Croatian emigrant poetry association New York celebrates 20th anniversary at the University of Zadar

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ZADAR, 2 August 2021 – The Croatian emigrant poetry association, Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY New York (HIL NY), which is the only culturally emigrant association in the world that preserves the Croatian language and the rich dialects of the Croatian language and brings together emigrant poets from all continents, has celebrated its 20th anniversary at the University of Zadar.

Titled “Niko drugo more i drugi ljudi” a ceremonial academy with a monograph, the nineteenth collection of poems and a rich multi-day program, was held at the University of Zadar to celebrate the milestone. 

On that occasion, an even stronger cooperation was agreed between the University of Zadar, the Branch of Matica Hrvatska Zadar and the Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY in the future.

The sponsors of the celebration were the University of Zadar, the Croatian Catholic Mission of the Blessed Ivan Merz, Astoria, NY, USA and the Croatian World Congress USA.

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The celebration of the 20th anniversary of Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY began with a tour of the city, including the Forum, the Archaeological Museum and the Permanent Exhibition of Church Art. The tour was led by dr.sc. Radomir Jurić, President of the Zadar Branch of Matica Hrvatska.

Along with the performance of the national anthems of Croatia and the USA, the ceremonial academy was opened by prof.dr.sc. Dijana Vican Rector of the University of Zadar.

The introductory lecture “And wherever I go with me is Croatia!” – challenges of preserving the Croatian language outside the homeland – was given by Assoc. dr. sc. Sanja Knežević, from the Department of Croatian Studies, University of Zadar. 

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Tomislav Marijan Bilosnić, Marija Mesnjak, don Robert Zubović and Nada Pupačić presented the monograph “Thousands of miles braided with verses” of 20 years of work of the traveling association of emigrant poets, 600 pages of text and photographs.

After the presentation of the Monograph, numerous awards were given to deserving members and individuals who gave great support to the Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY. The awards were presented by the Croatian World Congress USA and Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY. 

Over the past 20 years, more than 400 participants, academics, scientists, writers, diplomats, artists, and poets from all continents have passed through the Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY.

On the last day of socializing at the University of Zadar, the Annual Poetry Congress of the association was held. The poets presented their 19th collection of poems entitled “In Munich, Croatia in a Nutshell”. Numerous poets gathered despite the corona pandemic and presented their poems.

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Reviewer doc. dr. sc. Gordana Laco, from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split, presented new members, poets who presented their works and became full members of the Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY.

The meetings ended with the memory of all the deceased poets through 20 years of work and creativity.

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Congratulations on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of work and creativity in preserving the Croatian language and national identity in the diaspora were sent to the Hrvatske iseljeničke lirike NY from Željko Holjevac – Ivo Pilar Institute of Social Sciences, prof. Luka Budak, founder of the Department of Croatian Studies at Macquarie University Sydney Australia, prof. Ina Vukic journalist and Croatian activist Sydney Australia, Croatian World Congress of Australia, Steve Ravic film director and producer Melbourne Australia, Renee Pea Consul General of the Croatian Consulate in Los Angeles, Croatian World Congress USA, American Croatian Association of Professionals, American-Croatian Association of Professionals Foundation, Croatia Fraternal Union of the USA, Croatian National Association of Southern California, Ivan Grbešic President of the Croatian Government Council for Croats Abroad, Crodiaspora, Croatian Emigrant Congress, Croatian Cultural Association in Slovakia, Croatian World Congress of Germany, Igor Vukić Jasenovac Camp Research Society, dr .sc. Matko Marušic and numerous other individuals and emigrant organizations. 

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