Category: Events

Results of the European Project Healing Nature Presented at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb

23 June 2026

The results of the European project Healing Nature – Animation for Health and Well-being in Children Hospital Environments were presented at the Children’s Hospital Zagreb. Through art, animation, and augmented reality (AR), the project contributes to creating a more welcoming, engaging, and child-friendly hospital environment.

As part of the project, murals inspired by nature, play, and children’s imagination were created throughout the hospital. Young patients played a special role in the process, as their drawings became part of the artworks and animated characters. Using augmented reality technology, visitors can scan QR codes to discover hidden animals and interactive content, transforming hospital spaces into a unique and immersive experience.

The project was presented by its authors and partners from Croatia, Portugal, and Bulgaria, who highlighted the importance of art in improving the well-being of children, their families, and healthcare professionals.

More about the project: Healing Nature

Within the project:

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

[Project Number: 101173267]

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.

Co-funded by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Republic of Croatia. The views expressed in this release are the sole responsibility of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists and do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Republic of Croatia.

Željko Beljan & Aleksandra Saška Gruden – GUMI TWIST in Karas Gallery

19 June 2026

ŽELJKO BELJAN &
ALEKSANDRA SAŠKA GRUDEN
GUMI TWIST
2.6.-23.6.2026.
KARAS GALLERY

On Friday, 26st of June Željko Beljan and Aleksandra Saška Gruden open their solo exhibition entitled Gumi Twist at 7 pm in Karas Gallery (Ulica kralja Zvonimira 58).

In her foreword Marija Kamber emphasizes:
“The exhibition Gumi Twist, named after the popular playground game in which players jump and weave through a loop of elastic stretched between two participants, explores games, toys, and playing through newly created objects by Željko Beljan, video works by Aleksandra Saška Gruden, and the transformation of the gallery into a site of interaction. Much like the way we remember childhood games, Gumi Twist approaches play through fragments or interpretations of fragments. Rather than presenting complete games accompanied by printed instructions, it offers movement, rhythm, sound imagined from a silent object, a close-up of a hand, or a toy waiting to be set in motion. (…)
By occupying the space of Karas Gallery, Gruden and Beljan create a temporary world of play in which the gallery is transformed into a kind of playground, where the artworks are not untouchable artefacts displayed on walls but prompts and sets of rules that encourage visitors to move through the space and explore the fragments presented to them. A gesture seen in a video becomes a proposed gesture in the gallery; a coloured line across a grey floor is transformed into a path leading towards the exploration of a toy. The rules are written nowhere, and interpretation remains open: jump; stop; push; make a sound, the choice belongs to the players.”

PREFACE

Artists’ biographies:
Željko Beljan (Vukovar, 1984) is a visual artist whose practice explores the phenomenon of manual labour and its place within contemporary art. He is particularly interested in the relationship between manual labour and amateur and recreational sport, with an emphasis on participation and audience involvement in the realisation of his works. He graduated in 2021 from the Department of Animated Film and New Media at the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb. He is an alumnus of the WHW Academy (2022) and was a finalist for the Radoslav Putar Award (2023). Since 2011, he has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Croatia and the wider region and has had several solo exhibitions.

Aleksandra Saška Gruden is an academic sculptor who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Ljubljana in 2004. Since 2006, she has held the status of an independent cultural practitioner. Through her interdisciplinary approach, she has established a strong presence on the contemporary art scene both in the country and internationally. Her work frequently explores questions of identity, historical memory, and social position, using a wide range of materials and technologies to create immersive, thought-provoking experiences. She has created several public installations in Slovenia and abroad, and her works are held in the collections of a number of prominent cultural institutions. Gruden has led sculpture symposia and exhibition programmes and for six years served as President of the Artistic Council of the Ljubljana Fine Artists Society (DLUL). As a cultural critic, she also collaborates with Radio Slovenia and Likovne besede, a Slovenian visual arts periodical.

The exhibition will be open during the period from 26. to 3.7.2026.

Working hours of Karas Gallery
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4pm – 8pm
Tuesday, Saturday 10am – 1pm
On Sundays and Mondays closed.
___
Organizer: HDLU
With the support of: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb

CREART 3.0.: OPEN CALL – ARTISTS RESIDENCY IN ROUEN (NORMANDY, FRANCE)

16 June 2026

Within the framework of CreArt 3.0, the city of Rouen launches a residency for 2 artists of the younger generation, one from Rouen and one from the CreArt network. They are invited to work for 5 weeks in Rouen at « LaboVictorHugo » from September, 28th to October, 30th 2026.

