Grobnik Autumn 2026 begins with an exhibition marking 30 years of the Grobnik Art Colony
At the Grobnik Gallery of Contemporary Art, located in the historic Grobnik Castle in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, an exhibition of works from the anniversary edition of the Grobnik Art Colony will open on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 6 p.m. The opening will also mark the official beginning of Grobnik Autumn 2026, a cultural event that brings together visual artists, writers, musicians, heritage researchers and young creators over several months. The central theme of this year's opening programme is the thirtieth anniversary of the artistic gatherings that began in 1996. According to an announcement by the Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine, the event organiser, the anniversary celebration is both an opportunity to present new artworks and to review the development of the collection assembled at the Castle over the decades. The programme will continue until December, featuring exhibitions, book presentations, a concert, a scientific conference and activities dedicated to the Grobnik dialect.
Five female artists at the anniversary international gathering
Following a break caused by the pandemic and several editions organised on a smaller scale, the Grobnik Art Colony once again brought together an international group in 2026. Through cooperation between the Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine and the Hungarian Liszt Cultural Institute in Zagreb, Hungarian artist Andrea Szocs joined four Croatian artists. The other participants were Alba Miočev, Marina Rajsić, Jasna Šikanja and Hana Belobrk. Artistic direction was entrusted to Dr. Art. Celestina Vičević, a printmaker and professor at the Academy of Applied Arts of the University of Rijeka. The organiser emphasises that the exhibition aims to present the diversity of individual artistic approaches rather than reduce the works to a common stylistic or thematic denominator.
The participation of an artist from Hungary is also significant because it continues the international connections that were a defining feature of the Grobnik Colony throughout much of its history. According to information provided by the Katedra, the first artistic gathering took place in 1996, acquired an international character as early as 1997, and from 1998 the programme operated under the name International Grobnik Art Colony. During different periods, artists from Croatia and other countries came to the Castle, explored the Grobnišćina area and created works there. This model enabled the gatherings to extend beyond the exchange of experiences among participants. Thanks to the works that remained with the Katedra after individual editions, a permanent art collection gradually developed and is now one of the important foundations of the gallery's programme.
From an artistic gathering to a contemporary art collection
The history of the Colony is associated with numerous prominent artists who have worked in Grobnik over the past thirty years. In its anniversary announcement, the Katedra highlights Vlado Martek, Joško Eterović, Tomo Gerić, Vojo Radoičić, Zvonimir Kamenar, Josip Butković, Zdravko Milić and Predrag Todorović among them. Their participation demonstrates the breadth of artistic approaches represented in the programme, from various painting and printmaking techniques to sculptural expression. An important characteristic of the Grobnik model was the decision that some of the works created should remain at the venue. Consequently, each gathering produced two results: direct collaboration between artists and the long-term enrichment of a collection available to future generations.
The professional development of the collection is an important part of its history. Art historians Berislav Valušek and Boris Toman carried out a selection process that resulted in the establishment of the Grobnik Contemporary Art Collection in 2002. According to the announcement marking the thirtieth anniversary, the collection comprises almost 500 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints. Another official page of the Katedra, devoted to preparations for a local heritage museum, mentions approximately 700 artworks in storage, meaning that the published figures differ depending on how the holdings are presented. The Katedra states that systematic inventorying and professional cataloguing of the material are underway, which is important for accurate documentation, long-term preservation and future exhibitions.
The Grobnik Gallery of Contemporary Art opened in 1999, three years after the Colony began, to provide a suitable exhibition space for the works created. According to the Katedra, the project was supported by the Ministry of Culture, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County and the Municipality of Čavle. The gallery developed not only as a place for displaying the collection but also as an institution organising solo and group exhibitions by Croatian and international artists. Works from the Grobnik collection have also been presented outside Croatia, including through the CroARTia project in Stuttgart. Following renovation and reopening in December 2023, the gallery also focused on documenting its holdings. Curator Katerina Jovanović contributes to the development of the current exhibition programme, while Ivo Bogović serves as the gallery director.
