Ošljak, the smallest inhabited island on the Croatian Adriatic, is about to be awoken from its winter slumber
The small island of Ošljak, situated between Ugljan island and the city of Zadar on the mainland, is about to host an art colony – an international meetup of painters and sculptors from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Germany. The Art Colony Lazaret will take place from April 21 to 24.
The artists will spend four days on the charming island, drawing inspiration from the authentic Mediterranean ambiance and creating works that will then be exhibited in a local gallery, reported Naši školji on April 18, 2018. The exhibition is meant to launch a cultural cooperation of the three countries and add to the tourist offer in the pre-season. The artists will display their works in public on the last day of the art colony, and they’re already planning to move the exhibition to Preko town on Ugljan island and to Zadar, making the works more accessible to a wider audience.
The Art Colony Lazaret was first launched in 2013 as an initiative of Ošljak residents. Artists have been gathering on the island ever since, mingling with the locals and creating works that became part of a collection displayed in spaces of a former elementary school. Local residents have repurposed one of the classrooms and renovated it so it could host various activities and events. The old school thus again became an integral part of the community, with the locals making commendable efforts to preserve their heritage and keep the island in a pristine state.
Ošljak island is known to host several cultural manifestations each summer. The Art Colony Lazaret is the first in line, mostly gathering painters and sculptors. The peak season will soon kick off and visitors will start to descend on Ošljak’s shores, but it’s the artists who are the first to arrive and wake up the island from its winter slumber.
The Art Colony Lazaret is supported by Preko Municipality, the Tourist Board Preko and Zadar County.