 

THE LOCATION: “LaboVictorHugo”

Located in the heart of a central and lively neighbourhood of Rouen, the LaboVictorHugo is a municipal venue dedicated to artistic creation and research. Spanning nearly 600 m², it offers 9 work studios, giving artists the freedom to shape the environment to their practice. The place welcomes a wide range of disciplines — theatre, dance, visual arts, digital creation, writing — and sees dozens of artists rotate throughout the year.

For further information and photos: https://rouen.fr/labovictorhugo

 

CONTENT AND TERMS OF THE RESIDENCY

The two artists will be settled together in studio n°9 in LaboVictorHugo. They will dedicate their time to their personal research and creation. The studio is about 60m2. The conditions and equipment remain simple and limited. Therefore, activities involving heat or fire tools (woodworking, ceramics, metalworking) or spray paint are not allowed.

The artists will be guided and shown around by the visual arts project manager at the Department of Culture. She will advise them in their work, make them discover cultural places, and organize events to introduce them to the local artist community and the neighbourhood (workshops, openings);

During the AiR, an open day for visitors will be organized on October 3rd. The artists are expected to welcome people and share with them their ongoing research.

A final report (in English) must be provided after the residency.

 

FINANCIAL TERMS

_ The organization provides a residency grant per artist (artist’s fee, subsistence, and local travel): 1700 € ;
_ Production costs per artist: 500 €;

_The city of Rouen also covers travel expenses to and from Rouen [up to 500€];

For countries bordering France (Germany, Italy, Spain), train travel should be preferred. A compensation supplement of 250€, corresponding to the additional travel time compared to flying, is provided.

_ Accommodation is provided by the City.

 

WHO CAN APPLY?

The residence is open to professional artists (an art and design degree is required) within the CreArt network:

  • Being resident in one of the following cities: Kaunas (Lithuania), Liepaja (Latvia), Skopje (Northern Macedonia), Aveiro (Portugal), Valladolid (Spain), Lublin (Poland), Venice (Italy), Clermont-Ferrand (France), Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic), Oulu (Finland), Regensburg (Germany)
  • Artists-members of HDLU (Croatian Association of Fine Artists)
  • Ukrainian artists through our collaboration with the public organisation Lviv Artistic Council «Dialog»
  • This call is intended to professional visual artists of the younger generation with a wild range of medium: drawing, engraving, illustration, video, installation, collage, new media, painting, performance, photography, sculpture, design, textile, graphics, micro-editing. For logistical reasons, monumental creation cannot be offered

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED IN ENGLISH

The artists should upload the following documents through this link: CREART 3.0 OPEN CALL: ARTISTS RESIDENCY IN ROUEN (NORMANDY, FRANCE) – CreArt Open Calls

  • A CV
  • A portfolio [with technical specifications, representative artworks and pictures. Links can be included]
  • A short written project proposal (one A4 page). This document should also contain a list of technical needs and other relevant technical details, which can help the organization to understand the project
  • ID or passport
  • European health insurance

Applications must be submitted before Monday, July 13th.

Only applications with complete information will be accepted. The city of Rouen will inform of the results before July, 24th.

 

Within the project:

Partners:

Supported by:

  

Co-funded by the European Union – CREA-CULT-2023-COOP. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
[Project number: 101128499]
The views expressed in this announcement are the sole responsibility of HDLU and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs

PRESS CONFERENCE: Presentation of the results of the European project HEALING NATURE

09 June 2026

The Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU) invites media representatives, professional audiences, and interested visitors to the presentation of the results of the international project Healing Nature – Animation for Health and Well-being in Children’s Hospital Environments, which will take place on Monday, 15 June 2026 at 12:00 in the conference hall of the Children’s Hospital Zagreb.

The Healing Nature project connects contemporary art, animation, and augmented reality (AR) technology with the aim of creating a more pleasant, stimulating, and emotionally supportive hospital environment for children, their families, and medical staff. Over the past two years in Croatia, Portugal, and Bulgaria, murals, animations, AR content, workshops with children, and research tools have been developed, together forming a unique model for the application of art in healthcare environments.

At the conference, the results of the international partners will first be presented. The Portuguese partner, Universidade Lusófona / COFAC, will present the mural “Spring Breeze”, by artist Natalie Woolf, inspired by spring landscapes, watercolor depictions of plants, and calming natural motifs. Alongside the artistic concept, the development of the animation content by the Portuguese team, led by Pedro Serrazina, will also be presented, as well as the process of integrating animation into the augmented reality system. The mural has been installed in hospitals in Portugal, Croatia, and Bulgaria, and in the Children’s Hospital Zagreb it is located on the 2nd floor.

