Why Community Art Matters in Rijeka

Rijeka has never been a quiet city. For centuries it has been a port, a place of shipyards and factories, of sailors coming and going, of families arriving from across the Adriatic, Central Europe and beyond. That history has left the city with a rare gift: a culture made of many voices.

Community art is how those voices meet. Unlike art that is only displayed, community art is made together. A painting workshop in a neighbourhood hall, a choir of retired dock workers, a group of teenagers filming the stories of their grandparents: in each case, the process matters as much as the result. People who might never otherwise speak to one another sit at the same table and share materials, ideas and laughter.

Research across Europe has repeatedly shown that participation in cultural activities is linked with stronger social ties, greater trust between neighbours and a deeper sense of belonging. In a city that has gone through deep economic change, these are not small things. They are part of what makes a place resilient.

There is also a practical side. Community art gives local artists paid work and a reason to stay in the city. It brings activity into neighbourhoods far from the centre. It gives young people a constructive, creative way to spend their time, and gives older residents a place where their knowledge is valued.

At Nada Galijota, we see community art not as a luxury but as part of the everyday infrastructure of a healthy city, as important in its own way as libraries or parks. That is why we keep our activities open, affordable and close to where people live.

If you have never taken part in a community art project, we warmly invite you to try. Come to a workshop, bring a friend, and see what happens when a room full of strangers starts to create together.