Annual dinner

As usual the annual dinner will provide an opportunity to socialise and to enjoy a splendid three course meal.  £60 a person (£55 for subscribing members of the British-Croatian Society).

Last year the dinner was over subscribed so the booking process this year is slightly different. If you wish to attend, please email us as soon as possible, preferably before November 2, including any dietary requirements. We will then confirm by email that a place, or places, are available and send you details how to pay. Your payment will secure your place(s).

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2019

You are reminded that you are invited to the British-Croatian Society's Annual General Meeting (details below). Your contribution to the meeting will help us develop our work over the coming years an ensure that we continue to make a valuable contribution to a better appreciation of Croatia in the UK.

Agenda

To approve Minutes of the AGM 2018
Report on the year 2018
Membership Report
Accounts
Appointment of Trustees and Committee Members
AOB

AGM 2019 Papers.

• by paypal on our website - www.britishcroatiansociety.com/events and then go to the annual dinner
•  by bank transfer to The British Croatian Society, account 60566500 at Barclays Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18, quoting your name as reference
• or by cheque made payable to The British-Croatian Society sent to: David Davison, Treasurer, British-Croatian Society, 5 St Edward’s Court, Oakthorpe Road, Oxford OX2 7UP

World Cup 2018 - FINALS

Tickets Update: France vs. Croatia on Sunday 15 July from 15:00

All tickets at the Hoop and Toy have now been allocated. The British-Croatian Society has negotiated space at another venue, the Horse and Wig in Holborn, where Croatian supporters can gather to watch the match.

A limited number of tickets are available for The Horse and Wig, by emailing:

[email protected] om

Please say how many tickets you require.

You will receive a reply email which you should print, or keep on your phone to show at the door.

The Horse and Wig, 14 Fulwood Place, London WC1V 6HZ

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World Cup 2018 - Semi Finals

Tickets: Croatia vs. England on Wednesday 11 July from 18:00 at the Hoop and Toy

A limited number of tickets are available for The Hoop and Toy, by emailing:

[email protected]. Please say how many tickets you require.

You will receive a reply email which you should print, or keep on your phone to show at the door.

Hoop and Toy
34 Thurloe Place

London SW7 2HQ

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World Cup 2018 - Quarter Finals

We are welcomed by our favourite pub The Hoop and Toy to support the Croatian football team again in Quarterfinals against Russia!

Prepare your Croatian flags and Croatian strip! Entrance to the private pub area for Croatians and Friends from 6pm is in the Upstairs room where you can enjoy a bottle of Croatian wine!

Be sure to arrive early to book a table. The pub is very central, just a minute’s walk off the South Kensington Tube station:

Hoop and Toy Pub
34 Thurloe Place, London SW7 2HQ
(Opposite South Kensington Tube Station)

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World Cup 2018

Get ready for Croatia vs. Denmark on Sunday 1st July at 19:00

We are welcomed by our favourite pub The Hoop and Toy to support the Croatian football team again in the Round of 16!

Prepare your Croatian flags and Croatian strip! Entrance to the private pub area for Croatians and Friends from 6pm is in the Upstairs room where you can enjoy a bottle of Croatian wine!

Be sure to arrive early to book a table. The pub is very central, just a minute’s walk off the South Kensington Tube station:

Hoop and Toy Pub
34 Thurloe Place, London SW7 2HQ
(Opposite South Kensington Tube Station)

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World Cup 2018

Argentina vs. Croatia on Thursday 21st June at 19:00

Island vs. Croatia on Tuesday 26th June at 19:00

Get ready for a month of amazing football matches! We are welcomed by our favourite pub The Hoop and Toy to support the Croatian football team again.

Prepare your Croatian flags and Croatian dress! Entrance to the private pub area for Croatians and Friends from an hour before each match is in the Upstairs room. You can enjoy a bottle of Croatian wine and a nice Croatian platter to nibble on!

Be sure to arrive early to book a table! The pub is very central, just a minute’s walk off the South Kensington Tube station:

Hoop and Toy Pub
34 Thurloe Place, London SW7 2HQ
(Opposite South Kensington Tube Station)
https://www.greeneking-pubs.co.uk/pubs/greater-london/hoop-toy/

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calendarCroatia 2019

We invite you to submit photographs in preparation for the British-Croatian Society's next calendarCroatia.

There will be a change this year. The calendar will be printed and for sale in November as usual, but the exhibition this year will be online. We will still have a launch party to which all photographers will be invited.

We are looking for photographs that show Croatia in all its variety, not only as a beautiful place for a holiday. Photographs are invited from professionals and amateurs of any nationality, in as high a resolution as possible. People, places, abstract - all subjects and techniques are welcome.

Please note that if you want your photographs to the considered for the printed calendar, they will need to be landscape format photographs. For the exhibition, photographs can be landscape or portrait.

High quality photographs can be taken on a smart phone, so please tell your family and friends about calendarCroatia 2019.

Please send up to 4 of your photographs with the photographer's name and the title of the photographs to us at [email protected] .

Let us have your photographs as soon as you can, but not later than October 20.

If you have any questions, you can also contact us at this address.

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The Cells that Unite us:

the Story of a Fortunate Immigrant

Tulip Siddiq MP will host, and Nicholas Jarrold will chair, a British-Croatian Society event in the House of Commons

calendarCroatia 2019

We invite you to submit photographs in preparation for the British-Croatian Society's next calendarCroatia.

There will be a change this year. The calendar will be printed and for sale in November as usual, but the exhibition this year will be online. We will still have a launch party to which all photographers will be invited.

We are looking for photographs that show Croatia in all its variety, not only as a beautiful place for a holiday. Photographs are invited from professionals and amateurs of any nationality, in as high a resolution as possible. People, places, abstract - all subjects and techniques are welcome.

Please note that if you want your photographs to the considered for the printed calendar, they will need to be landscape format photographs. For the exhibition, photographs can be landscape or portrait.

High quality photographs can be taken on a smart phone, so please tell your family and friends about calendarCroatia 2018.

Please send up to 4 of your photographs with the photographer's name and the title of the photographs to us at [email protected].

Let us have your photographs as soon as you can, but not later than October 20.

If you have any questions, you can also contact us at this address

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An evening of Croatian music, words, art and wine

6.30pm, Friday 2nd March, in the Library, Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.

Refreshments served.  All welcome.

Listen to a live reading from the first full-length English translation of Uncle Maroye by Marin Držić - a Renaissance playwright from Dubrovnik, and forerunner of Shakespeare. A cast of five actors, including Filip Krenus (the translator) and Adele Anderson (Humanist singer of Fascinating Aida), will read the selected scenes from this comedy of greed, lust and mistaken identity!

The musical component of the evening will be performed by violinist, Anda Vican, playing works by Luka Sorkočević, a Dubrovnik Baroque composer

Annual General Meeting
You are invited to the British-Croatian Society's AGM and Food and Wine event

If you would like to attend, please do two things:
1. Email [email protected] with your name and the names of anyone accompanying you, with a note of any special dietary requirements

2. Make your payment. This will be £50 for members, £55 for non-members (if you are not a member and wish to join, please see our website).

Payment for the dinner can be made:

• by paypal on our website - www.britishcroatiansociety.com/events and then go to the annual dinner
• by bank transfer to The British Croatian Society, account 60566500 at Barclays Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18, quoting your name as reference
• by cheque made payable to The British-Croatian Society sent to:

David Davison, Treasurer, British-Croatian Society
5 St Edward’s Court, Oakthorpe Road, Oxford OX2 7UP

Payment must be received not later than 16th November

A Greater Love - Olga Watkins' story 

You are invited to hear James Gillespie in conversation with Flora Turner
October 3, 18-00 for 18-30

Programme

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber – Passacaglia in G minor for solo violin “The Guardian Angel”
Pavle Despalj – Caprice for solo violin no 2
Johann Sebastian Bach – Sonata in C BWV 1005

Performer

Known for his intelligent and virtuosic playing on both the violin and viola d’amore, Bojan Cicic specialises in repertoire ranging from the late 16th century to the Romantic period.

He has been a guest leader and soloist with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the King’s Consort and the Budapest Festival Orchestra, working closely with conductors such as Frans Brüggen, Trevor Pinnock and Richard Egarr. He has appeared many times as a director with the Academy of Ancient Music and the European Union Baroque Orchestra.

He has featured as a leader on numerous recordings with ensemble Florilegium, La Nuova Musica, and the Arcangelo Consort. His recording of J.S. Bach’s Concerto for two violins with Rachel Podger was recently named the best available recording by BBC Music Magazine.

Bojan’s own group, the Illyria Consort, recently made their first disc with Delphian Records, a groundbreaking recording of Carbonelli’s virtuosic violin sonatas that will be released in June 2017. The Illyria Consort explores rare repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries from the Venetian Republic and Habsburg Empire, and have performed at the Utrecht Early Music Festival, the Korkyra Baroque Festival, Festival Laus Polyphoniae, and at the Festival de Sablé.

Future projects include directing Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with the European Union Baroque Orchestra and performing Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto with the Instruments of Time and Truth. Bojan plays a violin by Rugieri from the 1680s, kindly loaned to him by the Jumpstart Junior Foundation.

Bojan has established himself in recent years as an expert teacher. He was recently appointed Professor of Baroque Violin at the Royal College of Music, and is passionate about training the next generation of instrumentalists in historically-informed playing styles.

In late September he will be in conversation with Bojan Bujic at a British-Croatian Society event.

12 Million Volts

British-Croatian Society Summer Reception

So many people have wanted to come to the summer reception that we have moved the event at the Athenaeum Club to the bigger Smoking Room (but do not worry - smoking is not allowed and there is no hint of smoking).

If you wish to come and have not already booked, please reply to this email and arrange payment not later than Thursday evening.

britishcroatiansociety@gmail. com

Monday June 12 2017, 18-00 to 20-00
Atheneum Club
107 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5ER

2. by bank transfer to The British Croatian Society, account 60566500 at Barclays Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18 quoting your name as reference

Classical Guitar Night with Srdjan Bulat

Monday 1 May 2017, 19:30 – 21:00
London House, Large Common Room, Mecklenburgh Square, London, England WC1N 2AB

For more information, please click here.