Following this, partners from New Bulgarian University will present the mural “The Lilies and the White Pond”, by Lidija Cvetkova and Evgenia Stoitseva, inspired by fairy-tale imagery and symbolism of peace, hope, and continuity. Activities of the Bulgarian animation team, working under the mentorship of Sevina Ivanova, will also be presented, with participation from animators Evgenia Stoitseva, Daria Ruseva, Boryana Angelova, Nelina Petkova, and Lyudmila Vasileva, as well as other project activities carried out in Bulgaria. The mural has been installed in all three partner countries, while in the Children’s Hospital Zagreb it is located on the 3rd floor.

The Croatian part of the project will be presented by project author Melinda Šefčić, who, together with Lea Vidaković, developed the Healing Nature concept as a continuation of her earlier artistic and research projects in hospital environments. Special emphasis will be placed on the mural “Forest of Small Wonders”, by Melinda Šefčić, created in collaboration with children from the House of St. Francis of Caritas of the Archdiocese of Zagreb in Vugrovec, SOS Children’s Village Lekenik, the Krijesnice Kindergarten, and Ivan Gundulić Primary School. Children’s drawings of animals, plants, and fantastical beings became an integral part of a layered forest composition that now enriches the spaces of the Children’s Hospital Zagreb and the Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology of the Oncology Clinic at the Sisters of Mercy University Hospital Centre, as well as partner hospitals in Portugal and Bulgaria.

The animation and augmented reality development process will be presented by Katrin Novaković and Matea Kovač. The Croatian animation team included Lea Vidaković, Katrin Novaković, João Miguel Real, and Matea Kovač, and the animations were created based on children’s drawings developed during workshops. In addition to 2D digital animation, a segment of stop-motion animation was developed using handcrafted puppets inspired by the children’s artworks. The implementation of animation content into the augmented reality system developed on the Artivive platform was led by Matea Kovač.

After the official program, participants will have the opportunity to join a guided tour of the hospital, during which they will view the installed murals and experience live augmented reality content that allows mural elements to come to life, animate, and become part of an interactive experience.

For more information about the project: Healing Nature

Within the project:

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

[Project Number: 101173267]

Project is co-financed by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs.

Co-funded by the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Republic of Croatia. The views expressed in this release are the sole responsibility of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists and do not necessarily reflect the stance of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs of the Republic of Croatia.

CREART 3.0 OPEN CALL: ARTIST IN RESIDENCE IN FONDAZIONE BEVILACQUA LA MASA (VENICE)

29 May 2026

The Istituzione Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa announces a call for applications to assign two young artists a space in Venice (at Palazzo Carminati in San Stae) where they can study and work for a period of five weeks: from 14 September – 19 October 2026.

The artist residency programme is part of the European project CreArt 3.0 #stringing_together. Creart 3.0 is a project funded under the Creative Europe Programme. 13 European cities will be involved in the exchange of experiences and good practices to promote contemporary art in all its forms: visual, performing and musical.

 

ELIGIBILITY

To participate, applicants must:

  • be between 18 and 40 years of age on the deadline date of this call
  • be born, resident or domiciled in one of the cities in the project network: Valladolid (Spain), Aveiro (Portugal), Lublin (Poland), Skopje 8North Macedonia), Kaunas (Lithuania), Rouen (France), Clermont-Ferrand (France), Venezia (Italy), Liepaja 8latvia), Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic), Oulu (Finland), Regensburg (Germany)
  • Members of HDLU (Croatian Asociation of Fine Artists)
  • Ukrainian artists, through our collaboration with Artistic Council Dialogue from Lviv
  • Applications must be strictly individual.
  • Submissions from artist collectives will not be accepted.

 

DOCUMENTS
Registration is carried out on the CreArt website to this link:
The following documents must be uploaded to the applications:

  • Photocopy of a valid identity document;
  • Any kind of document proving your connection with the city of the Creart 3.0 network and/or self-certification proving your domicile or residence in one of the 13 cities listed above;
  • A short CV and a portfolio of a maximum of ten pages, not exceeding 10 MB in size and digital, highlighting in particular the work carried out over the last year, accompanied by a detailed CV, texts, publications and videos. The application must be accompanied by a motivational letter explaining the project to be developed in the city in relation also to the use of the prize money.
  • The concept of the project the applicant will realise if selected for the CreArt 3.0 residency.

