NIGHT OF MUSEUMS 2026

The Night of Museums at the Croatian School Museum transforms into a space of play and creation, where creativity reveals rare museum objects and stories about education and childhood!

Friday, 30 January 2026 | 6:00–11:00 PM

On the Night of Museums, the Croatian School Museum opens the doors to its exhibitions and creative programmes for all ages. Visitors can take part in professionally guided exhibition tours, art and creative workshops, and discover rare museum objects as well as the rich history of education and childhood.

EXHIBITIONS

Once Upon a Time… Croatian Toy Factories in the 20th Century The exhibition leads visitors into the world of the domestic toy industry (Biserka, Uzor, Jugoplastika…) and childhood in the last century. Through original objects and museum material, it reveals how play shaped children’s imagination, creativity and everyday life.

Guided tours:

6:00 PM and 9:00 PM Guided by the exhibition’s author, Sanja Nekić, Senior Curator

Gallery Školica za 5, Hebrangova 5, Zagreb (open from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM)

The Paris Room An exceptionally valuable cultural and historical ensemble of the Croatian School Museum, which represented the education system of the Kingdom of Croatia and Slavonia at the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. Today, it bears witness to 125 years of Croatian educational history and preserves the Grand Prix medal from the World Exhibition.

Guided tour:

8:00 PM Guided by Dr. Sc. Štefka Batinić, Library Advisor and Curator

Museum of Contemporary Art (Croatian School Museum – Paris Room, 3rd floor), Avenija Dubrovnik 17, Zagreb (open from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM)

Bertuch’s Pictorial Kingdom: Discover the Secrets of a Children’s Encyclopedia (off-site) The exhibition presents the children’s illustrated encyclopedia Bilderbuch für Kinder by Friedrich Justin Bertuch, created at the turn of the 18th to the 19th century. In 12 volumes and 6,000 illustrations, it introduced children to the adult world. The Croatian School Museum preserves seven nearly complete volumes — the only ones in Croatia.

Exhibition opening: 7:00 PM Muzej Đakovštine, Ante Starčevića St. 34, 31400 Đakovo (open from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM)

WORKSHOPS (participation is free)

For the Night of Museums, the Croatian School Museum has prepared free creative workshops. This is an ideal opportunity to experience the museum as a place of play, creation and joy — and to take home your own artwork.

A Little Doll as a Gift (children 7+ and parents) Create a small doll made of beads — your own keychain — while learning about toys from famous Croatian factories such as Biserka and Jugoplastika. The workshop is designed as quality shared time for children and parents, encouraging imagination, creativity and fine motor skills through play, while also fostering an understanding of cultural and educational heritage.

Time: 6:30–8:00 PM Led by Ivana Dumbović Žužić, Senior Curator Educator, and Laura Busija, Curator Educator Trainee

Gallery “Školica za 5”, Hebrangova 5, Zagreb

Registration required: edu@hsmuzej.hr

Winter Imprints (youth and adults; children under 10 accompanied by an adult) Winter motifs carved into a linoleum plate and printed on paper. This linocut workshop, led by Petra Kovačić, MA in Art Education, introduces participants to the basics of carving and printmaking and guides them through the process of creating their own print.

Time: 6:00–7:30 PM

Museum of Contemporary Art (Croatian School Museum – Paris Room, 3rd floor), Avenija Dubrovnik 17, Zagreb

Registration required: edu@hsmuzej.hr

Traces of the Earth (youth and adults) Inspired by artists such as Per Kirkeby, Sean Scully and William Turner, academic painter Luka Kušević guides participants into the world of geopoetic explorations of space and nature. Through observation, sketching and artistic expression, participants develop a sense of space and connection to the world around us, creating their own artistic record.

Time: 9:00–11:00 PM

Museum of Contemporary Art (Croatian School Museum – Paris Room, 3rd floor), Avenija Dubrovnik 17, Zagreb

Registration required: edu@hsmuzej.hr

All programmes are conducted in Croatian.