- by croatiaweek
- April 22, 2026
- in
Zlarin (Photo: Gojko Vukov Colić/Croatian Tourist Board)
ZAGREB, 22 April 2026 – The Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin has been awarded one of Europe’s most prestigious cultural honours, the Europa Nostra Award 2026, in the category of citizen engagement and awareness-raising.
The announcement was made by the European Commission and Europa Nostra, which jointly present the awards, co-funded through the Creative Europe programme. This year, 30 winners from 18 countries were selected.
Located on the island of Zlarin and managed by the Tvrđava kulture Šibenik, the centre is dedicated to preserving and promoting the island’s long-standing coral harvesting tradition.
Through exhibitions, educational programmes and cultural events, it engages visitors year-round, including school groups and local community organisations.
The jury praised the centre’s strong research-based approach to presenting coral heritage, highlighting its effective communication with the public.
Particular recognition was given to the scale of its impact, noting that despite being based in a small island community, the centre operates throughout the year and contributes to sustainable local development.
Head of the centre, Katarina Gregov, described the award as a significant acknowledgement of the centre’s work and its reach beyond the local community.
She emphasised the importance of the recognition in the category of citizen engagement, underlining the centre’s focus on working closely with people and actively involving the community.
Gregov added that the award reflects three years of continuous effort since the centre opened, built through a range of programmes, partnerships and initiatives.
She noted that such recognition reinforces the importance of cultural spaces in smaller communities, not only for preserving heritage and identity but also for supporting long-term development.
This year’s winners were selected by a jury of ten heritage experts from across Europe, following the evaluation of 261 eligible applications submitted from 40 countries.
The awards ceremony will take place on 28 May at the City Theatre in Nicosia, where the Zlarin Coral Centre will formally receive its prize.