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Croatian Summer Salsa Festival in Rovinj this June!

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Great news for the dancers out there – the 8th Croatian Summer Salsa Festival will be in Rovinj this June! Held from 19th to 24th June, the festival is being billed as a “unique sea, sun and salsa” event where participants of all abilities can learn to dance or show off all their dancing skills, as well as relaxing and enjoying a great time in a beautiful setting.

Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, Rovinj

This year’s Festival will feature many exciting components, including open air dance and music points throughout the town of Rovinj; over 90 hours of workshop dance classes; a live music concert on 21st June; some of the best salsa DJs in the world; three different dance floors (each with their own different salsa style); indoor and outdoor parties; a special post-festival boat party; passes for both the girls and guys (for classes and parties); and much more! With over 2,000 dancers and dance-fans gathering in Rovinj, it’s sure to be a very fun Festival!

Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, Rovinj

For those looking for something a little different, the Summer Sensual Days – a sensual dance festival – will also be held in the same town from 15th to 17th June 2012. (For the very keen dancers amongst you, why not combine the two events for eleven fun-filled days?)

Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, Rovinj

For more details and to find out how to attend the Croatian Summer Salsa Festival, check out the full details on the official website at www.crosalsafestival.com.

Croatian Summer Salsa Festival
19th – 24th June 2012
Rovinj

A new festival for 2012 – Echo Festival, Makarska 22nd-24th June

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Echo Festival

Fantastic news for all those revellers looking to party it up on the Croatian coast this summer – a brand new festival has joined the very extensive list of festivals taking place in the country this year. The Echo Festival is the latest addition to the Croatian festival line-up, taking place in the beautiful town of Makarska on the weekend of 22nd to 24th June 2012.

This intimate and friendly festival is perfect for those who love their dance and electronic music and want to enjoy it on Croatia’s wonderful coastline. As anyone who has been to Makarska can attest, the Festival will have a fantastic location (as well as being easy to reach from the nearest airport in Split) in one of the most beautiful spots on the Adriatic coastline, with plenty to enjoy in the town and nearby . The actual Festival site itself is a short walk from the centre of Makarska, on a bay with a private pebble beach that will boast two sound systems – the main beachside stage (so you can actually dance it up on the beach or even in the sea!) and in the licensed bar which has a fully shaded dancefloor.

The music programme will run from 12pm to 5am (that’s 17 solid hours!) with a mix of funk, disco, soul and reggae plus the best of UK bass, garage and deep house well into the night. Acts that have already been confirmed on the line-up include Cozzy D, Alexis Raphael, Lee Brinx and Max Chapman, with many more to be announced.

Echo FestivalBetter still, Echo Festival are offering a truly superb early-bird ticket offer – only £35 for the three day-event! Be sure to take advantage of this great deal and snap up your tickets very soon.

To book tickets, and for more details on the Festival, take a look at echofestival.com or www.facebook.com/echocroatia.

Sucata Rallies’ Charity Rally to Split returns for 2012!

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Sucata Split

News reaches us of a fantastically fun charity rally event that will take place through Europe this year, winding up in Croatia!

Sucata Rallies organise a number of “old banger” charity rally events that take place across Europe each year (others include runs through Europe down to Portugal and Budapest), with their fabulous Sucata Split event returning for 2012.

This year, the event will take place from 31st May to 4th June (a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK!), starting in Bruges in Belgium and ending – of course! – in the wonderful Croatian city of Split on the Dalmatian coast. Inbetween, participants will travel through seven countries; as well as the starting and end points in Belgium and Croatia, the route takes in France, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Slovenia with the Alps also getting a visit.

Teams must participate in old bangers that cannot cost more than £350, and are highly encouraged to dress up both themselves and their vehicle in fancy dress as much as possible! Each team is required to pay a very reasonable £25 per person (with a limit of £100 per vehicle) to register, and is then set a target of raising £250 per person that goes to the charity Gemin-i, who are involved in organising the event.

Sucata Rallies

Gemin-i is an educational charity that helps children around the world share ideas and work together for a brighter future, with the aim of encouraging them to take action, thereby promoting positive change around the world. They bring together over 40,000 children in 2,700 schools across 120 countries to educate them about some of the world’s biggest issues such as malaria, HIV and AIDS, human rights and conflict resolution. The charity does this through online resources and by helping children share their ideas via internet forums and debates.

In particular, money that will be raised by those taking part in the Sucata Split rally will support the HIV360 project. With someone becoming infected with HIV every 12 seconds, the HIV360 project raises awareness, connects people around the world and supports them to take action on HIV and AIDS. The project will reach tens of thousands of children across the world, and every £250 raised will help schools raise the understanding by their students of HIV as well as increasing their chances of avoiding infection. More on the charity can be found on their website www.gemin-i.org.

If you’re interesting in taking part in what’s no doubt going to be a fantastically fun event, read up more about it on the Sucata Rallies website and register yourself and your team – what are you waiting for?!