The documentation must be received no later than 12 pm on 30 June 2026.
The applications will be assessed by an internal jury of the Fondazione Bevilacqua La Masa Institution.

 

PRIZE
Each artist will receive a prize of 4000 € gross. The prize awarded for the residency is to be considered all-inclusive of any expenses incurred, including the production of a work. The guest houses are located in Palazzo Carminati, top floor, Santa Croce 1882, not accessible to the disabled. (Download information on the guest quarters https://bit.ly/guesthousesBLM)
At the end of the residency there will be a presentation of the work produced, the costs of which are to be considered entirely included in the 4000 € gross fee. The list of beneficiaries will be available on the Institution’s website on 31 July 2026.
The data provided will be processed in compliance with the provisions of Legislative Decree no. 196 of 30 June 2003, “Personal Data Protection Code” and subsequent decrees.
The documentation accompanying the requests will not be returned.

 

Within the project:

Partners:

Supported by:

  

Co-funded by the European Union – CREA-CULT-2023-COOP. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
[Project number: 101128499]
The views expressed in this announcement are the sole responsibility of HDLU and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs

 

Ivana Galić – ICICLES AND GLASS BEADS in Karas Gallery

28 May 2026

IVANA GALIĆ
ICICLES AND GLASS BEADS
2.6.-23.6.2026.
KARAS GALLERY

On Tuesday, 2nd of June Ivana Galić opens her solo exhibition entitled Icicles and Glass Beads at 7 pm in Karas Gallery (Ulica kralja Zvonimira 58).

In her forward, artist emphasizes:
“ In Icicles and Glass Beads, I explore the material of glass through the media of light, texture, form, movement and sound, creating new environments – visual, auditory and tactile; material and digital; calm and harmonious; spontaneous and planned. (…)
Glass, also described as an amorphous solid, a rigid liquid or a supercooled liquid, is characterised on the molecular level by an unusual and irregular arrangement of atoms that prevents it from being classified as either solid or liquid, becoming a category of its own instead. This elusive state of glass prompted me to reflect, through this work, on polarities and the in-between states they open up. The space between, within which this work moves, includes the relationship between the natural and the digital, security and insecurity, stability and instability, ease and anxiety, chance and predetermination, rigidity and freedom, as well as control and surrender. Like glass, which neither settles into a solid, clearly defined substance with fixed boundaries nor yields entirely to the free drift and flow of water, I too swim somewhere between these polarities, resting at the intersections of their tensions and entanglements.”

Preface

Biography:
Ivana Galić (b. 1997) graduated in New Media from the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of Zagreb. In her work, she draws inspiration from everyday life, which she experiences as both ordinary and filled with fantasy and wonder, carrying within it the potential for imagining new realities. The real and the surreal intertwine, creating a new, third space of imagination. She finds inspiration in her own experiences, in different states of consciousness such as daydreaming and meditation, in various emotional and perceptual states, as well as in favourite books, stories told by people around her, internet culture, her playlists and fantastical worlds. She describes her genre as ethereal wave–post-internet romanticism. Dreamlike atmospheres and nostalgia are often present in her work. She is interested in the relationship between nature, technology and the human being, as well as in themes of slowing down and resistance through rest. She enjoys connecting the digital and the natural, creating dreamlike worlds, safe zones and micro-utopias.

The exhibition will be open during the period from 2. to 23.6.2026.

Working hours of Karas Gallery
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 4pm – 8pm
Tuesday, Saturday 10am – 1pm
On Sundays and Mondays closed.
___
Organizer: HDLU
With the support of: Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, City of Zagreb

CreArt 3.0 OPEN CALL: ART AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION RESIDENCY IN LIEPĀJA (LV)

28 May 2026

Liepāja 2027 is inviting two visual artists of the younger generation for a summer residency taking place from July 22 to August 19, 2026. The works created during the residency will become part of the programme of the project “Lāčplēša Garden Festival,” a partner of Liepāja 2027.

The residency theme is ecological restoration, aimed at accelerating environmental transformation and reshaping public perception of Karosta as a place marked by the scars of Soviet occupation in the urban landscape.

Covering roughly one-third of the city, Karosta (War Port) was originally constructed on the Baltic Sea coast in the late 19th century as a formidable naval base. For a century, it remained a heavily restricted military zone, completely cut off from the residents of Liepāja.

When the Soviet Union collapsed and the Russian army withdrew to Kaliningrad in 1994, they left behind elderly relatives and civilian personnel. This population found themselves isolated – unfamiliar with and disconnected from the laws and systems of the newly independent Latvian state – turning Karosta into a socially segregated neighborhood for many years.