Event on April 24 postponed

Meet-up at Eclipse

Croatian Embassy invitation

The Embassy of the Republic of Croatia and the School of Slavonic and East European Studies, UCL, are organising a roundtable discussion on the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Croatia's international recognition. A panel will discuss related historical decisions and developments in Croatia, as well as the issue of international recognition of states more broadly. The panel will be composed of experts in the field as well as those who themselves participated in the decision-making at the time.

Austrian Cultural Forum

This evening of readings at the Austrian Cultural Forum might be of interest to members of the British Croatian Society (chiefly for my translated extract from Hermann Bahr's otherwise untranslated travelo gue Dalmatian Journey of 1909). 

A Greater Love - Olga Watkins' story
James Gillespie in conversation with Flora Turner

April 24 18-00 for 18-30

Europe House
32 Smith Square
London SW1P 3EU

Olga Czepf's real life story is as good as any thriller. It is an incredible story of love against the odds. When the Gestapo seize 20-year-old Olga’s fiancé she is determined to find him and sets off on an extraordinary 2,000-mile search across Nazi-occupied Europe up to the barracks of Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps.

It is also a very personal insight into life during the Second World War in Croatia, Hungary, Austria and Germany. She also describes her life in London. It was in London where  she  became a friend of Flora Turner and James Gillespie.

James Gillespie is a respected journalist who worked with Olga to bring her story into print. A Greater Love was published in 2011. We had wanted Olga to talk to the British-Croatian Society about her book, and she was willing to do so, but she was elderly and frail and died late last year. James will tell her story. He will also talk about how he came to know Olga and the process of jointly producing her memoir.

There is much more to tell, but come to hear James tell her story and the writing of it.

Join us afterwards for a glass of wine.

If you wish to attend, please RSVP to britishcroatian [email protected] later than April 23.

calendarCroatia 2018

Following the success of the calendarCroatia calendar and exhibition in last year, we are inviting you to send us photographs taken in 20017 in Croatia for a British-Croatian Society

- Christmas card,
- general greetings card
- and for a 2018 calendar.   

25 photographs will be selected to feature in the calendar. One photograph will be selected for the Christmas card and one for a general greetings card In addition we will feature some 40 photographs in an exhibition to be held at the gallery of the Croatian Embassy in London in late November.  Calendars and cards will be available for purchase at the British-Croatian Society's annual dinner on November 23 and online.

We are looking for photographs that show Croatia in all its variety, not only as a scenically beautiful place for a holiday. Photographs are invited from professionals and amateurs of any nationality, in as high a resolution as possible. People, places, abstract - all subjects and techniques are welcome.   High quality photographs can be taken on a smart phone, so please tell your family and friends about calendarCroatia 2018.

Please send up to 4 of your photographs with the photographer's name and the title of the photographs to us at [email protected] .

Let us have your photographs as soon as you can, but not later than October 20.    

If you have any questions, you can also contact us at this address. 

Coffee Concert Series

Pianist Ivana Gavric will be performing at the Wigmore Hall on Sunday 23 April at 11.30am, as part of their Coffee Concert Series. Programme will include works by Beethoven Chopin and Liszt and will mark the official launch of Ivana's new widely-anticipated album dedicated to the works by Chopin. General booking for the concert is now open, and only a few tickets are still left.

To pre-order the Chopin album, please visit https://ivanagavric.bandcamp. com/album/chopin-hd-24bit- 96khz

www.ivanagavric.com

London Independent Photography

You are invited to an exhibition that will include photographs by Gordana Johnson, a British-Croatian Society member and the person behind the British-Croatian Society's photographic exhibitions and calendar. The invitation is attached.

Srdjan Bulat in Concert

Srdjan Bulat, guitar

28th April 2017
Holywell Room, Oxford

Biography

Concert programme

Stjepan Šulek (1913-1986)
Three Troubadour Songs I. Melancholy
II. Sonnet
III. Festivity

Giulio Regondi (1822-1872)
Etude No. 8 in G major

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Nocturnal after John Dowland, op. 70 I. Musingly
II. Very Agitated
III. Restless
IV. Uneasy
V. March-like
VI. Dreaming
VII.Gently Rocking
VIII. Passacaglia
IX. Slow and Quiet

Interval

Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909)
Mallorca

Kristina Arakelyan (1994)
Fantasia

Zoran Juranić (1947)
Sonata
I. Preludio II. Scherzo III. Ciaccona

Annual General Meeting

Tuesday 21 February 2017 1830 – 2030
BCS AGM 2017 - papers

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ALMAE MATRIS ALUMNI CROATICAE
United Kingdom Association of Alumni and Friends of Croatian Universities

AMAC Educational Trust Charity No: 1059392

30 Hayward Road, Oxford OX2 8LW
Phone/Fax:  (01865) 556 686
E-mail: [email protected]
www.amacuk.net

You are invited to

To purchase your copy of calendarCroatia 2017 please let us know by emailing [email protected] om (with your postal address if it is to be posted)  and arrange payment in one of the following ways:

Events 2016

CalendarCroatia

Please join us for the British Croatian Society Annual Dinner to be held at the Queen’s Club (www.queensclub.co.uk); private members club which is the first multipurpose sports complex ever to be built anywhere in the world, situated in a both tranquil and charming setting.

Drinks reception from 6.30pm
Dinner at 7.30 pm
Tickets: £45 for members / £50 for non-members
Book your ticket: [email protected]
Dress code: Lounge Suit/Smart Casual

If you would like to attend, please do two things:
1. Email [email protected] with your name and the names of anyone accompanying you, with a note of any special dietary requirements
2. Make your payment. This will be £45 for members, £50 for non-members (if you are not a member and wish to join, please see our website).

Payment for the dinner can be made:

· by bank transfer to The British Croatian Society, account 60566500 at Barclays Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18 quoting your name as reference
· or by cheque made payable to The British-Croatian Society sent to:

David Davison, Treasurer, British-Croatian Society
5 St Edward’s Court, Oakthorpe Road, Oxford OX2 7UP

Payment must be received not later than 27 October.

The invitation

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EBRD & The British-Croatian Society

cordially invite you to the annual

Chris Cviić Memorial Lecture
The One Belt, One Road Initiative in History
The construction of foreign and economic policy in the Adriatic in the Middle Ages

by Peter Frankopan

Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research and Senior Research Fellow at Worcester College, University of Oxford

Monday, 03 October 2016, 5pm

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN

Summary: Many see China’s One Belt, One Road initiative as the most important development that will shape the 21st century. A thousand years ago, a city at the other end of the Silk Roads was considering how to extend and expand its reach. Venice’s One Belt, One Road saw its interests and influence grow through the Adriatic and then further into the Mediterranean. In this talk, the historian Peter Frankopan, author of the highly acclaimed Silk Roads: A New History of the World, will look at parallels between past and present and at what lessons can be learned from history.

Croatia's Euro 2016 Matches

The British Croatian Society is pleased to say that the Hoop & Toy, 34 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2HQ is again available for football fans to meet and watch Croatia’s Euro 2016 matches.

Both the ground floor and function room on the 1st floor will be available for us. A reminder of the dates:
Sunday 12 June, 14.00 (Paris): Turkey v Croatia
Friday 17 June, 17.00 (St-Etienne): Czech Republic v Croatia
Tuesday 21 June, 20.00 (Bordeaux): Croatia v Spain

Round of 16: Saturday 25 June, 20:00 (Lens): Croatia v Portugal

The Hoop and Toy public house is very near South Kensington Underground station. Leave the station from the Thurloe Street exit, turn left then immediately right into Thurloe Place. The Hoop and Toy is on the right hand side.

Venue details, with location map, can be found here.

We look forward to seeing everyone there to cheer Croatia on!

Members of the British-Croatian Society in Scotland, and any members visiting Glasgow, are invited to a lecture to be given by the Croatian Ambassador at the University of Glasgow:
Croatia, three years after joining the EU

calendarCroatia

We invite you to send us photographs taken in Croatia for a British-Croatian Society 2017 calendar. Twelve photographs will be selected to feature in the calendar, one for each month of the year. It will also include a wider selection of photographs in a collage and all will appear in an exhibition at the gallery of the Croatian Embassy in London in November.

We are looking for photographs that show Croatia in all its variety, not only as a scenically beautiful place for a holiday. Photographs are invited from professionals and amateurs of any nationality, in as high a resolution as possible. People, places, abstract - all subjects and techniques are welcome. Today high quality photographs can be taken on a smart phone, so please tell your family and friends about calendarCroatia.

Send up to 4 of your photographs to us at [email protected].

Let us have your photographs as soon as you can, but not later than mid-November. If you have any questions, you can also contact us at this address.

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Message from Stephen Cviic:

After a busy December and a welcome break, my musical activities have resumed, and I'd like to let you know about the concerts and operas I will be appearing in in the first half of 2016, including lots of Psalms from the Elysian Singers, my turn as a jealous lover in Carmen and as a lovelorn Prince in The Magic Flute. In some cases, this is very advance notice indeed so it's more of a "save-the-date", but I know how booked up everyone gets.

Summary

(1) Saturday 13th February, 7.30pm, St Peter's Eaton Square, London SW1W (near Victoria or Sloane Square stations)

English Contemporary Psalm Settings
The Elysian Singers conducted by Sam Laughton
The Elysian Singers’ 30th anniversary Psalmfest 2016* kicks off with an array of English Contemporary Psalm Settings, honouring the choir’s commitment to music by living composers; from Joseph Horovitz (now 90) to the choir’s own Dan Rollison (still only 28!). And where better to start than a setting of Psalm No.1 by Cheryl Frances-Hoad!

Tickets: £15 (concessions for the unwaged £10), available from www.wegottickets.com, from choir members or on the door (if available).

