Backpack (full of) Culture - art and culture in kindergarten and school
Art and Culture in kindergartens and schools
2013 Pilot programme2013 - 2020 Development programme
2021 Permanent programme
Bringing Art and Culture Closer to Children and Young People
Backpack (full of) Culture - art and culture in kindergarten and school is a national programme of the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of the Republic of Croatia. It represents a joint investment by the cultural and education sectors at national, regional and local levels.
The programme brings high-quality artistic and cultural content directly to children and young people in kindergartens and schools throughout Croatia. It complements the educational curriculum by giving participants opportunities to experience, explore and actively engage with different forms of art and culture.
The programme is intended to provide access to cultural and artistic experiences to children and young people regardless of their social or economic circumstances, ethnic or religious background, or the type and location of the educational institution they attend.
Bringing Art and Culture into Educational Settings
Backpack (full of) Culture gives children and young people access to professional artistic and cultural programmes within their own kindergartens and schools.
Through workshops, performances, screenings, presentations and other forms of artistic activity, professional artists and cultural practitioners introduce participants to a broad range of artistic and cultural practices.
The programme aims to:
- enable children and young people to participate in high-quality cultural programmes led by professional artists and cultural practitioners;
- develop their aesthetic awareness and cultural literacy;
- encourage creativity, curiosity and critical thinking;
- provide equal opportunities for participation regardless of social or economic circumstances, background or type of educational institution;
- foster a positive and open approach to different forms of artistic and cultural expression;
- enable children and young people to discover and explore their own creative potential; and
- strengthen their understanding and appreciation of culture in all its forms.
Rather than requiring children to travel to cultural centres, the programme brings artists and cultural experiences directly into their educational environments. In this way, cultural participation becomes part of children's and young people's everyday educational experience.
A Partnership Between Culture and Education
Backpack (full of) Culture is based on cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia, the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth of the Republic of Croatia, and the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds, as well as cooperation between cultural institutions, artists, art academies, kindergartens, schools, counties and municipalities.
The program has been implemented since 2013, and its implementation was made possible by the Agreement on Cooperation and Implementation of the „Backpack (full of) Culture - Art and Culture in Kindergarten and School” program, signed by the Ministry of Culture and Media and the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. In 2021, a new Agreement on Cooperation and Implementation of the program was signed, making it a permanent program in educational institutions.
This partnership connects the cultural and education sectors and creates opportunities for children and young people to encounter professional artistic work as part of their educational experience.
The programme is developed and implemented at national, regional and local levels. The Ministries establish the overall framework, while local partners contribute to identifying needs and ensuring that activities are adapted to the circumstances of individual communities.
An important principle of the programme is the regular cooperation of the cultural and education sectors. Kindergartens and schools work with cultural institutions, artists and other cultural professionals to ensure that artistic and cultural activities are appropriately connected with the educational environment.
Educators and teachers also play an important role. Their involvement can help extend the impact of individual programmes and encourage the continued use and development of cultural content after the artists have completed their activities.
A Broad Range of Artistic and Cultural Fields
Backpack (full of) Culture encompasses a diverse range of artistic and cultural practices, including:
- Theatre and performing arts
- Dance
- Visual arts
- Film
- Music
- Literature
- Cultural heritage
The programme introduces children and young people to different artistic languages, cultural traditions and historical periods, encouraging them to experience culture from a variety of perspectives.
Programmes are created and delivered by professionals working in different artistic fields, including writers, visual artists, theatre practitioners, musicians, dancers and filmmakers. Students of art academies also participate in developing and delivering programmes under the guidance of their professors.
The involvement of art academy students creates a valuable connection between young artists and younger generations. Because of their relative proximity in age, students can establish an informal and engaging relationship with children and young people, encouraging participation, experimentation and openness to new artistic experiences.
Reaching Communities with Limited Access to Culture
One of the programme's key priorities is to reach kindergartens and schools in areas where access to cultural and artistic content is limited.
The programme takes into consideration factors such as the location and accessibility of educational institutions, their transport connections, their status as branch or satellite schools, and their interest in participating in artistic and cultural programmes.
Particular consideration is given to institutions that may have fewer opportunities to access professional cultural programmes because of their geographical location, transport connections or limited access to cultural infrastructure.
The programme therefore contributes to greater equality of access to art and culture throughout Croatia. Its aim is to ensure that opportunities to experience professional artistic and cultural work are not limited by where children live or by the type of educational institution they attend.
Selecting High-Quality Programmes
The artistic and cultural programmes included in Backpack (full of) Culture are selected according to defined criteria and are expected to meet high artistic and professional standards.
Programmes should:
- be appropriate to the age and needs of participants;
- offer a high level of artistic and professional quality;
- be adaptable to different educational environments;
- be suitable for implementation in kindergartens and schools, including settings without specialist cultural facilities;
- use practical and, where possible, portable equipment; and
- provide opportunities for continued use, development or replication of activities.
The programmes are adapted to the age of participants and to the specific conditions of the educational institution in which they are delivered.
This approach allows professional artistic and cultural programmes to be implemented not only in institutions with specialist facilities, but also in schools and kindergartens with limited space, equipment or access to cultural infrastructure.
How the Programme Works
Backpack (full of) Culture is implemented on a continuous basis. Each year, participating kindergartens and schools are identified according to the programme's priorities and selection criteria, while high-quality artistic and cultural programmes are selected for implementation.
The current programme framework provides for up to 70 selected cultural and artistic programmes and up to 500 events each year, distributed among kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. The planned annual distribution includes up to 150 events in kindergartens, 250 in primary schools and 100 in secondary schools.
Activities may take the form of workshops, performances, screenings, interactive presentations and other forms of direct engagement with art and culture. The programme aims to reach up to 15,000 children and young people each year, with planned annual coverage of up to 10% of kindergartens, schools and branch facilities.
An important principle of the programme is that the experience should have an impact beyond the individual event. Where appropriate, teachers, educators and pupils are encouraged to continue using or developing elements of the programmes after the artists have completed their activities.
This creates the possibility for individual cultural experiences to have a longer-term effect within the educational institution rather than remaining isolated events.
Evaluation and Development
Backpack (full of) Culture is continuously monitored and evaluated in order to assess its implementation and impact and to identify opportunities for further development.
Evaluation considers both quantitative and qualitative indicators, including the number of programmes and events delivered, participating children and young people, educators and teachers involved, and the extent to which activities or programme outcomes are subsequently continued or replicated.
Participants' experiences and satisfaction are also taken into consideration, helping to ensure that the programme remains relevant, effective and responsive to the needs of children, young people and educational institutions.
The continuous evaluation and development of the programme also help identify areas where cultural provision can be strengthened and where future activities can be better adapted to the needs of individual communities and educational institutions.
Funding
Backpack (full of) Culture is financed through the state budget of the Republic of Croatia.
The programme represents a shared investment by the cultural and education sectors in providing children and young people with meaningful and lasting access to art and culture.
The current programme framework provides for up to 800,000 euro in annual funding.
A Shared Investment in the Future
Backpack (full of) Culture is more than a programme of cultural events. By bringing high-quality artistic and cultural programmes directly into kindergartens and schools—particularly in communities where access to culture is limited—the programme helps make art and culture an integral part of children's education and everyday lives.
Through regular cooperation between cultural and educational institutions, the programme also strengthens the connection between the cultural and education sectors and supports the development of cultural participation from an early age.
In this way, Backpack (full of) Culture contributes not only to children's and young people's access to individual artistic experiences, but also to greater equality of cultural participation, the development of cultural literacy and the creation of lasting connections between young people, education and culture throughout Croatia.