Local dissemination event of the Socrat project held by INOVAcija
28/05/2026
The local dissemination event (conference) of the SOCRAT project – SOcializing CRaft & Contemporary Art for Sustainable Tourism – was held on 26 May 2026 at the Center for Creative Industries in Zadar, organized by the Institution for Development of Competence, Innovation and Specialization of Zadar County – INOVAcija, one of the project partners. The project promotes the development of sustainable tourism through the integration of art, crafts, creative industries, and local communities.
The event brought together representatives of the cultural and creative sectors, artisans, artists, and the wider public. During the programme, project results were presented alongside new models of cultural and tourism experiences developed for the Zadar County area.
Special emphasis was placed on the activities carried out by INOVAcija through the triangular cooperation model, within which three creative living laboratories were implemented. Through collaboration between artists, artisans, and other stakeholders, innovative concepts were developed that contribute to creating an authentic and sustainable tourism offer.
As part of the event, a panel discussion was also held focusing on the importance of connecting creative industries and tourism, as well as the potential for local community development through authentic content and experiences.
In addition to the previously announced participants, there was a change in the panel line-up. Alongside Ivana Surać, destination management expert and owner of the Feel Croatia brand, the panel featured Klara Ivanović, entrepreneur and founder of the Fosca brand, which combines contemporary design, local tradition, and an authentic Mediterranean identity, and Ivana Bičanić, a Zadar-based designer and entrepreneur behind the ChicIB bags brand, known for its unique handmade bags distinguished by a blend of modern elegance, functionality, and authentic design. The discussion was moderated by Luka Jakopčić, external associate and coordinator of the creative laboratories implementation.
The participants also had the opportunity to see an exhibited works created through the creative living laboratories, as well as works by other artists and artisans who were not directly involved in the project. The exhibition further highlighted the project’s values and the potential of collaboration between the cultural, creative, and tourism sectors.
The event (conference) once again confirmed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in creating sustainable and innovative tourism content that contributes to local community development and strengthens destination identity.