(2) Friday, 18th March, 7.30pm, St Paul's Church, Rectory Grove, Clapham, London SW4

Gala concert of arias and ensembles from St Paul's Opera
My sister Antonia and I are among the performers at what should be an enjoyable and relaxing evening of operatic highlights, with a glass of wine or two. Including excerpts from Bizet's Carmen, plus Mozart, Verdi and others.

Tickets: £18 on the door or in advance. Booking details to follow.

(2) Monday 21st March, 7.30pm, St Paul's Covent Garden London WC2

Music for Holy Week
The Elysian Singers conducted by Sam Laughton
The Elysians' Psalmfest continues with music by, among others, Mendelssohn, Arvo Part, Britten and Purcell

Tickets: £15 (concessions for the unwaged £10)

(3) Wednesday 8th June and Friday 10th June, 7.30pm, Wyllotts Theater, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 2HN

"Carmen" performed by Southgate Opera
I take the role of jealous lover Don Jose in this production of Bizet's famous opera. Please note that there are also performances on Thursday and Saturday but I will not be appearing in them, so Wednesday and Friday are the days! Booking details to follow.

(4) Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd July, 7pm, St Paul's Church, Rectory Grove, Clapham, London SW4
"The Magic Flute" (Mozart) performed by St Paul's Opera
I take the role of Prince Tamino in this story of love, mysticism and magic, performed by the same team that brought you Don Giovannilast year. Booking details to follow.

(5) Wednesday 6th July, 7.30pm, New Malden Methodist Church, 49 New Malden High Street, KT3 4BY

"The Gondoliers" (Gilbert and Sullivan) performed by New Malden Community Choir conducted by Celia Cviic
I take the role of Gondolier Marco, and my sister Antonia is Casilda in this amusing tale of royalty, Republicans and the inevitable baby-swapping.

You can always check out more details on my website Stephen Cviic — Tenor and there follows a bit more on the Elysian Singers' Psalmfest project, of which all this year's concerts are a part.

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Will Firth in Conversation with Roy Cross

April 11 Will Firth, in the UK for the London Book Fair, will be in conversation with Roy Cross on translating Croatian literature into English.

Monday 11 April 2016, 6.30pm for 7pm
Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

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Korcula and the Korkyra Baroque Festival

by Michael Unsworth

Monday March 21, 18-30 for 19-00
at the Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Afterwards please join us for a glass of Croatian wine.

Michael Unsworth will talk about his relationship with Korcula and the founding and success of the Korkyra Baroque Festival, illustrated with photographs and music.

The Korkyra Baroque Festival is a high-profile cultural event established in 2012 in order to promote local and international music and cultural heritage. Supreme concert evenings and Korčula's impressive culture monuments create a unique synergy owing to which the Korkyra Baroque Festival has gained the reputation of a must-see event on the global music scene.

This year's Festival will take place from 3rd to 17th September 2016. The European Baroque Orchestra and Red Priest (UK) will return after their successful participation in the first Festival. New artists and ensembles will include The Royal Wind Music (Netherlands), ArtiCoolAzione (Italy), Marcello Gatti (Italy) and Petrit Ceku (Croatia). Vocal ensemble Antiphonus (Croatia) will return with a performance of the opera "Dido and Aeneas" by H. Purcell.

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NOTICE

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AMAC-UK
Has pleasure in inviting you to the

Annual Charity Concert
in support of Awards for Croatian Young Scientists

Saturday 20 February 2016, 7.30 pm
33 Frognal, London NW3 6YD

The Bottrill Piano Duo
A programme of Nineteenth Century Music for Four Hands at one piano

Schubert - Rondo in A, DD.951 (1828)
Brahms - Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 23 (1861)

Debussy - Petite Suite (1889)
En bateau
Cortege
Menuet
Ballet

Saint-Saëns (arr. Garban) - Carnival of the Animals: Zoological Fantasy (1886)
The Lions
Hens and Roosters
Wild Donkeys
The Turtle
The Elephant
The Kangaroo
The Aquarium
People with Long Ears
The Cuckoo
Aviary
Pianists
Fossils
The Swan
Finale

Zrinka Mikelic Bottrill was born in Croatia, and in 1993 won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied with Hamish Milne, Christopher Elton and Sulamita Aronowsky. She is a prizewinner in both the Rome International Youth Competition and Stresa International Piano Competition in Italy. Her concerts, both solo and with orchestra, in Britain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Russia and Croatia have been received with great acclaim. Her performances in London include Chopin’s Concerto No.1 at the Queen Elisabeth Hall with London Soloists Chamber Orchestra, and recitals for numerous Music Societies, such as the Chopin, the Beethoven and the Sibelius Societies, and the Caledonian Club.

The British pianist Andrew Bottrill studied with Edith Vogel and James Gibb at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, where during the 1980's he was awarded all the major piano prizes. His recitals at London venues such as Purcell Room, Wigmore Hall and St John’s Smith Square, as well as in International Festivals, have been well received in the press, and he can be heard in film soundtracks and on recordings released by Sony Classics and B&L Records. He holds an MA in Music Education from the University of London, is Head of Keyboard at Latymer Upper School, Professor in both Junior and senior departments of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and a Director of the London International Piano Competition.

Followed by drinks and canapés

Courtesy of Tony and Gabrijela Suchy

Tickets £25
RSVP with cheques payable to AMAC UK to:
Dr Mira Malovic-Yeeles, 30 Hayward Road, Oxford OX2 8LW

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Ivana Gavric Concert Debuts

Pianist Ivana Gavric has a number of exciting concerto debuts in February:

The Grieg Piano Concerto with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday 6th February at Folkestone, Kent:
Ivana Gavrić performs Grieg

Barbican debut with Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2 on Valentine's Day at 230pm.

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 performance at St John's Smith Square and the Royal Orchestral Society on Saturday 27th February at 7pm.

She would be delighted if Society members were able to support her. You can also receive updates of her schedule via twitter @gavricivana or Facebook: Ivana Gavric - pianist

Screening of Fishermen's Conversation

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) & the British-Croatian Society are delighted to be able to invite you to a very special event on January 28: the screening of Fishermen's Conversations by the Croatian/Italian film director Chiara Bove Makiedo. The film is in Croatian, Italian and English with sub-titles.

The location: EBRD, 1 Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN (near Liverpool Street station)

The programme:
- welcome reception at 17.30
- the screening at 18.05 followed by a Q & A session with the film director
- a cocktail reception with Croatian wine from 19.15.

If you wish to attend, it is essential to register for this event by replying by email to this invitation not later than January 26. Security at EBRD means you should allow an extra 10 minutes to enter the building and you should come with some form of ID.

Synopsis (poster attached)
Fishermen’s Conversations is a study of a Mediterranean island, a young woman’s ode to her Grandfather and a portrait of a group of men struggling to maintain their fishing livelihood in a rapidly changing landscape.

Taking its title from the epic poem by the islands great poet, Petar Hektorović, the film uses minimal dialogue and narration in a partly fly-on-the-wall documentary that laments the depredation of tourism in Croatia and the greed that invites it. At the same time, the film celebrates the conservation of a way of life that helps preserve the identity of the island.
Through journeys with fishermen as they take to the seas to make their living, ‘Fishermen’s Conversations’ encourages the viewer to agree that not all is lost if we can only allow time to stand still once in a while.

You are cordially invited by Hrvatsko-britansko drustvo (the Croatian-British Society, Split) and the Croatian Embassy to a lecture:

Diocletian's Palace: re-interpretation of the original use and architecture
by Dr Goran Nikšić, Conservation Architect, Head of the Service for the Old City Core of Split

Thursday 21st January 2016, 6.30 for 7pm
Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Dr Goran Nikšić was born in Split in 1957. He studied architecture, conservation (University of York), and the history of architecture.

As conservation architect with the Ministry of Culture for 25 years he has produced architectural surveys and managed restoration projects of important historic buildings throughout Dalmatia, including the cathedrals of Korčula, Hvar, Split, Trogir and Šibenik.

Since 2006, as Head of the Service for the Old City Core, has managed a number of planning, restoration, rehabilitation and maintenance projects for the Municipality of Split.

He has published articles on Roman, medieval and Renaissance Dalmatian architecture, as well as on restoration issues and on the history of architectural conservation in Dalmatia.

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Donal Cooper lecture

Donal Cooper: "Lovro Dobricevic, Master Painter of the Dubrovnik Renaissance and his works in Croatia, Italy and London".

Thursday 14th January 2016, 6.30 for 7pm
Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Donal Cooper lectures in Italian Renaissance Art at Cambridge University and is a Fellow of Jesus College.

Croatian wine will be served after the lecture.

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Talk by Donal Cooper

Donal Cooper: "Lovro Dobricevic, Master Painter of the Dubrovnik Renaissance and his works in Croatia, Italy and London".

Thursday 14th January 2016, 6.30 for 7pm
Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Donal Cooper lectures in Italian Renaissance Art at Cambridge University and is a Fellow of Jesus College.

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Events 2015

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December Christmas Meet-Up

Our last Meet-Up of the year takes place on 16 December.

This time we intend to meet at the National Theatre on the South Bank. There has been a recent refurbishment of the bar area which of course also serves tea and coffee.

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We hope to bag a table early on in the bar area on the ground floor. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7.30 PM and 10 PM.
Come along for a chat about all things Croatian!

National Theatre
Upper Ground, South Bank
Nearest Tube stations: Embankment, Waterloo
For full location details please click here.

photographingCroatia

You are invited to the opening of photographingCroatia; a British-Croatian Society exhibition

Wednesday November 25, 18.30hr

Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Photographers, amateur and professional of any nationality, were invited to submit photographs taken in Croatia. There was an excellent response and the best can now be seen in photographingCroatia.

Please join us for the exhibition and a glass of Croatian wine (we buy our wine from Croatian Fine Wines)

The exhibition will be on until Christmas.
Opening times: Monday to Thursday 11am -2pm, Friday 10am -12pm

£50 (£45 for members of the British-Croatian Society)

If you would like to attend, please do two things:

- email [email protected] with your name and the names of anyone accompanying you, with a note of any special dietary requirements

- make your payment. This will be £45 for members, £50 for non-members (if you are not a member and wish to join, please see our website).

