, PhD, member
Toni Podmanicki, member
Iris Tomić, member
Paula Rem, member
Ivana Guganović, member
Angelė Tamulevičiūtė – Šekštelienė, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Gabija Velykytė, PhD student, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Salvatore Schinello, PhD student, Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Viktorija Jakučionytė, PhD student, Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Mišel Karolina Nikolajeva, PhD student, Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Vaidas Jakutis, PhD student, Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Barbara Ušković, student
Ivan Belezni, student
Ena Oršolić, student
Jana Krtinić, student
Scientific and programme committee
assistant professor Igor Mavrin, PhD, president
associate professor Marija Šain, PhD (Croatia)
associate professor Iva Buljubašić, PhD (Croatia)
associate professor Damir Šebo, PhD (Croatia)
assistant professor Marina Jambrešić, PhD (Croatia)
prof. Carmel Cassar, B.A,M.Phil.(Cantab.),
prof. Vaida Asakavičiūtė, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
prof. Vytis Valatka, PhD, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
associate professor Kristina Kovaitė, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
associate professor Robert Leščinskij, Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (Lithuania)
associate professor Ilona Kunda, PhD, Latvijas Kultūras akadēmija (Latvia)
Important dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 31 January 2026
- Notification of abstract acceptance: 15 February 2026
- Deadline for conference fee payment: 20 February 2026
- Deadline for the submission of papers as well as statements of originality and authorship: 20 March 2026
- Important note: Papers, abstracts and all inquiries related to the conference should be sent to the following email address: europskirealiteti@gmail.com
Conference fee: 150 € per paper
The conference fee includes participation in the conference, attendance at all events, promotional materials, refreshments during the conference and conference proceedings. The conference fee must be paid until 1 February 2026.
As an author or co-author, each participant can present only one paper at the conference.
The papers which are not submitted by the specified deadline will neither be sent for review nor published in the conference proceedings. However, they can be presented at the conference and the presenter will receive a presentation certificate.
Students of the Doctoral School of the University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek and the specialist study programmes of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek (Creative Therapies, Public Relations and Communication Studies) are offered a 50% discount.
The conference fee should be paid to:
Akademija za umjetnost i kulturu u Osijeku, Ulica Julija Knifera 1, 31 000 Osijek
- PAYER: NAME AND SURNAME OF 1st AUTHOR
- RECIPIENT / PAYEE: THE ACADEMY OF ARTS AND CULTURE IN OSIJEK
- SWIFT: SWT/BIC: ZABAHR2X
-
Held with ZAGREBAČKA BANKA – ZAGREB CROATIAIBAN: HR7323600001102689236
- PUROPSE OF THE PAYMENT: CONFERENCE FEE FOR EUROPEAN REALITIES 2026., NAME AND SURNAME OF AUTHORS
- MODEL: 00
- PAYMENT REFERENCE NUMBER: 7 – PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER OF THE CONFERENCE PARTICIPANT
Partners:
Doctoral School of the University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek, Croatia
Latvian Academy of Culture, Latvia
Institute for Tourism, Zagreb, Croatia
Institute for Development and International Relations, Croatia
Organisers / co-organisers:
Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia
Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Scientific and Artistic Work in Osijek
Doctoral School of the University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer in Osijek
Faculty of Creative Industries, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Invitation Letter European Realities – Peace
Application form: Application form European Realities 2026.
Statement of originality and autorship 2026.
Paper Guidelines – European realities 2026.
