The Croatian Tie project arrives in Australia

The Croatian tie project initiated by Nada Pritisanac Matulich from Los Angeles/San Pedro in California is conceived as a global initiative aimed at increasing Croatia’s visibility worldwide and fostering connections between global and Croatian universities, as well as Croatian expatriates.

The idea revolves around collecting ties and scarves from Croatian expatriates along with their resumes, and it’s a project that will continue as long as there is interest and donations of ties or scarves, particularly for ladies.

The project has garnered significant interest, evident from its thirteen presentations across three continents within just eight months.

It’s not surprising that Croatians recognize Croatia as the homeland of the necktie, but what’s remarkable is the interest shown by Croatian cultural and educational institutions in the project.

Proudly, the project has been presented outside Croatia at the Maritime Museum in Kotor, at Uppsala University in Sweden, one of the oldest universities in Europe, at Universidad del Oeste in Buenos Aires, the University with five campuses and 35,000 students, and at the Foyer of the Solis Theater in Uruguay in Montevideo, the oldest in South America.

The latest presentation took place in Sydney on February 9, 2024, at Macquarie University, where the 40th anniversary of Croatian Studies and the Croatian Studies Foundation established by Professor Dr. Luka Budak were solemnly celebrated.

Nada Pritisanac Matulich, the initiator and leader of the project, who also serves as the Croatian Civil Representative to the United Nations in New York, the president of the American Croatian Congress (ACC), and a member of the Board of Directors of the Association of American Entrepreneurs of Croatian Origin (ACAP), spoke about the Tie Project at the ceremony.

On behalf of the American Croatian Congress, she presented awards to Croatian Studies, the Croatian Studies Foundation, and all deserving individuals.

The presentation featured an exhibition and the book “Croatians United by the Tie” by Branka Bezic Filipovic, an international relations collaborator at Aspira University. Published by Naklada Bošković, the exhibition was inaugurated by Ivica Glasnović, Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Sydney.

On this occasion, Nada Pritisanac Matulich also introduced the monograph “Croatian Expat Poetry New York” by Nada Pupacuc, the initiator of this event and the association that has been active for 24 years, bringing together expat poets from five continents.

Nada Pritisanac Matulich briefed the audience on the projects of the American Croatian Congress, ACAP, ACAP Foundation, and CroDiaspora, not only those present at Macquarie University but also Croatian societies in Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales.

The primary objectives of these organizations are to connect Croatian expatriates, bridge expatriates with the homeland, assist youth outside Croatia and in the homeland, support heritage, education, sports projects, and maintain the Croatian identity.

These objectives were warmly welcomed, with many expressing a desire to join the presented projects as soon as possible.