MuSEUM
The Ethnographic Museum was founded on October 22, 1919 as the Ethnographic Department of the Croatian National Museum in Zagreb. The initial holdings were created by combining several larger collections: the ethnographic collections of the Historical and Archaeological Department of the Croatian National Museum in Zagreb, the ethnographic collections of the Museum of Arts and Crafts of the Royal School of Crafts in Zagreb, the Salamon Berger Collection, the ethnographic collections entrusted to the Croatian Museum of the Pedagogical and Literary Association in Zagreb, and the ethnographic collections of the Chamber of Trade and Crafts in Zagreb. The newly founded museum was located in the building of the then Trade and Crafts Museum, in the Art Nouveau palace in the Lower Town, on Mažuranić Square. The building was designed by Alojz Vjekoslav Bastl (Hönigsberg & Deutsch studio), the sculptures on the facade are the work of sculptor Rudolf Valdec, while Oton Iveković painted frescoes on the vault of the hall on the first floor.
Soon after its founding, the first professional employees of the Museum began to systematize, inventory and prepare the existing material for exhibition, and to collect material indirectly, through a network of collaborators gathered around the institution of the “Service of the Commissioner of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb”, or directly, by conducting field research (for example, by organizing the so-called “Expedition to Pokupsko” in 1923). The activities of a small number of employees resulted in the opening of the first permanent exhibition in 1922, which was changed and replenished for the first time in 1934, and then again, the following year. The pre-war exhibitions were characterized by many exhibits, while in the first post-war permanent exhibition from 1951, the number of exhibits was reduced and exhibited in ethnographic zones, addressing the individual topics. Between 1968 and 1972, the museum building was extensively renovated, providing additional storage space, preparation workshops, and a new permanent exhibition, which, in a partially modified concept, has remained opened to visitors to this day.
The contemporary Ethnographic Museum interprets and expands knowledge about tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the past and present, and examines, problematizes and contextualizes Croatian ethnographic heritage, contemporary phenomena, and different cultural identities. It is presented to the public through permanent and occasional exhibitions, publishing activities (especially the museum journal Ethnological Research), lectures, professional and scientific gatherings, concerts, workshops and other activities. It is the largest Croatian museum specializing in ethnology and cultural anthropology, and its holdings include more than 85,000 objects from all parts of Croatia, Europe and the world (e.g. objects collected with the help of Dragutin Lerman, Stevo and Mirko Seljan, Milka Trnina and others). The Museum’s Documentary Collection includes about 90,000 units of archival material and units from audiovisual holdings (photo library, library of negatives, slide library, video library, sound library, media library), and a significant number are original records from field research. The Museum’s Library is also open to external users, and its holdings include about 25,000 volumes of books and journals in the fields of ethnology, cultural anthropology, and related sciences. The Museum has a developed conservation and restoration service that prepares objects for exhibition, and carries out preventive conservation and restoration procedures. Educational programs are held independently or in cooperation with numerous institutions, civic associations and individuals, and are aimed at various user groups, from preschool children to senior visitors and individuals. The Ethnographic Museum is the first-level national museum within the Museum System of the Republic of Croatia performing registry duties for ethnographic museums in the Republic of Croatia. The renovation and modernization of the Museum, as well as the project of a new permanent exhibition, started in 2016.
ViSION AND MISSION STATEMENT
Vision
The Ethnographic Museum is an institution open to the public which, for the purpose of studying, understanding and promoting its own culture and the cultures of other peoples, collects, interprets and disseminates knowledge about tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the past and present. By improving knowledge about Croatian and world ethnographic heritage and different cultural identities, the Museum serves society and the community. The Museum encourages curiosity among visitors, a positive attitude towards the entire heritage, and understanding of the world we live in. With an innovative approach of creating and enhancing scientific knowledge, it promotes contemporary ethnological/cultural anthropological and museological thought.
Mission
The mission of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb is to collect, protect, preserve, document, research, study, interpret and communicate the tangible and intangible heritage of Croatia and the world. The Museum fulfills its task for the benefit of society and its environment, and in order to fulfill its goals, through exhibitions in Croatia and abroad, professional and scientific papers, conferences, lectures and other activities, publications, multimedia content, professional assistance programs through its core activities, educational and other programs, it meets the needs of its users and visitors. The Museum expands its network of users and creates a new audience through cooperation with other stakeholders in museum industry and cross-sector collaboration, considering the public interest. In fulfilling its mission, the Ethnographic Museum respects the highest professional standards set out in the ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums and implements strategies adopted at the level of the City of Zagreb, the Republic of Croatia and the European Union relating to museum industry, operating in accordance with the applicable legal regulations.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
2025
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition from the Croatian Museum Association to Marija Živković for the exhibition Travelers.
2024
Zagreb Library Association
The “ZKD Golden Charter” award was presented to Lorena Martinić for her achievements in librarianship and the promotion of the profession, and for her outstanding dedication to promoting the written word in libraries and collaborating with librarians in the City of Zagreb and Zagreb County.