Festivals in Croatia - Tisno

A new venue for Croatia’s festivals (well, some of them)

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Anyone thinking about attending one of Croatia’s (many) great festivals may have seen the announcement not so long ago the site used in the village of Petrcane – home to The Garden Festival, Electric Elephant, Soundwave, Suncebeat and Stop Making Sense – was a no go for 2012. Concerns from the owners of the site, the Hotel Pinija, on how the festivals impacted guests staying at the hotel meant a new venue had to be found for these festivals for next year.

These concerns by the site owners were perhaps not entirely justified, but that’s not an issue I’m going to discuss here! I did read a number of articles in the Croatian press, however, about the negative impact (i.e. loss of tourist revenue) that losing these festivals from the Zadar region would have. (So it’s good to see they haven’t moved that far – read on below.)

Festivals in Croatia - Tisno
Tisno – you could be here next year!

Today, many of these festivals announced a new venue for 2012 – in the village of Tisno, which is roughly halfway between the town of Zadar and the city of Split. My immediate thought is that this will mean a significant number of additional travel options for partygoers attending any of these festivals, as there are many, many flights from the UK (and from elsewhere in Europe) to Split. (Of course, attendees in previous years could also have flown to Split too – but this just makes things a little easier!)

This news on the change of venue is “hot off the presses”, so I’d advise taking a close look at the festivals’ websites and Facebook pages (and Twitter too) for additional information as and when they release it.

Check out the latest news from the following sites – more is surely still to come very soon.

  • The Garden Festival (4th – 11th July): The Garden Tisno Facebook group
  • Soundwave (20th – 23rd July): their Facebook group should have news today!
  • SunceBeat (27th – 29th July): updated website
  • Stop Making Sense (2nd – 6th August) updated website

There’s also some news from Electric Elephant (12th – 16th July) via their Twitter feed.

And for some early travel planning check out the following pages from Visit Croatia:

Alternatively, check out what other festivals are taking place in the country in our Festivals in Croatia section – more information being added all the time!

Other than that – start thinking about partying it up in the summer of 2012. It’s going to be a good one!

Zagreb’s Museum of Broken Relationships comes to the Tristan Bates Theatre in London!

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Museum of Broken Relationships

In just under a month’s time, the much talked about Museum of Broken Relationships from Zagreb will be presented at the Tristan Bates Theatre in Covent Garden, London. Winner of the Kenneth Hudson Award for the most innovative museum in Europe in the European Museum Awards 2011, the Museum displays items donated by people from around the world that symbolise or have had significant meaning in a past relationship.

This summer, the exhibition will be displayed in two venues in London – at the Tristan Bates Theatre and at 38 Earlham Street, both in Covent Garden – and will feature objects from the permanent collection, as well as new donations. The Theatre has also commissioned several artists to create original work inspired by items donated meaning that the exhibition will also be accompanied by some wonderful events featuring music, visual art, drama and interactive live exhibits.

Artists featured will include, amongst others, Booker Prize-winning novelist and poet Ben Okri; agony aunt, writer and broadcaster Imra Kurtz; Zimbabwean-born vocalist and musician Eska Mtungwazi; the Guerilla Dance Project, who mix inventive choreography with social interaction; story-makers Firehouse Creative Productions; and photographer Peter Bennett.

Events taking place during the exhibition’s run include a special First Date Night, with the exhibition open only to couples to their first date; a Ceilidh; Midnight Puppetry; an Outdoor Cinema Screening and much more.

As mentioned above, the Museum is looking for new donations to add to this summer’s exhibition. A unique opportunity to be part of the award-winning exhibition, you can find full details of how to donate here. Donations will be accepted up to 8th August, with select items put on display. Items will be displayed anonymously and cannot be returned.

The exhibition will be open Monday to Saturday 10am to 10pm, and on Sundays 10am to 5pm. Tickets cost £3.50, and are valid for repeat visits within one week of purchase.

Full details of the Museum of Broken Relationships at the Tristan Bates Theatre can be found at www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk/Production_Details_museum_of_broken_relationships.asp.

Tristan Bates Theatre Presents The Museum of Broken Relationships
15th August – 4th September 2011
www.tristanbatestheatre.co.uk

Arts & Crafts Fun Festival on Hvar this summer

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If you’re visiting Hvar this May and June – or wish to improve on your creative talents in a beautiful setting – you may well be interested to hear about a fantastic arts and crafts festival that is taking place in Hvar Town. Running from 28th May through to the 18th June, the inaugural Arts and Crafts Fun Festival will be running a number of workshops that will enable participants to pick up a new skill or learn a new craft – all on the wonderful setting that is the island of Hvar. Truly, a fantastic way of doing something creative – or doing something a little different during your holiday in Croatia!

Hvar
Hvar – so beautiful!

The Festival will be holding workshops that will each last six days with two three-hour sessions per day, with each day building on the previous day’s study. Workshops include papier-mache, silk and wool creative felting, silver craft and calligraphy, with each being run by experts in these fields, from both Croatia and abroad. All classes will be run in English, so you don’t have to worry about any tricky language barriers! All workshops will be held in the Hotel Podstine, where you can also stay (taking advantage of a special discount associated with the festival).

