Poreč Public Open University

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Poreč Public University was founded in 1948 as a budget-funded institution, and the Public Open University as we know it today has existed since 1960 – an independent institution for adult education and culture, founded by the City of Poreč – Parenzo. With its wide range of activities, programmes and areas of expertise, it plays a crucial role in the cultural life of the local community. The University shapes the free time of Poreč residents by nurturing the city’s cultural life, encouraging the transfer of knowledge, meeting citizens’ needs for developing new skills, and enabling lifelong learning in a society that demands ever-faster adaptation to the labour market.

For many people, this institution is the place where they first went to the cinema, attended a concert or an exhibition, learned their first musical notes, experienced a theatre performance, or learned their first foreign word. For many others, it is here that they held their first exhibition, presented a book, or first performed on stage.

The institution’s long-standing work has left a lasting and far-reaching mark – both in Istria and in Croatia. The City of Poreč is, to a great extent, recognisable for the high-quality work and activities of this institution. Its traditional programmes, as old as the institution itself, often exceed the framework of a small coastal town thanks to guest appearances by artists of international renown and cooperation with prominent individuals and institutions.

The work of the University extends into an international context through international projects and collaborations.

With the desire to further strengthen the importance of the Institution – and thus of the city itself – our priority is always a strong connection between the individual and the community, as well as ever better cultural and educational interaction and integration. This is a prerequisite for improving quality of life and personal fulfilment.

The potential of cultural events and activities in the city lies in their power to encourage creativity, new ways of relating to familiar spaces, and active ways of discovering what is new and unknown. The idea is to give both the city and its citizens the opportunity to shape and express culture themselves, creating a platform for the development of the city’s urban culture, launching high-quality content and promoting their own values.