Opening up cultural governance through civil society participation

Participatory governance models in Croatian sociocultural centers demonstrate effective public-civil partnerships, showcasing diverse approaches to inclusive decision-making. The Lazareti Complex in Dubrovnik's Platform for Lazareti enables collaborative negotiations with city administration, while the Rojc Community Centre in Pula established an advisory body sharing formal responsibility between associations and municipal representatives. Pogon – Zagreb Centre for Independent Culture further institutionalized this model, equally distributing decision-making power between local authorities and a civil society alliance, the Association Alliance Operation City. These cases highlight successful mechanisms for integrating civil society into governance structures, fostering sustainable community engagement and cultural preservation in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

(Ed.). (2022). Opening up cultural governance through civil society participation. UNESCO Global Report 2022, 117–137. https://doi.org/10.18356/9789210015240c008