Payment for the dinner can be made

- by bank transfer to The British Croatian Society, account 60566500 at Barclays Oxford city centre branch, sort code 20-65-18

Istros Books is an independent publisher of contemporary literature from South East Europe, based in Bloomsbury, London. Istros Books aims to show-case the very best of literature - both fiction and non-fiction - from the Balkan region to a new audience of English speakers: bringing the best of European writing through quality translation.

MISSION BALKANS!

How to bring the best of contemporary literature from SE Europe to a British audience?

Join Susan Curtis, Founding Director of UK publisher Istros Books, as she presents her pioneering work to provide a platform for writing and writers from a much-misunderstood region. In conversation with Annie & Christopher Buxton. With discount book sale and refreshments to follow.

Monday, October 12th at 6:30pm
The Bulgarian Cultural Centre
188 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington SW7 5HL

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Tena Stivicic in conversation with Roy Cross

Friday October 6 at the Croatian Embassy at 18:30 for 19:00

Tena is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art, Zagreb and Goldsmiths College, London. Her play '3 Winters' was performed with great success at the National Theatre in London.

Roy is a former British Council Director Croatia.

Join us afterwards for a glass of Croatian wine - a white Kabola Malvazija 2013 and a red Pilato Teran 2012 (our wine is from Croatian Fine Wines, www.croatianfinewines.com).

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photographingCroatia

A reminder that we would welcome your photographs for the photographingCroatia exhibition.
For more details please click here.
Deadline is September 30.

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Friday, 10 July 2015, 4pm at EBRD

Mr Boris Vujčić, Governor of Croatian National Bank will be giving a lecture - Central and Eastern Europe convergence and policies to support the catching-up process;

Lecture will be held at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN
Guests wishing to attend this event must email Avril Nurse ([email protected]) in advance, no later than Wednesday, 08 July. All guests should arrive at the EBRD from 3.30pm to allow time for security clearance. The lecture will start at 4pm sharp, and will be followed by refreshments.

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BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-15PM Saturday 27 June 2015
Place: Polish Social and Cultural Association Lowiczanka restaurant (1st floor)
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 0RF
Nearest stations: Ravenscourt Park (just around the corner) on the District Line
Map

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photographingCroatia

A British-Croatian Society photographic exhibition.
For more details please click here.

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Wednesday 20 May

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

At the moment, the creativeCroatia festival is underway, so there is that to talk about and share news on.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7 PM and 10 PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

Advance Notice of the June event: To celebrate Croatian National Day, we are planning to have a special dinner Meet-Up on Friday 26 June. This will take place at the Polish Centre restaurant in Hammersmith and will have an informal atmosphere – put it in your diaries and we will provide more details soon.

In the meantime:

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-10PM Wednesday 20 May 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map

For further details on the venue please click here

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London Book Fair

Today the Croatian ambassador launched the British-Croatian Society's publication Writing Croatia at the London Book Fair.

It was produced as a contribution to Croatia's participation in the London Book Fair and as part of creativeCroatia.

Croatia's stand was earlier visited by Tibor Navracsics, the EU's Commissioner for Culture with Jeremy O'Sullivan, the EU's Cultural Attache in London.

An electronic version of Writing Croatia is attached and hard copies will be available at British-Croatian Society events. The introduction to Writing Croatia outlines the purpose of the publication:
Writing Croatian is for readers in the UK who would like to read some good writing from Croatia or want to know more about the country.

It is not always easy to find out what is going on in Croatia. Media coverage in the UK is limited and much that is exciting in Croatia goes unnoticed. The British-Croatian Society attempts to address this. Writing Croatia is a follow-up to Mapping Croatia that we published in 2013 as a guide to Croatian works of art in UK museums and galleries (copies are available by emailing [email protected]).

Writing Croatia is not a definitive list. It includes out of print books that may be available from second hand booksellers. Further information about each book can be found on booksellers’ websites. If you have suggestions for additions, or other comments, please email us at [email protected].

Tuesday 24 March

Following our successful Meet-Up in February, our next one will be on Tuesday 24 March, at the Chandos pub in central London.

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7.30PM and 10PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7.30-10 PM Tuesday 24 March 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map

For further details on the venue please click here

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Wednesday 11 February

Following our successful Meet-Up in December, our next one will be on 11 February, at the Chandos pub in central London.

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7PM and 10PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-10 PM Wednesday 11 February 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map: http://maps.beerintheevening.com/?pcb=WC2N+4ER
Further details on the venue: http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/65/657/Chandos/Trafalgar_Square

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You are invited to hear

IN CONVERSATION

Friday January 23, 18:30, at the Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN.

Dr Ivan Grdesic, the Croatian Ambassador, will be in conversation with Peter Sanfey, an experienced economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who knows Croatia well.

You can expect a lively discussion and new insights on the country's economic, social and political prospects, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Afterwards please join us for drinks and refreshments.

(please note that the date is January 23, not January 14 as previously arranged)

Events 2014

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The reminder

The Pula Forts - Possibilities, Potential, Problems

John Harris will give a talk on the question of re-using the forts around Pula, which are an important example of 19th century military architecture but which are unprotected and under threat from development. He will reflect on the conference organised by the University of Pula on this theme, where he gave the keynote speech.

November 6, 17:30 (the talk will be given at 18:00)

Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street
London W1T 6BN

You are also invited to join us for a glass of Croatian wine afterwards ( we buy our wine from Croatian Fine Wines Limited www.croatianfinewines.com).

Dr Ivan Grdesic, the Croatian Ambassador, will be in conversation with Peter Sanfey from EBRD (Economic Bank for Reconstruction and Development). Their wide-ranging discussion will help understand what has happened in Croatia and what the prospects are for 2015.

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John Harris will give a talk on the question of re-using the forts around Pula, which are an important example of 19th century military architecture but which are unprotected and under threat from development. He will reflect on the conference organised by the University of Pula on this theme, where he gave the keynote speech.

Thursday November 6, 17:30 (the talk will be given at 18:00)
Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street
London W1T 6BN

You are also invited to join us for a glass of Croatian wine afterwards ( we buy our wine from Croatian Fine Wines Limited www.croatianfinewines.com).

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Istrian Kazun in the Peak District National Park

On Saturday 4 October 2014 the British-Croatian Society have a group visit to the Istrian Kazun in the Peak District National Park.

It is an example of Istrian vernacular dry stone construction and celebrates Croatia’s accession to the EU.

A few places are left on the group ticket from London St Pancras International Station on the 08 57 East Midlands train to Chesterfield Derbyshire where we have hired a minibus for local transport.

The cost of the group return ticket is £36.00 per person, plus a contribution towards the minibus hire.

Friends from other locations are most welcome to join us in Chesterfield or at the Kazun, but should let us know so we can arrange numbers.

If you are interested please reply with:

contact details including your email and mobile phone number

stating whether or not you wish to join the group ticket from London

Detailed Itinerary

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The Croatian Naive and Me You are invited to an illustrated talk by Melanie Hodge

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Dates for your Diary

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Cyclus by the late Vasko Lipovac On July 7, as the world’s top cyclists race through the City of London to the finish line on The Mall, Broadgate will be hosting Cyclus, a piece of art by the late Vasko Lipovac. His cyclists have made their own special journey from Croatia to Exchange Square, home of Broadgate's Summer of Sport season. This exhibition is supported by the British-Croatian Society. You can take a closer look at this monumental sculptural artwork out in the open air in Exchange Square before it takes up residence in the reception lobby of 201 Bishopsgate. This stunning piece made of individual cyclists, each with a different colour, will create the perfect atmosphere for celebrating the end of the UK leg of the tour de France. Vasko Lipovac, a painter, sculptor and printmaker was heavily influenced by Croatia’s rich culture, modelling imaginative figures with various materials. He received numerous awards for sculpture, illustrations and public monuments, as well as a lifetime achievement award shortly before he passed away in 2006. Lipovac held his first public exhibition in York in 1959 and now his sons are delighted to bring his work back to England once more. Members of the British-Croatian Society are invited to attend a reception to launch this exhibition. Members should contact this email address if they wish to attend. If you are not a member and would like to join, please see our website www.britishcroatiansociety.com which has details of how to become a member.

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Cameroon v Croatia The Hoop & Toy 34 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2HQ, is again available for Croatian Fans to meet and watch:

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The British Croatian Society is pleased to announce that

The Hoop & Toy 34 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2HQ

have reserved their upstairs room for Croatian Fans to meet and watch:

The opening match Brazil v Croatia on Thursday 12 June 21:00 – 23:00 British Summer Time

Members of the Society will be there from 20:30. Look out for Croatian flags etc.

The room is also available for subsequent matches in the initial round:

Cameroon v Croatia 18 June 20:00 – 22:00

Croatia v Mexico 23 June 21:00 – 23:00

The Hoop and Toy public house is very near South Kensington Underground station. Leave the station from the Thurloe Street exit, turn left then immediately right into Thurloe Place. The Hoop and Toy is on the right hand side.

Please email or text us if you are planning to join in so we can let the pub know our likely numbers.

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Maritime History and Identity Friday, 20 June 2014, 6.30pm Dr Tea Perinčić Director, Maritime and History Museum, Rijeka Please email [email protected] if you wish to attend. The main challenge of working in a maritime museum today is how to manage change; from collecting and presenting heritage objects, to finding a way to conserve the current living maritime heritage in situ (both tangible and intangible). All very difficult at a time when the maritime industry (shipyards, companies) is dying. The crucial objective is then to preserve models of intangible heritage (stories, knowledge, skills, achievements,) along with material evidence of the maritime culture. This process creates a way for a people to remain in touch with their past and traditions which have been and continue being connected to the sea. And it is this maritime heritage, which has been for so long a major part of our national identity, that also connects us to the wider European maritime heritage.

