Culture Hub Croatia
Culture Hub Croatia (CHC) is a non-profit organisation officially founded in January 2017 in Split. CHC is using education, culture and creativity for development of local communities through transmission of knowledge and expertise and promotion of art practices. This is mainly achieved through establishing meaningful partnerships and collaborations at the national and international levels, actively addressing local challenges and using arts and culture as a tool.
Through our physical creative hub PROSTOR in Split, our mission is to create an inclusive place for networking of creatives, initiate and facilitate development and implementation of projects of social interest, nurturing the value of transparency and mutual trust, with frequent experimentation going beyond traditional ways of doing things and often questioning established social norms.
PROSTOR is made for and shaped by the community through the annual open call for “adopting the space” and the role of members-collaborators who actively engage in the work of the Association, its governing bodies and decision-making.
Through listening to the needs of the community, designing creative and innovative educational programs and continuous exhibition activity emphasising participation including complementary discursive programs, CHC’s mission is also to empower and build the capacity of artists and workers in the cultural and creative sector, to encourage and promote creativity, contemporary art and intercultural dialogue but also to involve different types of audiences and general public in actively shaping their neighbourhoods and environments.
Links with craft sector
Culture Hub Croatia’s creative hub PROSTOR in Split strengthens the artistic and craft sector by providing shared studio, co-working area, exhibition space and artist residencies that support production, experimentation and presentation of work. Through frequent workshops, community events and open calls, it enables skill-sharing, cross-disciplinary collaboration and public engagement with craft and contemporary art. PROSTOR’s programmes help emerging and established makers access affordable infrastructure, develop new practices, reach audiences and build networks. By combining cultural production with community participation, the hub broadens access to creativity and contributes to a more sustainable, connected and dynamic local art and craft ecosystem.
Materials
Ceramic handicrafts, Fibre and textile handicrafts, Paper crafts (e.g. origami), Needlework (e.g. crochet)
Engagement
Funding, Promoting/Showcasing, Training/Educating, Collaborating, Mentoring, Collecting
Activities
N/A
Projects
Culture Hub Croatia’s craft-focused work includes the "Voids" project, which temporarily activated empty city spaces for craft workshops, exhibitions and participatory activities engaging local community. PROSTOR later provided a permanent home with the ceramics studio, regular workshops including ceramics, wool felting, patchwork, knitting, paper-making, textile upcycling...and the “Adopt the Space” programme that enables numerous community-led craft projects by allowing everyone to propose their own activities in the space. The new space T29, opened by CHC in May 2024, has significantly improved access for craft practitioners to affordable infrastructure. Located just a few minutes from their main hub PROSTOR, it offers flexible booking and community-centered approach making it easier for craftspeople to experiment, collaborate, and iterate. Finally, the project "Crafts as a Form of Resilience" further strengthened this work by creating a support system for displaced Ukrainian artisans including residency in Prostor allowing craft practitioner working with glass to produce new handmade pieces and deliver workshops for local audiences. These initiatives collectively generated tangible craft outputs, expanded skills in the community, and built a more resilient, connected craft ecosystem in Split.
Networks
European Creative Hubs Network, Trans Europe Halles, European Network of Cultural Centers, New Patrons Platform