‘Worlds of Croatian Returnees’ opens in Zagreb showcasing diaspora return stories

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

A new multimedia exhibition exploring the experiences of Croatian emigrants and their descendants who returned to live in Croatia has officially opened in Zagreb at the Croatian Heritage Foundation.

Titled Svjetovima hrvatskih povratnika (“Worlds of Croatian Returnees”), the exhibition is authored by Dr Jasna Čapo, a respected ethnologist from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research and a full member of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

The exhibition has been organised by the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Research with support from the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, in partnership with the Croatian Heritage Foundation and NextGeneration EU.

Through 12 personal stories presented with written material, photographs and video content, visitors are given insight into the motivations behind returning to Croatia, as well as the everyday experiences of returnees rebuilding their lives in the country.

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

The participants come from four continents and represent several generations of Croatian emigrants and descendants. Together, their stories create a broader picture of return migration to Croatia from the 1990s to the present day.

Speaking at the opening, Croatian Heritage Foundation director Zdeslav Milas said it was important to discuss return migration and share positive experiences of Croatians coming back to the country.

He noted that many returnees attending the opening had their own personal stories and said such experiences could encourage Croatians living abroad to consider returning.

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

Author Jasna Čapo said the exhibition aimed to leave visitors with a positive impression despite ongoing demographic challenges facing Croatia.

She noted that emigration from Croatia has been a constant over the past 70 years, but added that increasing numbers of people are now choosing to return, including descendants of emigrants born abroad who have decided to continue their lives in Croatia.

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

The exhibition was officially opened by State Secretary Mladen Barać from the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, who highlighted the importance of understanding returnee experiences in strengthening Croatia’s demographic future.

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

The project is the result of more than 20 years of research by Čapo and is linked to her forthcoming book, provisionally titled Love Letters to the Homeland: Emigrants and Returnees, expected to be published in 2027.

The visual identity of the exhibition was created by Barbara Majnarić, while Flora Lennihan Ljubimir was responsible for video production.

The exhibition is open on weekdays from 8am to 4pm until 20 May at Trg Stjepana Radića 3 in Zagreb.

(Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)

Alongside research into Croatian customs and family history, Čapo’s work has focused extensively on refugee, labour and return migration, with publications released in Croatia, the United States and Germany.

Jasna Čapo (Photo credit: Croatian Heritage Foundation)