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EBRD & The British-Croatian Society Chris Cviić Memorial Lecture Thursday, 26 June 2014, 5.30pm European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 32 One Exchange Square London EC2A 2JN Following Chris Cviić: Ethics and Reconstruction from 'the Balkans' to Ukraine by James Gow Professor of International Peace and Security King's College London Guests wishing to attend this event must email Avril Nurse [email protected] in advance, no later than Monday, 23 June. All guests should arrive at the EBRD from 5pm to allow time for security clearance. The lecture will start at 5.30pm sharp, and will be followed by refreshments.

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'Under a Croatian Sun' Book launch: 'Under a Croatian Sun' by Anthony Stancomb (this event is for members only)

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Meet Up The Society holds regular Meet Up events. They are held in a variety of pubs in central London on weekday evenings. For the latest Meet Up, please email [email protected] The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you. The event is open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet British-Croatian Society members.

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Final Recital Srđan Bulat (MA in Guitar performance), Royal Academy of Music in London Thursday 29 May 2014, 3 pm Recital Room Fernando Sor: Andante Largo, Op. 5 No. 5 Anđelko Klobučar: Sonata Richard Rodney Bennett: Impromptus Isaac Albeniz: Mallorca John Dowland: Forlorn Hope Fancy Benjamin Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 All welcome.

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British-Croatian Society Croatia will again this year have a stand at the London Book Fair. You are invited to Europe House for an event during the Book Fair that provides a rare opportunity to hear and meet Croatian writers in London. Please email [email protected] if you wish to attend. Your name will then be given to the security staff at Europe House so they will know to expect you. You are welcome to bring along friends - just let us know their names. ‘Literary Quartet’ - An Evening celebrating writing from Croatia Wednesday April 9th at 18:30 Please join us for an evening of words and ideas featuring two established Croatian authors together with two prominent up-coming authors. Daša Drndić and Edo Popović, both established authors and members of Croatia's literary scene will be joined by relative new-comers, Dinko Telećan and Kristian Novak, and will each be exchanging ideas about their work and their experiences. There will also be a chance to sample their prose, with live author readings. The evening will be hosted by author and president of the Croatian Writers Society, Nikola Petković This event is hosted by the Croatian Embassy in London, and there will be a drinks reception following the discussion. Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU

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Double event - Srðan Bulat guitar recital and Gordana Johnson's photographic exhibition 'Sand Wood Stone'

You are invited to a British-Croatian Society double event - to hear the outstanding Croatian guitarist Srdan Bulat and view Gordana Johnson's spectacular photographic exhibition 'Sand Wood Stone'.

18-30, March 25 (concert starts at 19-00)

Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate, London N6 5HG.

There will be a bar open both before and after the concert and Gordana will be on hand at her exhibition in the Upper Gallery.

Tickets will be available at the door at £10 or £8 for students or seniors, but it will be free for members of the British-Croatian Society. You can join the Society from only £12 by going to our website: [email protected]

Lauderdale House was originally built in 1582 as a private house for the three-times Lord Mayor of London, Sir Richard Martin www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk.

The programme includes works by Andjelko Klobucar, Stjepan Sulek, Boris Papandopulo, Zeljko Brkanovic and Frano Parac.

Srđan Bulat (born in 1986 in Split, Croatia) started playing guitar at the age of eight. In 2010 he graduated Summa cum laude from the Music Academy in Zagreb where he studied with professor Darko Petrinjak, member of the Zagreb Guitar Trio and one of world's foremost guitar pedagogues. He received two Rector’s awards (awarded on the University level) and a Dean’s award.

During his career Srdjan has won prizes in almost all of the most prestigious international guitar competitions, including third and second prizes in 'Michele Pittaluga' in Alessandria, second prizes in 'Alhambra', Valencia and 'Gredos San Diego', Madrid and first prizes in 'Fernando Sor', Rome and 'Julian Arcas' in Almeria. In September 2011 Srdjan won the first prize and a special prize for the best interpretation of works by Tarrega in the 'Francisco Tarrega' competition in Benicassim, Spain, one of the most important international competitions for classical guitarists, for which he was given an opportunity to record his first CD for the prestigious music label Naxos. This CD was officially released in September 2012.

Srđan has also won numerous special awards for the best interpretation of Spanish music which is prominently featured in all of his solo recitals and recordings. Srđan has won three of the most important national competitions for young musicians: ‘Ferdo Livadic’, ‘Ivo Vuljevic’ and ‘Darko Lukic’ as the only guitarist to do so, since these are competitions open to all instrumentalists and singers.

He is currently a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studies with Prof. Michael Lewin, as the winner of ABRSM fees scholarship. He has most recently won the second prize in the London International Guitar Competition.

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Guitar Recital

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Robert Adam and Diocletian - Europe comes to Croatia

A talk by Alicia Salter

18:00 on January 29

Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU

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Tickets are free but must be booked no later than January 27 by emailing [email protected]

Alicia Salter’s interest in the history of architecture led her to Robert Adam and his archaeological survey of Diocletian’s palace in Split and the publication of her book ‘Four Emperors and an Architect: How Robert Adam rediscovered the Tetrarchy’.

Diocletian’s palace made a huge impression on an ambitious young architect, Robert Adam, who heard about it while on his Grand Tour. Although his visit to the palace was made difficult and cut short by the ruling Venetians, who suspected him of spying, it did not stop Adam, seven years later, publishing his monumental and highly successful work, The Ruins of Spalatro (as Split was then known), which confirmed him as a rising new talent.

Alicia Salter’s book tells the story of Adam’s rediscovery of the architecture of the Tetrarchs and how Diocletian’s palace inspired features in some of Adam’s most famous houses, such as Kedleston, Syon and his ill-fated Adelphi development in London. Woven into this tale is the intriguing and little-known history of the Tetrarchs themselves, the four emperors, who ruled harmoniously as colleagues for twelve years and left us with an extraordinary architectural legacy.

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Events 2013

Making a Success of EU Membership Conference

The Centre for Research on the European Matrix (CRonEM) and the Croatian Embassy in London are organising a one-day conference – “CROATIA – Making a Success of EU Membership”.

The aim of the conference will be to investigate how Croatia can make the most of the opportunities it now enjoys as a Member State of the EU while addressing the challenges membership provides. As a newly sovereign state joining the EU at a time of economic crisis and ‘enlargement fatigue’, the participants will explore how and what Croatia can learn from previous rounds of enlargement, how Croatia can manage the challenge of being a euro ‘pre-in’ at a time of deepening economic integration, and how Croatian nationals can best use and adapt to their new status as EU citizens. The event will bring together policy-makers, experts and academics from Croatia, the UK and other EU members.

Monday 25 November 2013, 09:00 to 17:00 University of Surrey, Wates House This is a FREE event with a limited number of places. Lunch is provided and the event is followed by a reception. Details & registration can be found by visiting: Making a Success of EU Membership Conference

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22 November

You are invited to the annual dinner of the British-Croatian Society in

The Montague on the Gardens Hotel 15 Montague Street London WC1B 5BJ

18:30 on Friday 22nd November

We are returning to the Montague Gardens Hotel (www.montaguehotel.com) for our annual dinner after the success of the dinner there last year. The hotel is a comfortable venue with friendly staff, the food is excellent and the location near the British Museum very convenient. The hotel is easy to reach by public transport and parking in the evening on the road outside is free of charge.

You will be welcomed with a glass of wine in the Large Conservatory before going to the Great Russell Suite for dinner. The Montague has a fine reputation for its food and you will be served an excellent three course meal, followed by petits fours and coffee.

Our guest speaker will be Josko Stella, Director of Tourism for the Split region, who will talk about new developments in tourism.

To make a booking, please email [email protected] with the names of those attending. At the same time please pay using paypal on www.britishcroatiansociety.com (go to paypal on the membership page and click on AD £50)

or post a cheque to: Peter Elborn Secretary, British-Croatian Society 5 Well Road, London NW3 1LH

If subsequently you find you are unable to attend, refunds are possible up to 72 hours before the event.

We hope you will be able to attend.

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Croatia in the EU: Debate on the Future of the Nation State

You are invited by UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies and UCL European Institute to an event on Croatia's accession to the EU. This free event brings together academics, artists and authors from the region to discuss and debate some of the key issues at stake concerning the future of the Nation state and the European Union. It will be followed by a wine reception. Details & registration can be found by visiting: www.ucl.ac.uk/european-institute/events/2013-14/croatia

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22 October 2013

Aurelia Young talks at 18-00 about her Croatian sculptor father, Oscar Nemon, in the House of Lords, followed by a reception in the River Room by kind permission of the Lord Speaker. British-Croatian Society members can obtain tickets by emailing [email protected]

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31 October - 2 November

Croatian Film Festival at the Lost Cinema (www.losttheatre.co.uk).

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Season of Contemporary Croatian Drama

Season of Contemporay Croatian Drama

15 -17 April 2013

RADA Studios, 16 Chenies Street, Lodnon WC1E 7EX

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Presentation on Croatia and EU legislation

Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 5.30pm

Embassy of Croatia invitation CMS presentation

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Croatia Through The Lens

An exhibition of short-listed photographs at the end of the year-long 'Welcome Croatia' online competition and announcement of the winner.

Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

The exhibition will be open from 6th to 19th February from 11am to 3pm weekdays.

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Welcome Croatia

A Festival Welcoming a New EU Member

Read about Welcome Croatia Festival in Croatia Traveller blog.

Croatia Traveller by Jeanne Oliver.

Shared Innovation is the first event of the Welcome Croatia festival, which is organised by the British-Croatian Society.

This exhibition is a celebration of partnership between the UK and Croatia at the beginning of a year when we Welcome Croatia to the EU.

The British Council is proud to host this exhibition in partnership with the Croatian Ministry of Culture.

Petr Krejci Photography www.petrkrejci.com

Photographs by Tom Smith

Shared Innovation is the result of a partnership developed by British Council Croatia between the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, the Croatian Designers’ Association and the School of Design, University of Zagreb.

It showcases the success of the Extra / ordinary Design Workshops - a British Council project working in Croatia since 2011.