Grobnik Autumn activities already began in September
The first events of this year's programme took place before the official opening in October. After the artists worked at the Colony on September 19 and 20, the Katedra participated in the European Heritage Days celebrations on September 23 in cooperation with the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka. This part of the programme focused on bringing cultural heritage closer to participants, including through educational activities. The next significant date was October 2, when the feature-length lyrical and educational documentary film "Šapat gljiva" by Toni Košćina was screened at Sokolana.
The ceremonial opening of the exhibition will take place at the historic Grobnik Castle, at Trg Zrinskih i Frankopana 1, Grobnik. Visitors planning to attend several events during the autumn can also explore accommodation offers in Grobnik and the surrounding area. The Castle is not merely the event venue but also an integral part of the cultural identity of the festival.
The Darovani project connects children's creativity and Chakavian heritage
Following the opening of the Colony exhibition, the programme continues with activities for children and young people. According to the current schedule published by the Katedra, the final gathering of participants in the "Darovani" project is scheduled for October 19, 2026, beginning at 8:30 a.m. For approximately two decades, the project has brought together pupils, their mentors, writers and visual artists through competitions and workshops focusing on the local language and cultural heritage. Children create literary works in Chakavian dialects, while their visual and multimedia projects explore the customs, landscapes and stories of their region. According to the Katedra's description, the final day includes awards and activities that allow pupils to meet specialists and artists.
Literary evenings: poetry in several languages, haiku and new Chakavian stories
The literary section of Grobnik Autumn will include presentations of several titles associated with the Katedra's publishing activities. A presentation of the collection "Mikrokozmos" by Korina Juretić Faraguna is announced for October 29 at 6 p.m. According to the publisher's description, this is the author's second collection, containing approximately one hundred poems arranged in three cycles. The texts combine the Grobnik Chakavian dialect, standard Croatian and English, while the visual component of the book includes works by Celestina Vičević created in response to the poems she read. The book's editor and reviewer is Prof. Dr. Vjekoslava Jurdana, while Prof. Dr. Sanja Bogović served as language adviser. The book was published in 2025, and this year's programme includes its presentation as part of the event.
A presentation of the collection "Oda Grobniku, čez sliku i haiku" by Toni Buterin is scheduled for November 4 at 6 p.m. The Katedra describes it as the first collection of haiku poems written in the Grobnik dialect, connecting the traditional local form of expression with a poetic form originating in Japan. According to the publisher's announcement, the book brings together 35 poetic miniatures associated with the author's photographs and memories of the Grobnišćina area. The manuscript was selected through the anonymous "Vlastinim tragom" competition, and the edition was edited by Ivo Bogović.
The programme also includes the short story collection "Propiši čez hartu", developed during creative writing workshops led by writer Karmela Špoljarić. According to the organiser's announcement, six female authors and one male author wrote a total of 28 stories arranged in four chapters. What makes the publication distinctive is not only the number of contributors but also the use of the Grobnik dialect for contemporary prose, characters and themes, rather than exclusively for recording oral traditions or customs of the past. This approach allows the protected local dialect to find a place in new literary production. The exact date of this book's presentation has not been stated in the published Grobnik Autumn announcement, so the organiser has yet to provide further details.
Anniversary of Vesna Miculinić Prešnjak and a concert by accordionist Marin Bilić
A special literary evening is scheduled for October 20 at 6 p.m. at the SUG Gallery, marking thirty years of artistic work by poet Vesna Miculinić Prešnjak. The author, who has close ties to Grobnišćina, writes in the Grobnik Chakavian dialect and standard Croatian and participates in the Katedra's programmes. According to her biography published on the organiser's website, she has published 31 books over thirty years of writing, including poetry, children's literature and a novel. The anniversary provides an opportunity to consider her literary output in the context of preserving regional expression and its place in contemporary literature. The programme dedicated to the Colony is thus complemented by the celebration of another thirty-year creative journey.
The musical section of the autumn programme continues on October 23 at 6 p.m. with a concert by accordionist Marin Bilić at the SUG Gallery, as part of the "Soareja va Gradu" series. According to the Katedra, he is a young musician born in Rijeka in 2002 who, after studying music in Novi Vinodolski and Rijeka, graduated from the Academy of Music in Pula in July 2026. He has performed at concert and cultural venues in Croatia and several other European countries. The "Soareja va Gradu" series was conceived as a setting where audiences can encounter various performers in a more intimate gallery environment. The concert therefore further broadens this year's programme beyond visual arts and literature.
