Creative Industries Croatia: A Blend of Tradition and Innovation

Global Development Croatia at Red Yellow Blue (RYB)

Creative industries in Croatia are a dynamic sector that bridges its rich cultural heritage with modern innovation. From traditional crafts to digital media, Croatia is leveraging its historical assets and contemporary talent to make a mark in the global creative economy.

Flag of Croatia

Creative Industries Croatia

Key Sectors

  • Cultural Heritage and Crafts
    Croatia is known for its traditional crafts, including lace-making (a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage), wooden toys, and ceramics. These crafts are often reimagined in modern designs, blending history with contemporary aesthetics.
  • Film and Media
    The country’s stunning landscapes and historic architecture have made it a popular location for international film productions, such as Game of Thrones. Croatia’s local film industry is also growing, supported by festivals like the Pula Film Festival and ZagrebDox.
  • Music and Performing Arts
    Croatia boasts a vibrant music scene, from classical performances at the Dubrovnik Summer Festival to contemporary electronic music at the globally renowned Ultra Europe Festival.
  • Design and Architecture
    Croatian designers are gaining recognition in industrial design, fashion, and architecture. The capital, Zagreb, is a hub for design innovation, hosting events like the Zagreb Design Week.
  • Gaming and Digital Media
    Croatia is emerging as a hotspot for game development, with companies like Croteam gaining international acclaim. The tech-savvy younger generation is driving growth in digital arts and interactive media.


Trends and Opportunities

  • Sustainability: Croatian creatives are embracing sustainable practices, from eco-friendly fashion lines to green architecture and renewable energy design.
  • Cultural Tourism: The creative industries play a significant role in Croatia’s booming tourism sector, with art festivals, galleries, and heritage tours attracting visitors worldwide.
  • Digital Transformation: The adoption of digital tools and platforms is enabling Croatian creatives to reach global markets, particularly in e-commerce and virtual exhibitions.

Support and Development

Croatia’s government and cultural institutions actively support the creative industries through funding, grants, and international collaborations. Initiatives like the Creative Europe Program and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre provide resources for creatives to expand their reach and impact.

Outlook

Croatia’s creative industries are poised for continued growth, fueled by a combination of historical richness and modern innovation. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, digitalization, and international collaboration, Croatia is cementing its place as a key player in the global creative economy.


Le Petit Festival 2015 | Creative Industries Croatia, Dubrovnik

Building the creative city: Zagreb’s creative industries

The project aims to map the creative industries in Zagreb in order to have an evidence-based snapshot on how these industries contribute to social and economic development and increase the international visibility of the city. The outcomes of this mapping will be used as the basis for designing and implementing informed cultural policies that can promote local creative industries, increase their competitiveness and diversify the city’s economy.

The Institute for International Relations (IMO) was established in 1963 as a prominent research institute. Its fields of expertise and programmes include policy-oriented research and analysis in cultural cooperation, creative intercultural communication, as well as media and digital culture. The Institute also conducts major research projects aligned with the priorities set out by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in the fields of culture and communication.
> en.unesco.org/building-creative-city-zagrebs-creative



Economy

tourism-based economy that was one of the hardest hit by COVID-19 economic disruptions; newest euro user since 2023, helping recover from a 6-year recession; public debt increases due to COVID-19 and stimulus packages; weak exports; continuing emigration; new liquefied natural gas import terminal

Since joining the EU in 2013, Croatia, one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, has committed to improving the business climate in an effort to stimulate growth from domestic consumption and foreign investment.

Though still one of the wealthiest of the former Yugoslav republics, Croatia’s economy suffered badly during the 1991-95 war. The country’s output during that time collapsed, and Croatia missed the early waves of investment in Central and Eastern Europe that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall. Between 2000 and 2007, however, Croatia’s economic fortunes began to improve with moderate but steady GDP growth between 4% and 6%, led by a rebound in tourism and credit-driven consumer spending. Inflation over the same period remained tame and the currency, the kuna, stable.

Croatia experienced an abrupt slowdown in the economy in 2008; economic growth was stagnant or negative in each year between 2009 and 2014, but has picked up since the third quarter of 2014, ending 2017 with an average of 2.8% growth. Challenges remain including uneven regional development, a difficult investment climate, an inefficient judiciary, and loss of educated young professionals seeking higher salaries elsewhere in the EU. In 2016, Croatia revised its tax code to stimulate growth from domestic consumption and foreign investment. Income tax reduction began in 2017, and in 2018 various business costs were removed from income tax calculations. At the start of 2018, the government announced its economic reform plan, slated for implementation in 2019.

Tourism is one of the main pillars of the Croatian economy, comprising 19.6% of Croatia’s GDP. Croatia is working to become a regional energy hub, and is undertaking plans to open a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal by the end of 2019 or early in 2020 to import LNG for re-distribution in southeast Europe.

Croatia joined the EU on July 1, 2013, following a decade-long accession process. Croatia has developed a plan for Eurozone accession, and the government projects Croatia will adopt the Euro by 2024. In 2017, the Croatian government decreased public debt to 78% of GDP, from an all-time high of 84% in 2014, and realized a 0.8% budget surplus – the first surplus since independence in 1991. The government has also sought to accelerate privatization of non-strategic assets with mixed success. Croatia’s economic recovery is still somewhat fragile; Croatia’s largest private company narrowly avoided collapse in 2017, thanks to a capital infusion from an American investor. Restructuring is ongoing, and projected to finish by mid-July 2018.