It has used mainstream design, led by UK expertise, and a design-led inclusive process to help transform organisations run by, employing or educating socially marginalised groups and supports their struggle in challenging economic times.

Please note that guided tours will take place on Saturdays at 11-00, 14-00 and 16-00 and to book a place on a tour it is necessary to email [email protected].

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Events 2012

If you wish to keep in touch with what is happening and would like to join our email list, please email [email protected]

The following is the Society's programme of forthcoming events (additional events may be arranged)

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November 23

The British-Croatian Society is pleased to invite you to the launch of the book 'Chris Cviić: a memoir by his friends and himself' and a showing of the film 'Homecoming / Dom Zauvijek' on Tuesday December 4 at the Whirled Cinema, 259-260 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction, SE24 0HN.

The Whirled Cinema www.whirledart.co.uk opened in 2010 and is a comfortable cinema with a bar and lounge. It can be easily reached by public transport. The venue is booked exclusively for the British-Croatian Society from 18-30. The book launch will be at 19-00 (further information about the book is attached) and will be followed at 19-30 by screening of Homecoming (synopsis below), produced by Tina Galović, a young Croat who has set up the Bold Turtle Productions company in London. The film lasts one hour and afterwards there will be an opportunity to talk to Tina and have a drink at the bar.

Synopsis of Homecoming:

"I dream of giving birth to child who will ask 'Mother, what was war?'"

Structured in ten distinguishing yet complementary chapters, documentary film Homecoming takes us on an emotional journey through Croatian destiny in the last 20 years. The documentary introduces a number of characters of various age and background, from various parts of Croatia for whom the war of Croatian independence changed their lives forever.

Narrated with a voice of a young woman who was only a child when the war happened, intercepted with extraordinary personal stories and shocking and disturbing archive footages from early nineties, Homecoming delivers a unique and rounded journey of an unfortunate destiny of Croatian people, from the conception through labour to tragic consequences the Homeland War has brought about.

It charts the conviction of people for whom identity and survival were paramount.

Aside from strong, emotional personal stories of unthinkable horror proportions, the film is just the same one of hope and inspiration. It is a film about courage against adversity, faith against despair; reflections and remembrance, and ultimately hope for brighter future.

Through the voices of common people, Homecoming tells a story about the raise of a small, invisible Balkan country with enormous natural and human beauty from the ashes of terror; the country which still bears the scars, both physical and psychological, of the conflict during the War of Independence. It reflects upon a part of history that, although can never be changed, has moulded and influenced a generation in a positive way.

This film documents a remarkable journey through nostalgia to hope for the future and shows Croatia, its once destroyed places and despaired people in the already won fight for the brighter, promising future, and asks how other nations that have been besieged with war might see their way out of the ashes of aggression.

This year's British-Croatian Society annual dinner will be held in the Great Russell Room at the Montague Hotel (for details of the hotel see www.montaguehotel.com) on Friday November 23. This is a charming small hotel with excellent food situated next to the British Museum. It is easy to reach by public transport and from 18-30 there is parking on the road outside the hotel.

Places to attend the dinner are limited to 100. Reservations with payment must be made by Friday November 16 at the latest. The cost is £50 a person. This will include a 3 course dinner and coffee, as well as a welcome drink in the Conservatory.

Reservations should be made by email to Suzanna at [email protected], giving the names of those attending and specifying if any guest requires a vegetarian option or has a special dietary requirement. If you would like to sit on the same table as others attending the dinner, please let Suzanna know and she will do her best to arrange the seating plan so this is possible.

Payment can be made by sending a cheque (made payable to the British-Croatian Society) to: Suzanna Dolata, 3 Chester Road, London N19 5DE or by bank transfer to the British-Croatian Society's account 60566500 at Barclays' Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18, with your name as the reference, or you can pay using PayPal by selecting membership type AD£50 on the membership page of this website, with your name under ‘enter description’.

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April 17

The Croatian writer Robert Perisic will take a break from the London Book Fair to talk to the Society. This will take place at the Croatian Embassy at 7 pm. Further programme to follow.

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February 28

Welcome Croatia

A festival to get to know a new EU member

The British-Croatian Society has come together with the British-Croatian Chamber of Commerce, the Croatian National Tourist Office, the Croatian Students and Young Professionals Network, the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia, the International Trust for Croatian Monuments and the United Kingdom Association of Alumni and Friends of Croatian Universities to create a festival in 2013 to highlight Croatia in the UK as it joins the EU.

A photographic exhibition by one of our members will launch the competition: Gordana Johnson: A 30 YEAR LOVE AFFAIR WITH THE CAMERA

Tuesday February 28 from 18:30 to 21:00. Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN.

Sir John Ramsden chairs the organising committee of Welcome Croatia and will talk briefly about the festival. The exhibition will remain open until March 9.

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January 17

Klapa Motuvun: A free lunchtime concert at St Martins. 1 pm start.

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January 16

Split and Trogir - Centres of Romanesque Art. A lecture by Dr Radoslav Buzancic, Head of the Conservation Department for Dalmatia, Croatian Ministry of Culture.photographingCroatia

Istros Books is an independent publisher of contemporary literature from South East Europe, based in Bloomsbury, London. Istros Books aims to show-case the very best of literature - both fiction and non-fiction - from the Balkan region to a new audience of English speakers: bringing the best of European writing through quality translation.

MISSION BALKANS!

How to bring the best of contemporary literature from SE Europe to a British audience?

Join Susan Curtis, Founding Director of UK publisher Istros Books, as she presents her pioneering work to provide a platform for writing and writers from a much-misunderstood region. In conversation with Annie & Christopher Buxton. With discount book sale and refreshments to follow.

Monday, October 12th at 6:30pm
The Bulgarian Cultural Centre
188 Queen’s Gate
South Kensington SW7 5HL

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Tena Stivicic in conversation with Roy Cross

Friday October 6 at the Croatian Embassy at 18:30 for 19:00

Tena is a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art, Zagreb and Goldsmiths College, London. Her play '3 Winters' was performed with great success at the National Theatre in London.

Roy is a former British Council Director Croatia.

Join us afterwards for a glass of Croatian wine - a white Kabola Malvazija 2013 and a red Pilato Teran 2012 (our wine is from Croatian Fine Wines, www.croatianfinewines.com).

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photographingCroatia

A reminder that we would welcome your photographs for the photographingCroatia exhibition.
For more details please click here.
Deadline is September 30.

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Friday, 10 July 2015, 4pm at EBRD

Mr Boris Vujčić, Governor of Croatian National Bank will be giving a lecture - Central and Eastern Europe convergence and policies to support the catching-up process;

Lecture will be held at European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, One Exchange Square, London EC2A 2JN
Guests wishing to attend this event must email Avril Nurse ([email protected]) in advance, no later than Wednesday, 08 July. All guests should arrive at the EBRD from 3.30pm to allow time for security clearance. The lecture will start at 4pm sharp, and will be followed by refreshments.

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BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-15PM Saturday 27 June 2015
Place: Polish Social and Cultural Association Lowiczanka restaurant (1st floor)
238-246 King Street, Hammersmith, London W6 0RF
Nearest stations: Ravenscourt Park (just around the corner) on the District Line
Map

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photographingCroatia

A British-Croatian Society photographic exhibition.
For more details please click here.

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Wednesday 20 May

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

At the moment, the creativeCroatia festival is underway, so there is that to talk about and share news on.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7 PM and 10 PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

Advance Notice of the June event: To celebrate Croatian National Day, we are planning to have a special dinner Meet-Up on Friday 26 June. This will take place at the Polish Centre restaurant in Hammersmith and will have an informal atmosphere – put it in your diaries and we will provide more details soon.

In the meantime:

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-10PM Wednesday 20 May 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map

For further details on the venue please click here

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London Book Fair

Today the Croatian ambassador launched the British-Croatian Society's publication Writing Croatia at the London Book Fair.

It was produced as a contribution to Croatia's participation in the London Book Fair and as part of creativeCroatia.

Croatia's stand was earlier visited by Tibor Navracsics, the EU's Commissioner for Culture with Jeremy O'Sullivan, the EU's Cultural Attache in London.

An electronic version of Writing Croatia is attached and hard copies will be available at British-Croatian Society events. The introduction to Writing Croatia outlines the purpose of the publication:
Writing Croatian is for readers in the UK who would like to read some good writing from Croatia or want to know more about the country.

It is not always easy to find out what is going on in Croatia. Media coverage in the UK is limited and much that is exciting in Croatia goes unnoticed. The British-Croatian Society attempts to address this. Writing Croatia is a follow-up to Mapping Croatia that we published in 2013 as a guide to Croatian works of art in UK museums and galleries (copies are available by emailing [email protected]).

Writing Croatia is not a definitive list. It includes out of print books that may be available from second hand booksellers. Further information about each book can be found on booksellers’ websites. If you have suggestions for additions, or other comments, please email us at [email protected].

Tuesday 24 March

Following our successful Meet-Up in February, our next one will be on Tuesday 24 March, at the Chandos pub in central London.

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7.30PM and 10PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7.30-10 PM Tuesday 24 March 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map

For further details on the venue please click here

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Wednesday 11 February

Following our successful Meet-Up in December, our next one will be on 11 February, at the Chandos pub in central London.

The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you.

The event is of course open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet BCS members and even to join if they so wish!

We will be at the upstairs bar. BCS members Brian Gallagher and John Pindar will be there from the start and you can find us by looking out for Croatian symbols.

We’ll be there between 7PM and 10PM.

The Chandos is a well-regarded establishment, located next to Trafalgar Square and has most reasonable prices.

Come along for a drink and a chat about all things Croatian!

BCS Meet-Up:
Time and Date: 7-10 PM Wednesday 11 February 2015
Place: Chandos pub (upstairs bar) 29 St. Martins Lane, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4ER
Nearest stations: Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Embankment, Covent Garden.
Map: http://maps.beerintheevening.com/?pcb=WC2N+4ER
Further details on the venue: http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/65/657/Chandos/Trafalgar_Square

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You are invited to hear

IN CONVERSATION

Friday January 23, 18:30, at the Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN.