Workshops are limited to 20 participants, so you can be sure that you will be getting the most from a workshop and its instructor. Each workshop costs 300 Euros, although there is a 15% discount for anyone eager enough to sign up to two or more. A 100 Euro deposit is required to sign up to a workshop.

The Festival isn’t all about working hard and learning, however – and that’s where the “Fun” element of its name comes into play! There will be many additional activities and events scheduled, including sailing and cycling excursions, exhibitions and parties, with welcome events being held each Saturday as an introduction to the Festival and its new participants.

Applications for the Festival can be made on the official website – www.acffcroatia.com – where additional information can also be found.

Arts and Crafts Fun Festival
28th May – 18th June 2011
Hvar Town, island of Hvar, Croatia
www.acffcroatia.com

Dubrovnik Carnival Fest

Dubrovnik Carnival Fest comes to a close

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The final weekend of the first ever Dubrovnik Carnival Fest is already upon us, and there are a number of events taking place today, tomorrow and Sunday that will delight visitors and residents of Dubrovnik.

Dubrovnik Carnival Fest

Tonight, 4th March, will see carnival participants from five countries (Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Slovenia and Croatia) take part in a carnival parade down Stradun at 8.30pm, followed by at party at the Carnival Park at 9pm (and open until 2am!) with live music.

Saturday, 5th March sees another parade take place on Stradun at 11am, with the above five carnival groups from Croatia and abroad once again taking part, presenting their original costumes and carnival performances in front of the Church of St Blaise.

Saturday evening sees the music final take place at Culture Club Revelin, with 16 songs battling it out to be crowned champion of the Dubrovnik Carnival Fest. There will also be performances from the Metropolitan Circus from Tirana, Albania, plus music from the Strumica (Macedonia) orchestra and choir, performing traditional Macedonian songs. A party until the early hours of the morning will then delight revellers, with Croatian pop band Magazin singing some of their hits.

Dubrovnik Carnival Fest

Sunday will be the final day of the Carnival Fest, with a parade once again taking place on Stradun from 11am, culminating in a final performance in front of the Church of St Blaise, with the winning songs from the previous night’s award ceremony performed.

Rijeka - Peek & Poke Museum

Museum Night in Croatia, 28th January 2011

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Tonight (28th January 2011) sees a very interesting cultural event take place in cities all over Croatia. Museum Night 2011 sees a number of museums in the country throw open their doors in the evening, between the hours of 6pm to 1am, and invite in visitors for free.

Rijeka - Peek & Poke Museum
Peek & Poke Museum in Rijeka

In total, 130 venues such as museums (41 of these), galleries and other venues (schools, libraries and tourist boards) in 60 towns and cities in Croatia will be partipating in the night. As well as showcasing their usual collections, many will also be putting on special events such as live music, film screenings and workshops. Slobodna Dalmacija writes that the Narona Archeological Museum in Vid, near Metkovic will be putting on a Roman pottery-making workshop, whilst our forum friend Martin Mayhew writes that the Peek & Poke Museum in Rijeka is well worth a visit.

A full listing of which museums are participating and the events that they are holding can be found on the Croatian Museum Association website. (In Croatian only, unfortunately!) More info can also be found on Museum Night’s Facebook page.

Last year’s event attracted almost 300,000 visitors, which is about a twelfth of the entire population of the Croatia! Clearly a very popular event, the most visited museum was the Museum of Contemporary Art in Zagreb.

If you’re in Croatia tomorrow, it’s well worth popping along to your local museum and joining in the fun!

Other sources: Jutarnji, Wikipedia

Exhibition: Art & Heritage of the Town of Split – 19th October 2010

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Tomorrow, 19th October 2010, the Gallery at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in London will host a private view of the exhibition Art and Heritage of the town of Split, featuring paintings by Split artist Vjekoslav Stipica, with accompanying lectures.

The private view will commence at 6pm, with introductory speeches given at 6.45pm. At 7pm, Dr Josko Belamaric will present his lecture Tribute to Robert Adam, followed at 7.30pm by Mr Vedran Matosic’s lecture, Split – The big event.

The event is being hosted by The British Croatian Society, and The Croatian British Society from Split.

Art and Heritage of the town of Split
Tuesday, 19th October 2010 from 6pm
Gallery of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia
21 Conway Street, London W1N 6BN

Klapa Motovun Concert in London tonight, 15th October 2010

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Organised by the British Croatian Society, Klapa Motovun will be performing a concert tonight, 15th October, at St Elthelburga’s Centre of Reconciliation and Peace in London (78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG; nearest underground station is Liverpool Street).

The concert starts at 7.30pm to 10pm (doors 6.45pm), and tickets cost £10. They can be purchased online at http://stethelburgas.org/civicrm/event/info?id=208&reset=1 and will also be available on the door.

Klapa Motovun is an a cappella group that has taken this type of singing to a high level; klapa itself is a traditional form of singing that has grown out of folk music, and is usually in the style of unaccompanied male singers. This group come from the beautiful hilltop town of Motovun in Istria, and their visit will provide a rare opportunity for audiences in the UK to experience klapa singing.