Festivaler på Sørlandet

Various disciplines have touched upon festival studies in Croatia. However, the phenomenon has been approached in very different ways, and so far there has not been an attempt to combine these diverse points of view.

The Ethnological Tradition of Festivals Research

Most numerous works on festivals have been published by ethnologists and folklore researchers in Croatia. This pattern evolved already in the beginning of the 20^th century, when the development of folklore festivals coincided with the development of ethnological institutions. Both processes were institutionalized and promoted by the Croatian Peasant Party, which at the time aimed to document, preserve and display the values of “authentic” peasant culture.

The emphasis on representing folk culture has continued from the mid 1960s when Folklore Festival in Zagreb and several regional folklore festivals were established. These festivals still are the favorite subject of Croatian ethnologists, who are now especially interested in the transformation of folk practices through festivals.

Motivation for Taking Part in the Project

With such a stress placed on folklore, other types of festivals have been left out of the research. For example, popular Dubrovnik and Split summer festivals, established in the early 1950s, have not been studied systematically. Research on the social and economic impact of festivals as well as relationship between festivals and tourism has been more of an exception than a tradition.

The ethnological research often simplifies festivals to mere dance and music presentations instead of analyzing what additional value and impact they might have. Therefore, the Croatian delegation in FESTIVALS hopes to initiate a shift in public discourse. The aim is to find out what social impact festivals have on the communities as well as the wider context. The Croatian delegation also seeks to highlight the role of the festivals in developing cultural tourism.

For more information see the other FESTIVAL partner countries:

• Finland
• Norway
• Sweden
• United Kingdom

Photo: Outlook Festival, Croatia | http://www.flickr.com/photos/erin-fflur/

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