Dr Ivan Grdesic, the Croatian Ambassador, will be in conversation with Peter Sanfey, an experienced economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development who knows Croatia well.

You can expect a lively discussion and new insights on the country's economic, social and political prospects, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions.

Afterwards please join us for drinks and refreshments.

(please note that the date is January 23, not January 14 as previously arranged)

Events 2014

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The reminder

The Pula Forts - Possibilities, Potential, Problems

John Harris will give a talk on the question of re-using the forts around Pula, which are an important example of 19th century military architecture but which are unprotected and under threat from development. He will reflect on the conference organised by the University of Pula on this theme, where he gave the keynote speech.

November 6, 17:30 (the talk will be given at 18:00)

Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street
London W1T 6BN

You are also invited to join us for a glass of Croatian wine afterwards ( we buy our wine from Croatian Fine Wines Limited www.croatianfinewines.com).

Dr Ivan Grdesic, the Croatian Ambassador, will be in conversation with Peter Sanfey from EBRD (Economic Bank for Reconstruction and Development). Their wide-ranging discussion will help understand what has happened in Croatia and what the prospects are for 2015.

John Harris will give a talk on the question of re-using the forts around Pula, which are an important example of 19th century military architecture but which are unprotected and under threat from development. He will reflect on the conference organised by the University of Pula on this theme, where he gave the keynote speech.

Thursday November 6, 17:30 (the talk will be given at 18:00)
Croatian Embassy
21 Conway Street
London W1T 6BN

You are also invited to join us for a glass of Croatian wine afterwards ( we buy our wine from Croatian Fine Wines Limited www.croatianfinewines.com).

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Istrian Kazun in the Peak District National Park

On Saturday 4 October 2014 the British-Croatian Society have a group visit to the Istrian Kazun in the Peak District National Park.

It is an example of Istrian vernacular dry stone construction and celebrates Croatia’s accession to the EU.

A few places are left on the group ticket from London St Pancras International Station on the 08 57 East Midlands train to Chesterfield Derbyshire where we have hired a minibus for local transport.

The cost of the group return ticket is £36.00 per person, plus a contribution towards the minibus hire.

Friends from other locations are most welcome to join us in Chesterfield or at the Kazun, but should let us know so we can arrange numbers.

If you are interested please reply with:

contact details including your email and mobile phone number

stating whether or not you wish to join the group ticket from London

We will collect payments Pay Pal once places are confirmed.

Detailed Itinerary

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The Croatian Naive and Me You are invited to an illustrated talk by Melanie Hodge

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Dates for your Diary

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Cyclus by the late Vasko Lipovac On July 7, as the world’s top cyclists race through the City of London to the finish line on The Mall, Broadgate will be hosting Cyclus, a piece of art by the late Vasko Lipovac. His cyclists have made their own special journey from Croatia to Exchange Square, home of Broadgate's Summer of Sport season. This exhibition is supported by the British-Croatian Society. You can take a closer look at this monumental sculptural artwork out in the open air in Exchange Square before it takes up residence in the reception lobby of 201 Bishopsgate. This stunning piece made of individual cyclists, each with a different colour, will create the perfect atmosphere for celebrating the end of the UK leg of the tour de France. Vasko Lipovac, a painter, sculptor and printmaker was heavily influenced by Croatia’s rich culture, modelling imaginative figures with various materials. He received numerous awards for sculpture, illustrations and public monuments, as well as a lifetime achievement award shortly before he passed away in 2006. Lipovac held his first public exhibition in York in 1959 and now his sons are delighted to bring his work back to England once more. Members of the British-Croatian Society are invited to attend a reception to launch this exhibition. Members should contact this email address if they wish to attend. If you are not a member and would like to join, please see our website www.britishcroatiansociety.com which has details of how to become a member.

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Cameroon v Croatia The Hoop & Toy 34 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2HQ, is again available for Croatian Fans to meet and watch:

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The British Croatian Society is pleased to announce that

The Hoop & Toy 34 Thurloe Place, Kensington, London, SW7 2HQ

have reserved their upstairs room for Croatian Fans to meet and watch:

The opening match Brazil v Croatia on Thursday 12 June 21:00 – 23:00 British Summer Time

Members of the Society will be there from 20:30. Look out for Croatian flags etc.

The room is also available for subsequent matches in the initial round:

Cameroon v Croatia 18 June 20:00 – 22:00

Croatia v Mexico 23 June 21:00 – 23:00

The Hoop and Toy public house is very near South Kensington Underground station. Leave the station from the Thurloe Street exit, turn left then immediately right into Thurloe Place. The Hoop and Toy is on the right hand side.

Please email or text us if you are planning to join in so we can let the pub know our likely numbers.

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Maritime History and Identity Friday, 20 June 2014, 6.30pm Dr Tea Perinčić Director, Maritime and History Museum, Rijeka Please email [email protected] if you wish to attend. The main challenge of working in a maritime museum today is how to manage change; from collecting and presenting heritage objects, to finding a way to conserve the current living maritime heritage in situ (both tangible and intangible). All very difficult at a time when the maritime industry (shipyards, companies) is dying. The crucial objective is then to preserve models of intangible heritage (stories, knowledge, skills, achievements,) along with material evidence of the maritime culture. This process creates a way for a people to remain in touch with their past and traditions which have been and continue being connected to the sea. And it is this maritime heritage, which has been for so long a major part of our national identity, that also connects us to the wider European maritime heritage.

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EBRD & The British-Croatian Society Chris Cviić Memorial Lecture Thursday, 26 June 2014, 5.30pm European Bank for Reconstruction and Development 32 One Exchange Square London EC2A 2JN Following Chris Cviić: Ethics and Reconstruction from 'the Balkans' to Ukraine by James Gow Professor of International Peace and Security King's College London Guests wishing to attend this event must email Avril Nurse [email protected] in advance, no later than Monday, 23 June. All guests should arrive at the EBRD from 5pm to allow time for security clearance. The lecture will start at 5.30pm sharp, and will be followed by refreshments.

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'Under a Croatian Sun' Book launch: 'Under a Croatian Sun' by Anthony Stancomb (this event is for members only)

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Meet Up The Society holds regular Meet Up events. They are held in a variety of pubs in central London on weekday evenings. For the latest Meet Up, please email [email protected] The intention is for people with any form of interest in Croatia to meet up, socialise and have a chat over a drink in an informal atmosphere. Whether you are a Croatian resident in London or someone who has recently visited Croatia for the first time and want to know more, this event is for you. The event is open to both members and non-members. It provides an excellent opportunity for anyone to come and meet British-Croatian Society members.

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Final Recital Srđan Bulat (MA in Guitar performance), Royal Academy of Music in London Thursday 29 May 2014, 3 pm Recital Room Fernando Sor: Andante Largo, Op. 5 No. 5 Anđelko Klobučar: Sonata Richard Rodney Bennett: Impromptus Isaac Albeniz: Mallorca John Dowland: Forlorn Hope Fancy Benjamin Britten: Nocturnal after John Dowland, Op. 70 All welcome.

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British-Croatian Society Croatia will again this year have a stand at the London Book Fair. You are invited to Europe House for an event during the Book Fair that provides a rare opportunity to hear and meet Croatian writers in London. Please email [email protected] if you wish to attend. Your name will then be given to the security staff at Europe House so they will know to expect you. You are welcome to bring along friends - just let us know their names. ‘Literary Quartet’ - An Evening celebrating writing from Croatia Wednesday April 9th at 18:30 Please join us for an evening of words and ideas featuring two established Croatian authors together with two prominent up-coming authors. Daša Drndić and Edo Popović, both established authors and members of Croatia's literary scene will be joined by relative new-comers, Dinko Telećan and Kristian Novak, and will each be exchanging ideas about their work and their experiences. There will also be a chance to sample their prose, with live author readings. The evening will be hosted by author and president of the Croatian Writers Society, Nikola Petković This event is hosted by the Croatian Embassy in London, and there will be a drinks reception following the discussion. Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU

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Double event - Srðan Bulat guitar recital and Gordana Johnson's photographic exhibition 'Sand Wood Stone'

You are invited to a British-Croatian Society double event - to hear the outstanding Croatian guitarist Srdan Bulat and view Gordana Johnson's spectacular photographic exhibition 'Sand Wood Stone'.

18-30, March 25 (concert starts at 19-00)

Lauderdale House, Waterlow Park, Highgate, London N6 5HG.

There will be a bar open both before and after the concert and Gordana will be on hand at her exhibition in the Upper Gallery.

Tickets will be available at the door at £10 or £8 for students or seniors, but it will be free for members of the British-Croatian Society. You can join the Society from only £12 by going to our website: [email protected]

Lauderdale House was originally built in 1582 as a private house for the three-times Lord Mayor of London, Sir Richard Martin www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk.

The programme includes works by Andjelko Klobucar, Stjepan Sulek, Boris Papandopulo, Zeljko Brkanovic and Frano Parac.

Srđan Bulat (born in 1986 in Split, Croatia) started playing guitar at the age of eight. In 2010 he graduated Summa cum laude from the Music Academy in Zagreb where he studied with professor Darko Petrinjak, member of the Zagreb Guitar Trio and one of world's foremost guitar pedagogues. He received two Rector’s awards (awarded on the University level) and a Dean’s award.

During his career Srdjan has won prizes in almost all of the most prestigious international guitar competitions, including third and second prizes in 'Michele Pittaluga' in Alessandria, second prizes in 'Alhambra', Valencia and 'Gredos San Diego', Madrid and first prizes in 'Fernando Sor', Rome and 'Julian Arcas' in Almeria. In September 2011 Srdjan won the first prize and a special prize for the best interpretation of works by Tarrega in the 'Francisco Tarrega' competition in Benicassim, Spain, one of the most important international competitions for classical guitarists, for which he was given an opportunity to record his first CD for the prestigious music label Naxos. This CD was officially released in September 2012.