2023
Icom Croatia
Annual ICOM Croatia Award to Tanja Kocković Zaborski in the category of Cross-sector Collaboration for the exhibition Faces of Hunger, project RemekTijelo.
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition from the Croatian Museum Association to Tanja Kocković Zaborski for the exhibition Faces of Hunger.
Croatian Ethnological Society
Croatian Ethnological Society’s Annual Award “Milovan Gavazzi” to Tanja Kocković Zaborski in the category of Popularization of Profession.
2021
Croatian Ethnological Society
The “Milovan Gavazzi” award in the category of Museum Work was awarded to Iris Biškupić Bašić, PhD, for the author’s project Toys – Childhood Forever, implemented from June 8, 2021 to May 22, 2022, in Zagreb.
Special recognition to Jasminka Vujičić for her professional engagement and assistance in repairing damage to cultural property caused by the earthquake in Sisak-Moslavina County in January 2021.
2019
Croatian Ethnological Society
The “Milovan Gavazzi” award for exceptional achievements in the field of ethnology and cultural anthropology in 2019 in the category of Museum Work was awarded to Aida Brenko, MSc, Vesna Zorić, Mareta Kurtin for the authorship and museological contribution of the exhibition Hats Down! A Story of (Not) Covering the Head.
Katarina Bušić for the research work and the published catalogue of The Croatian Diaspora Folk Clothing Collection.
Croatian Museum Association
The Croatian Museum Association’s Special Recognition in 2019 was awarded to Aida Brenko, Vesna Zorić and Mareta Kurtin for the exhibition Hats Down! A Story of (Not) Covering the Head.
Croatian Women’s Network
The annual Croatian Women of Influence Award was presented to Goranka Horjan, PhD.
2018
Europa Nostra
Europa Nostra Award for the project Carnival King of Europe in the category for the best scientific research project in which the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb participated.
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition to Željka Jelavić for her special contribution to the work of the Section for Museum Pedagogy and Cultural Action of the Croatian Museum Association.
Croatian Ethnological Society
Croatian Ethnological Society’s Annual Award “Milovan Gavazzi” to Iris Biškupić Bašić in the category of Museum Work for the museum catalogue Collection of Traditional Children’s Toys (2018).
2017
Croatian Museum Association
The Annual Award for research work that resulted in a professional publication in 2016 was awarded to the Museum Advisor of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, Iris Biškupić Bašić, PhD, for the catalogue Collection of Children’s Toys and Games.
2016
Croatian Ethnological Society
Special recognition “Milovan Gavazzi” to Katarina Bušić and Josip Forjan for their professional work in the field of applied ethnology and their contribution to the visibility of the professions of ethnologist and cultural anthropologist in Croatia and abroad for the project of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia Reconstruction and Restoration of Traditional Cultural Heritage in the Region of Cvelferija.
Croatian Ethnological Society’s Annual Award “Milovan Gavazzi” to Iris Biškupić Bašić in the category of Museum Work for the museum catalogue Collection of Children’s Toys and Games (2016).
2013
Croatian Museum Association
Lifetime Achievement Award to Nerina Eckhel, retired curator.
Special recognition to Iris Biškupić Bašić, Ph.D., author of the exhibition, and Mirjana Drobina, marketing and PR, for the entire program of the World of Toys exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb.
Croatian Association of Radio Stations and Newspapers
6. Electronic Media Days (Opatija, November 28–30, 2013). Best action: Let’s give children roots and wings.
2012
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition to Željka Jelavić for her educational work with socially vulnerable groups for the project Two Museums in the Neighborhood.
2009
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition to Aida Brenko, MSc, and Mirjana Randić for the exhibition The Power of Colors: How Colors Conquered the World.
2006
Croatian Museum Association
Annual Award to Aida Brenko, MSc, and Vesna Zorić for the exhibition What a great pair of shoes! A walk through the history of footwear.
2004
Croatian Ethnological Society
Lifetime Achievement Award “Milovan Gavazzi” to Nerina Eckhel.
2003
Croatian Ethnological Society
The Annual Award “Milovan Gavazzi” to Nadja Maglica for the book Baranja se šareni (Baranja is colorful).
2002
Croatian Museum Association
Special recognition to Aida Brenko, MSc, and Mirjana Randić for the exhibition Folk Medicine.
1999
City of Zagreb
The award Povelja grada Zagreba for the exhibition Furniture in Croatia: An Ethnological View of the Interior of the Home, which, with a more contemporary approach to the interpretation of ethnographic themes, established a new way of presenting ethnographic materials.
President of the Republic of Croatia
The Order of Danica Hrvatska with the face of Marko Marulić awarded by the President of the Republic of Croatia to Iris Biškupić Bašić, Josip Barlek, Nerina Eckhel and Damodar Frlan.
1997
Town of Pag
The award Povelja grada Paga to Vesna Zorić and Nerina Eckhel for the preparation and organization of the exhibition Pag Lace, and for their achievements in the field of improvement, preservation and study of the cultural heritage of the Town of Pag.