Clubture HR
“Clubture - HR: program exchange and collaboration” is a long-term programme of the Clubture Network continuously implemented since 2002. It is based on direct collaboration among independent cultural organizations - associations, artistic organizations and informal initiatives - that use the platform to exchange cultural and artistic content or to jointly develop and implement new partner projects.
The programme aims to decentralise cultural production and increase access to independent cultural content across Croatia. It supports artists, collectives and organisations operating outside major urban centres in particular, strengthens emerging artistic practices, and enables the circulation of experimental and less visible forms of cultural production. It also facilitates peer-to-peer exchange of knowledge and experience and ensures access to contemporary and high-quality cultural content for diverse audiences, with a particular focus on younger generations.
The programme is implemented through an annual open call for exchange and collaboration projects. Applicants may propose either collaborative projects or touring programmes. Collaborative projects involve at least two organisations or informal initiatives jointly developing and delivering a series of at least three different public events in three different cities or smaller communities in Croatia. Touring proposals involve the circulation of a single programme realised through at least three public events in at least three different cities or smaller communities, in collaboration with at least three partner organisations. Implementation takes place annually from March to December. Organisations that successfully complete their projects may become regular members of the network.
The programme is shaped through a collective decision-making model developed by the platform, grounded in the principles of direct democracy. Member organisations actively contribute to shaping the conditions and framework of each annual call, ensuring that the programme remains responsive to the needs of the independent cultural sector. Over time, the programme framework has been adapted to reflect the needs of participating organisations in practice, making it both flexible and responsive despite its complexity. The selection of projects for each cycle is carried out collectively by the community of participating organisations, which jointly decides which projects will be implemented, as well as on the allocation of available programme resources. Full members of the Clubture Assembly hold decision-making rights, while all organisations that submit project proposals are required to participate in the evaluation and selection process. This model represents a sustained example of participatory governance in cultural programming, combining shared responsibility for both programme development and resource allocation.
By 2026, the programme has supported over 300 collaboration projects and realised public events in more than 110 towns and cities across Croatia. In recent years, more than 85% of activities take place outside Zagreb, and over 65% outside the four largest cities, demonstrating a sustained decentralising effect. The programme has generated around 1800 public events and involved more than 300 organisations, positioning it as one of the longest-running collaborative cultural platforms in the wider European context. The cultural content developed within these projects spans diverse artistic fields, including literature, film, new media, performing arts and interdisciplinary practices, and is characterised by contemporary, engaged, and innovative approaches.
Its long-term impact lies in strengthening connections between local cultural scenes and smaller communities, enabling continuous knowledge exchange, and ensuring a more balanced distribution of cultural production across the country.