Srđan has also won numerous special awards for the best interpretation of Spanish music which is prominently featured in all of his solo recitals and recordings. Srđan has won three of the most important national competitions for young musicians: ‘Ferdo Livadic’, ‘Ivo Vuljevic’ and ‘Darko Lukic’ as the only guitarist to do so, since these are competitions open to all instrumentalists and singers.

He is currently a postgraduate student at the Royal Academy of Music in London where he studies with Prof. Michael Lewin, as the winner of ABRSM fees scholarship. He has most recently won the second prize in the London International Guitar Competition.

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Guitar Recital

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Robert Adam and Diocletian - Europe comes to Croatia

A talk by Alicia Salter

18:00 on January 29

Europe House 32 Smith Square London SW1P 3EU

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Tickets are free but must be booked no later than January 27 by emailing [email protected]

Alicia Salter’s interest in the history of architecture led her to Robert Adam and his archaeological survey of Diocletian’s palace in Split and the publication of her book ‘Four Emperors and an Architect: How Robert Adam rediscovered the Tetrarchy’.

Diocletian’s palace made a huge impression on an ambitious young architect, Robert Adam, who heard about it while on his Grand Tour. Although his visit to the palace was made difficult and cut short by the ruling Venetians, who suspected him of spying, it did not stop Adam, seven years later, publishing his monumental and highly successful work, The Ruins of Spalatro (as Split was then known), which confirmed him as a rising new talent.

Alicia Salter’s book tells the story of Adam’s rediscovery of the architecture of the Tetrarchs and how Diocletian’s palace inspired features in some of Adam’s most famous houses, such as Kedleston, Syon and his ill-fated Adelphi development in London. Woven into this tale is the intriguing and little-known history of the Tetrarchs themselves, the four emperors, who ruled harmoniously as colleagues for twelve years and left us with an extraordinary architectural legacy.

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Events 2013

Making a Success of EU Membership Conference

The Centre for Research on the European Matrix (CRonEM) and the Croatian Embassy in London are organising a one-day conference – “CROATIA – Making a Success of EU Membership”.

The aim of the conference will be to investigate how Croatia can make the most of the opportunities it now enjoys as a Member State of the EU while addressing the challenges membership provides. As a newly sovereign state joining the EU at a time of economic crisis and ‘enlargement fatigue’, the participants will explore how and what Croatia can learn from previous rounds of enlargement, how Croatia can manage the challenge of being a euro ‘pre-in’ at a time of deepening economic integration, and how Croatian nationals can best use and adapt to their new status as EU citizens. The event will bring together policy-makers, experts and academics from Croatia, the UK and other EU members.

Monday 25 November 2013, 09:00 to 17:00 University of Surrey, Wates House This is a FREE event with a limited number of places. Lunch is provided and the event is followed by a reception. Details & registration can be found by visiting: Making a Success of EU Membership Conference

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22 November

You are invited to the annual dinner of the British-Croatian Society in

The Montague on the Gardens Hotel 15 Montague Street London WC1B 5BJ

18:30 on Friday 22nd November

We are returning to the Montague Gardens Hotel (www.montaguehotel.com) for our annual dinner after the success of the dinner there last year. The hotel is a comfortable venue with friendly staff, the food is excellent and the location near the British Museum very convenient. The hotel is easy to reach by public transport and parking in the evening on the road outside is free of charge.

You will be welcomed with a glass of wine in the Large Conservatory before going to the Great Russell Suite for dinner. The Montague has a fine reputation for its food and you will be served an excellent three course meal, followed by petits fours and coffee.

Our guest speaker will be Josko Stella, Director of Tourism for the Split region, who will talk about new developments in tourism.

To make a booking, please email [email protected] with the names of those attending. At the same time please pay using paypal on www.britishcroatiansociety.com (go to paypal on the membership page and click on AD £50)

or post a cheque to: Peter Elborn Secretary, British-Croatian Society 5 Well Road, London NW3 1LH

If subsequently you find you are unable to attend, refunds are possible up to 72 hours before the event.

We hope you will be able to attend.

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Croatia in the EU: Debate on the Future of the Nation State

You are invited by UCL School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies and UCL European Institute to an event on Croatia's accession to the EU. This free event brings together academics, artists and authors from the region to discuss and debate some of the key issues at stake concerning the future of the Nation state and the European Union. It will be followed by a wine reception. Details & registration can be found by visiting: www.ucl.ac.uk/european-institute/events/2013-14/croatia

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22 October 2013

Aurelia Young talks at 18-00 about her Croatian sculptor father, Oscar Nemon, in the House of Lords, followed by a reception in the River Room by kind permission of the Lord Speaker. British-Croatian Society members can obtain tickets by emailing [email protected]

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31 October - 2 November

Croatian Film Festival at the Lost Cinema (www.losttheatre.co.uk).

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Season of Contemporary Croatian Drama

Season of Contemporay Croatian Drama

15 -17 April 2013

RADA Studios, 16 Chenies Street, Lodnon WC1E 7EX

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Presentation on Croatia and EU legislation

Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

Thursday, 11 April 2013 at 5.30pm

Embassy of Croatia invitation CMS presentation

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Croatia Through The Lens

An exhibition of short-listed photographs at the end of the year-long 'Welcome Croatia' online competition and announcement of the winner.

Croatian Embassy, 21 Conway Street, London W1T 6BN

The exhibition will be open from 6th to 19th February from 11am to 3pm weekdays.

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Welcome Croatia

A Festival Welcoming a New EU Member

Read about Welcome Croatia Festival in Croatia Traveller blog.

Croatia Traveller by Jeanne Oliver.

Shared Innovation is the first event of the Welcome Croatia festival, which is organised by the British-Croatian Society.

This exhibition is a celebration of partnership between the UK and Croatia at the beginning of a year when we Welcome Croatia to the EU.

The British Council is proud to host this exhibition in partnership with the Croatian Ministry of Culture.

Petr Krejci Photography www.petrkrejci.com

Photographs by Tom Smith

Shared Innovation is the result of a partnership developed by British Council Croatia between the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, the Croatian Designers’ Association and the School of Design, University of Zagreb.

It showcases the success of the Extra / ordinary Design Workshops - a British Council project working in Croatia since 2011.

It has used mainstream design, led by UK expertise, and a design-led inclusive process to help transform organisations run by, employing or educating socially marginalised groups and supports their struggle in challenging economic times.

Please note that guided tours will take place on Saturdays at 11-00, 14-00 and 16-00 and to book a place on a tour it is necessary to email [email protected].

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Events 2012

If you wish to keep in touch with what is happening and would like to join our email list, please email [email protected]

The following is the Society's programme of forthcoming events (additional events may be arranged)

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November 23

The British-Croatian Society is pleased to invite you to the launch of the book 'Chris Cviić: a memoir by his friends and himself' and a showing of the film 'Homecoming / Dom Zauvijek' on Tuesday December 4 at the Whirled Cinema, 259-260 Hardess Street, Loughborough Junction, SE24 0HN.

The Whirled Cinema www.whirledart.co.uk opened in 2010 and is a comfortable cinema with a bar and lounge. It can be easily reached by public transport. The venue is booked exclusively for the British-Croatian Society from 18-30. The book launch will be at 19-00 (further information about the book is attached) and will be followed at 19-30 by screening of Homecoming (synopsis below), produced by Tina Galović, a young Croat who has set up the Bold Turtle Productions company in London. The film lasts one hour and afterwards there will be an opportunity to talk to Tina and have a drink at the bar.

Synopsis of Homecoming:

"I dream of giving birth to child who will ask 'Mother, what was war?'"

Structured in ten distinguishing yet complementary chapters, documentary film Homecoming takes us on an emotional journey through Croatian destiny in the last 20 years. The documentary introduces a number of characters of various age and background, from various parts of Croatia for whom the war of Croatian independence changed their lives forever.

Narrated with a voice of a young woman who was only a child when the war happened, intercepted with extraordinary personal stories and shocking and disturbing archive footages from early nineties, Homecoming delivers a unique and rounded journey of an unfortunate destiny of Croatian people, from the conception through labour to tragic consequences the Homeland War has brought about.

It charts the conviction of people for whom identity and survival were paramount.

Aside from strong, emotional personal stories of unthinkable horror proportions, the film is just the same one of hope and inspiration. It is a film about courage against adversity, faith against despair; reflections and remembrance, and ultimately hope for brighter future.

Through the voices of common people, Homecoming tells a story about the raise of a small, invisible Balkan country with enormous natural and human beauty from the ashes of terror; the country which still bears the scars, both physical and psychological, of the conflict during the War of Independence. It reflects upon a part of history that, although can never be changed, has moulded and influenced a generation in a positive way.

This film documents a remarkable journey through nostalgia to hope for the future and shows Croatia, its once destroyed places and despaired people in the already won fight for the brighter, promising future, and asks how other nations that have been besieged with war might see their way out of the ashes of aggression.

This year's British-Croatian Society annual dinner will be held in the Great Russell Room at the Montague Hotel (for details of the hotel see www.montaguehotel.com) on Friday November 23. This is a charming small hotel with excellent food situated next to the British Museum. It is easy to reach by public transport and from 18-30 there is parking on the road outside the hotel.

Places to attend the dinner are limited to 100. Reservations with payment must be made by Friday November 16 at the latest. The cost is £50 a person. This will include a 3 course dinner and coffee, as well as a welcome drink in the Conservatory.

Reservations should be made by email to Suzanna at [email protected], giving the names of those attending and specifying if any guest requires a vegetarian option or has a special dietary requirement. If you would like to sit on the same table as others attending the dinner, please let Suzanna know and she will do her best to arrange the seating plan so this is possible.

Payment can be made by sending a cheque (made payable to the British-Croatian Society) to: Suzanna Dolata, 3 Chester Road, London N19 5DE or by bank transfer to the British-Croatian Society's account 60566500 at Barclays' Oxford City Centre branch, sort code 20-65-18, with your name as the reference, or you can pay using PayPal by selecting membership type AD£50 on the