The Croatian Association of Artists (HDLU) is the oldest art association in the Republic of Croatia and in the whole Balkan region.  It has been active since 1868 under various names.  Its members have through out history given a priceless contribution to culture.  The seat of the association is in the Mestrovic pavilion on the square of the Victims of Fascism.  The building was built according to the designs of Ivan Mestrovic and with the funds of the art association, as a pavilion for artists. It was the first round art exhibition space in Europe (1938).  The building was unlawfully taken from the association in 1941 by the then fascist government (NDH) and was transformed into a Mosque. In the next totalitarian regime (Communist regime) the building was assigned to the Museum of the Revolution.  After a large public outcry and media campaign the building was returned in the beginning of the 1990’s to the Croatian Association of Artists (HDLU).  In the Mestrovic pavilion each year more then 100 events take place ranging from international and national exhibits, workshops, residencies and performances.  The association has provided in the last two years more then 1500 citizens free workshops and has worked to improve the lives not only of its members but also of the community as a whole.  The building itself is one of the founding members of the 360 Network, a European alliance of round cultural buildings whose partners are England, France, Spain, Denmark and Sweden.

The reason for this appeal is that the city of Zagreb has raised the rent on this building from 5700.00 Kuna a month to 44,071.00 Kuna a month.   This in order to fill the city’s budget which is currently extremely depleted due to years of mismanagement and corruption.
The HDLU is a non-profit association and in regards to the current financial situation within the country, the association has a very challenging financial situation.  If the association were to accept this new rent it would mean the immediate closure of the association which would go bankrupt and the association would be forcibly removed from its historic center and transformed into most probably a commercial space (such as a car salon) due to the disinterest of the politicians for culture or the urban framework of the city.

We appeal not to have the building taken from us yet a third time and remind all involved that the building was made with the donations of the artist members, and designed by yet another artist Ivan Mestrovic as a pavilion for the arts and it should remain a place for the arts. We ask of the Assembly of the City of Zagreb and all the parties in power, to revoke the new rent or to completely annul it.

This is the oldest and most prestigious art association in the country housed in a historical monument created for the arts, to allow it to extinguish is to allow Croatian culture to be trampled on by greed, corruption and ignorance.

We ask of you to sign the petition to give us support in our fight to survive and save our historical building.  

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