Exhibitions, a scientific conference and preservation of the Grobnik dialect
The SUG Gallery's exhibition programme will continue after the presentation of works from the Colony. The opening of an exhibition by Andrea Musa is announced for November 13, followed by an exhibition by Tomislav Hršak on December 18. The organiser has not yet provided detailed concepts for these exhibitions in its anniversary announcement, so their content is expected to be presented in separate programme announcements. The exhibitions follow an approach in which the collection built through the Colony's long-term activities develops alongside new gallery projects.
This year's scientific conference, "Grobnišćina: znakovi, tragovi, smjerokazi", will be dedicated to Professor Emerita Iva Lukežić, a dialectologist and member of the Katedra. Her research is particularly important for the study of Chakavian dialects and the documentation of the linguistic characteristics of Grobnišćina. Together with Prof. Dr. Sanja Zubčić, she co-authored the monograph "Grobnički govor XX. stoljeća (gramatika i rječnik)", published by the Katedra in 2007. The book combines a grammatical description with lexicographical material and represents an important resource for understanding a dialect that changes along with the community of its speakers. By holding the conference, the event will connect academic discussion of language with literary programmes that use the same dialect as a living means of expression.
The Grobnik dialect is included on the list of protected intangible cultural heritage of the Republic of Croatia, according to the Katedra's official website. This protection does not mean that preservation work is complete: the language must be documented, researched, passed on and used. For this reason, the Katedra launched a project in 2024 to digitise the Grobnik Chakavian dialect, including audio and video recordings of conversations and the documentation of traditional knowledge and ways of life. Topics covered so far include traditional crafts, milling, livestock farming and food heritage, while activities continue throughout 2026. The scientific conference, books, workshops and children's programmes therefore represent different ways of working towards the same goal: preserving documented linguistic heritage while enabling it to continue developing.
Planned reopening of the Local Heritage Collection on December 21
Grobnik Autumn 2026 is scheduled to conclude on December 21, when the renovated and updated Grobnišćina Local Heritage Collection is expected to reopen. According to information provided by the Katedra, the ethnographic collection opened at the Castle in 1992 and has been enriched over the decades with objects documenting everyday life in the Grobnišćina area. It contains agricultural and craft tools, household objects, textiles, photographs, documents and other materials associated with local history. The collection closed to visitors in 2020, and following the reopening of the gallery space at the end of 2023, more intensive preparations began for a more systematic museum presentation of the heritage. The Katedra is cooperating with the Maritime and History Museum of the Croatian Littoral in Rijeka on the professional cataloguing and organisation of the material.
The announced December conclusion remains a planned date rather than confirmation that the renovated exhibition is already accessible to visitors. If it takes place according to schedule, it will connect two aspects of the Katedra's work: building a contemporary art collection and preserving objects that document the way of life of previous generations. From the September artistic gatherings to the December programme, Grobnik Autumn will thus encompass different forms of cultural memory and contemporary creativity. The central event remains the opening of the anniversary exhibition on Wednesday, October 14, at 6 p.m., when the SUG Gallery will present works by five female artists and mark thirty years of the Grobnik Art Colony.
Sources:
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – official announcement of the exhibition and the complete Grobnik Autumn 2026 programme (link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – history of the International Grobnik Art Colony and development of the collection (link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – history of the SUG Gallery, work of the Programme Council and professional cataloguing of the holdings (link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – dates and announcements of events in October and November 2026 (link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – the Darovani project, its purpose and forms of children's creativity (link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – bibliographic information on the collection Mikrokozmos and announcement of the book Oda Grobniku, čez sliku i haiku (link; link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – announcement of Marin Bilić's concert and the celebration of Vesna Miculinić Prešnjak's anniversary (link; link)
- Katedra Čakavskog sabora Grobnišćine – protection and digitisation of the Grobnik dialect and history of the Local Heritage Collection (link; link)
- Museum Documentation Centre – historical information on the ethnographic collection and contemporary art gallery at Grobnik Castle (link)