Pedagogical activity of the Croatian School Museum

Until 2004, when the position of museum pedagogue was created, pedagogical programmes had been run by the curators of the Museum. The aim of our pedagogical activity has been to attract the attention of children and young people, to introduce them to the history of the Croatian system of education and school legacy as an element of Croatian cultural heritage. Children of all ages take part in the pedagogical programmes of the Croatian School Museum, as well as their parents, educators, teachers, elderly persons, members of associations and special educational institutions and many others. Elementary school pupils from across Croatia are our most frequent guests. More than 6,000 visitors participate in the pedagogical programmes of the Croatian School Museum every year, and that number has been increasing from one year to the next. Forms of collaboration between the Museum and educational institutions can be different: expert guidance through the permanent exhibition and thematic exhibitions, museum-pedagogical workshops, joint programmes with educational institutions (exhibitions, guest workshops, lectures, etc.). Many of these collaborations have become traditional, such as the collaboration with the Centre for Autism, Centre for Education Dubrava, Centre for Education Vinko Bek and SUVAG Polyclinic Primary School. The Museum has continuously participated in the Educational Museum Action of the Section for museum pedagogy and cultural action of the Croatian Museum Association, run on the occasion of the International Museum Day, and has also organised the action in 1999 (From… To…) and 2017 (Secrets).

As part of its pedagogical activity and in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of Japan, the Museum annually runs a competition for the participation of children and young people in international exhibition shows of children’s art and creative work in the Czech Republic and Japan. As an intermediary, the Museum enables its end users (children and young people) to participate in noted events related to children’s creative work and to exchange their experiences and opinions through fine arts, while numerous acknowledgements and awards for best student work testify to their skills and dedicated work of their mentors year after year.

The Museum offers nine museological-pedagogical workshops, as well as pedagogical programmes that accompany every studio exhibition of the Croatian School Museum. By participating in one of our museum workshops, you can easily find out what the former compulsory primary school looked like and how it functioned. Each workshop is a separate unit. Through play and interaction with others you will learn what calligraphy is, what school discipline was like, what gombalište means, why good behaviour and diligence were most important in school. The workshops take place in a re-constructed nineteenth-century classroom and involve wearing school uniforms. They are adapted to various age groups – from pre-school children to people of third age. Pedagogical programmes of the Museum are also run outside of the Museum facilities, in the form of touring exhibitions, workshops, lectures, and similar. Throughout the year, the Museum offers special workshops related to Christmas, Easter and Carnival.

The ideal number of museum workshop participants is 20 people, or as arranged.

For appointments and arrangement of group visits and participation in workshops on offer please call 01 4855 716 or send an e-mail to the Museum’s e-mail address or the e-mail address of the museum pedagogue.

Ivana Dumbović Žužić, BA Senior Curator Pedagogue