| Days of Serbian Culture | |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location | Nationally |
| Country | Croatia |
| Inaugurated | 2006 |
| Founder | SKD Prosvjeta |
TheDays of Serbian Culture (Croatian:Dani srpske kulture;Serbian:Дани српске културе,romanized: Dani srpske kulture) is an annual cultural event organized by theSKD Prosvjeta, the central independent cultural and scientific institution dedicated to promoting the culture ofSerbs in Croatia.[1] Established in 2006, the event serves as a platform for cultural exchange and cooperation between Serbian and Croatian cultural communities.[2] Since 2018 it has expanded beyondZagreb to include other cities acrossCroatia.[3] The program includes film screenings, theatre performances, and other artistic events.[2]
The first edition of the festival was held in Zagreb from 21 to 26 November 2006, featuring contemporary Serbian cultural productions in film, music, theatre, visual arts, and literature.[4] The program includedMilan Lane Gutović playObično veče, an exhibition of interwar political posters, performances by composerMiloš Petrović, and a literary evening with writerMarko Vidojković.[5] Despite some criticism over the event’s timing nearBattle of Vukovar commemorations, organizers emphasized that there was no political intent. They noted strong media interest and audience turnout.[5] The 2007 edition of the festival includedGoran Marković playDelirijum tremens, a concert of traditional Balkan vocal music by theBraća Teofilovići [sr], a literary evening with authorSvetislav Basara, and screenings ofMiroslav Momčilović [fr] filmSedam i po.[6]
The 2008 edition of the festival was held from 12 to 18 December in Zagreb.[7] Literary events included a promotion ofVladimir Arsenijević novelPredator at theCity Library of Zagreb and a reading byVule Žurić withMiljenko Jergović andNenad Rizvanović at the Booksa club.[7] Theatre and film presentations includedAtelje 212 staging ofLjubomir Simović playPutujuće pozorište Šepalović at theZagreb Youth Theatre and screenings of anti-war documentaries, short films byNovi Sad authors, and student films from theFaculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade at Cinema Europa.[7] 2009 program included“Nova blokada?” panel at theCroatian Journalists' Association building, with speakers includingSrećko Horvat,Igor Štiks,Jerko Bakotin,Andrea Zlatar andGoran Radman, alongside student representatives from Belgrade.[8] Literary events included the promotion ofDaniel Kovač novelUzvodni bluz.[8]
The 2019 edition of the festival was opened by the President of the Council for Ethnic Minorities of the Republic of CroatiaAleksandar Tolnauer.[9] Alongside Zagreb, 2019 festival was held inRijeka andOpatija.[10]
The 2022 Days of Serbian Culture in Zagreb and seven other Croatian cities focused on “Zagreb–Belgrade Connections”, highlighting artists who lived or worked across both cities over the past century.[11] The program included the exhibition Tabula rasa showcasing works bySava Šumanović,Neša Paripović and others.[11]
The 2024 Days of Serbian Culture in Zagreb began with the official opening of the Archives of Serbs in Croatia on a historic site returned to the Serb community.[12] The event featured the exhibitionBarbarogenij nadrealizma. It focused on the work ofDušan Kovačević.[12] Organisers emphasised the centre’s role in fostering cultural exchange between Serbs and Croats, as well as broader cooperation with European artists.[12]
During the 2025 Days of Serbian Culture, a folk performance in Split was disrupted by around fifty masked men shouting theUstaše salute “Za dom spremni”.[13][14] Croatian officials, includingPresidentZoran Milanović andPrime MinisterAndrej Plenković, condemned the attack, while oppositionSocial Democratic Party of Croatia and civic organizations criticized government tolerance of right-wing extremism.[13][15] The Independent Union of Science and Higher Education called for the dismissal of Interior MinisterDavor Božinović, criticizing his statement that theTorcida Split football fan group did not need to notify authorities before holding a protest in Split, arguing that his position was discriminatory and undermined equality before the law.[16] The festival continued the next day at theAlliance française building.[17]
Shortly after the attack in Split, a smaller masked group gathered outside the Serbian Cultural Center in Zagreb during an exhibition ofDejan Medaković art collection, singing nationalist songs.[18][19][18]Zagreb MayorTomislav Tomašević strongly condemned the celebration of the colaborationist Independent State of Croatia and the threatening behaviour emphasizing that Zagreb and Croatia are founded on the Constitution and the rule of law.[20]
As part of the series of tensions following the Days of Serbian Culture events in Split and Zagreb, a right-wing protester gathered in Rijeka outside theCentar Zamet during the Balkan Karate Championship, where the Serbian national team was participating.[21] The Croatian Ombudsperson for Children, Helenca Pirnat Dragičević, expressed concern about the rise of intolerance, hostility, and hate narratives affecting children.[21]
Following the incidents in Split, Zagreb and Rijeka tensions continued inVukovar over the planned opening of the photography exhibitionSerbian Women related toWorld War I in Serbia, organized by the Serbian Cultural Center Vukovar, theJoint Council of Municipalities and theConsulate General of the Republic of Serbia in Vukovar.[22] The exhibition was scheduled to open on 11 November 2025.[22] Vukovar MayorMarijan Pavliček ofCroatian Sovereignists party requested that the exhibition be postponed, citing the city’s annual commemoration of the 1991Battle of Vukovar.[22] The Joint Council of Municipalities stated that it had not received an official request to postpone the exhibition and invited the mayor to communicate through official channels.[22] CroatianMinister of Culture and MediaNina Obuljen Koržinek supported mayor's view, calling the timing of the exhibition “inappropriate”.[22] TheSerbian Ministry of Culture condemned the postponement initiative, describing it as part of a“burden of revisionism” and claiming that expressions of Serbian culture were being systematically suppressed in Croatia.[23] On 11 November 2025, Dejan Drakulić, President of the Joint Council of Municipalities, announced that the exhibitionSrpkinja would open in December.[24] The decision was made in coordination with the author and all participating organisations.[24]
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