The military departure also left a vast landscape of abandoned facilities, many of which fell victim to looting and vandalism. Today, these decaying structures – juxtaposed against forested marshlands, dunes, and wild grasslands – are slowly being reclaimed by nature, creating a unique backdrop that draws curious tourists.

Currently, Karosta is experiencing a modern revival as part of the Liepāja Special Economic Zone. Industrial development is actively reshaping the streetscape and community spaces, bridging the area’s harsh military past with a progressive future.

As a result of the residency, artworks are expected to contribute to changing public perception of Karosta by transforming a degraded former military area into an ecologically healthy, socially safe, and attractive territory. The placement of works outdoors in Lāčplēša Garden requires an environmentally responsible approach. The use of eco-friendly materials and sustainable exhibition methods is encouraged in the creation and display of artworks.

The proposed artworks may be interactive, engaging viewers as active participants, or sculptural, serving as visual anchors in the park’s outdoor environment. Artworks should be designed to allow easy dismantling, transport without heavy machinery, and simple recycling or reinstallation elsewhere.

During the first week of the residency, the artist is expected to give a short presentation (up to 20 minutes) about their previous creative practice and/or their planned artistic concept for Karosta, followed by an open discussion with local residents and art enthusiasts.

The expected life cycle of the artworks is as a pop-up exhibition (for several weeks). After the exhibition ends, the artworks are not intended to be preserved or transported back to the artist’s home country.

Who can apply?

Visual artists of the younger generation whose creative practice focuses on installation, spatial objects, sculpture, mixed media, performance (including participatory performance), as well as community participation and engagement projects are invited to apply.

The artist residency is offered to two artists who meet one of the following criteria:

  • Were born in or currently live in one of the cities participating in the “CreArt. Network of Cities for Artistic Creation”: Kaunas (Lithuania), Valladolid (Spain), Skopje (North Macedonia), Aveiro (Portugal), Lublin (Poland), Venice (Italy), Rouen and Clermont-Ferrand (France), České Budějovice (Czech Republic), Oulu (Finland), or Regensburg (Germany).
  • Members of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU).
  • Ukrainian artists in cooperation with the Lviv Art Council “Dialog”.

The selection criteria aim to reflect the quality and diversity of visual art presented in outdoor public spaces. Candidates are expected to have higher education in an art-related field or equivalent professional experience, demonstrated through their artistic career.

Grant Conditions

The Organizer (Liepāja 2027) will provide:

  • Four-week accommodation for two international artists and studio space;
  • Round-trip ticket expenses to and from Liepāja up to 450 EUR;
  • Artist fee of 1 800 EUR/gross in two payments (50:50): first part at the beginning of the residency and second part after the submission of the final report;
  • Production cost of 1125 EUR/gross, result presented in the event “The Lāčplēsis Garden Festival”
  • The artist must have a European health insurance card or its equivalent;
  • Report: Upon return from the residency, artists are required to submit a brief narrative report containing evidence of newly created work/s (in English), and boarding passes if traveling by plane;
  • Contract: Before going to the residency, the artist will sign a contract with the foundation “Liepāja 2027”.

 

How to apply?

You should register as an artist on the CreArt website . In a single PDF document, include:

  • identity card or passport
  • a short version of your CV (one or two A4 pages)
  • an artist’s portfolio, selection of recent projects (maximum 10 pages and 10 images, you can include links)
  • a brief project proposal (maximum one A4 page) outlining why you would like to undertake a residency in Liepāja, including a raw idea description of your work, and the directions you plan to explore.
  • Application documentation must be submitted via the artists’ platform on the network’s website: creart2-eu.org/open-calls

Deadlines

  • Applications accepted until: June 14, 2026
  • Announcement of results: no later than June 19, 2026
  • Contract signing with the foundation “Liepāja 2027”: two weeks before departure
  • Submission of report: 1 week after the end of the residency
  • Only complete and timely applications will be considered.
  • Selection Committee: Anna Priedola, Dace Oberšate-Veisa, Ieva Rubeze, Zanda Bitere

The Committee is not obliged to justify the selection decision.

 

QUESTIONS

The contact person for all questions is Zanda Bitere, zanda.bitere@liepaja2027.lv, www.liepaja2027.lv

 

Within the project:

Partners:

Supported by:

  

Co-funded by the European Union – CREA-CULT-2023-COOP. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.
[Project number: 101128499]
The views expressed in this announcement are the sole responsibility of HDLU and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Government Office for Cooperation with NGOs

 

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