ZAGREB, 13 June 2022 - Matica Hrvatska, Croatia's oldest cultural and publishing institution, celebrated 180 years of its existence at a ceremony at the Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb on Monday, with the country's prominent political and cultural figures attending.

Addressing those gathered, the President of Matica Hrvatska, Miro Gavran, said that although Matica had lived in five states, it had always maintained its primary purpose of fostering culture, science, arts and education, as well as love for the homeland.

He said that the new governing board, elected seven months ago, was trying to maintain the existing values, adding that it had adopted a large number of decisions and increased the membership several times over compared to the situation of a year ago.

Gavran highlighted the importance of the Croatian language in all periods of Matica Hrvatska, notably the adoption of the 1967 Declaration on the Name and Status of the Croatian Literary Language. He said that Matica was involved in the preparation of a bill on the Croatian language that would apply to the public use of the mother tongue.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković congratulated Matica Hrvatska on its anniversary, saying that its current leadership was distinguished by great professional diversity.

At a time of tectonic change in international politics and the loss of human rights and other values, it is important to put emphasis on harmony and unity, the prime minister said. 

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ZAGREB, 10 Jan 2022 - President of Matica Hrvatska, Miro Gavran, on Monday presented the program for marking the 180th anniversary of that cultural institution and announced the drafting of a Croatian Language Act.

"We have formed a task force to draw up the Croatian Language Act," Gavran said at the press conference, adding that the group included Fellows of the Croatian Academy: August Kovačec, Stjepan Damjanović, Mislav Ježić, and linguists Tomislav Stojanov and Mario Grčević.

He underscored that in addition to the five renowned linguists, the draft bill would be prepared by three lawyers, and it would be co-signed by Croatian writers, after which it would be sent to the Croatian parliament.

He announced that in the future the editions of Matica Hrvatska would be sent to embassies and Croatian language departments all over the world.

We insist on good atmosphere and mutual respect, increasing the number of members, establishing new branches and restoring old ones, as well as on the increased activity of the departments of Matica Hrvatska, said the institution's president, adding that over 500 different cultural, science and professional events were planned at branches of Matica Hrvatska in Croatia,  Bosnia and Herzegovina and around the world.

Today, Matica Hrvatska has around 4,000 members and 123 branches, 100 of which are in Croatia, 14 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in other parts of the world. Matica Hrvatska has 20 departments in Zagreb, and its head office has 31 employees.