This October, the Lazareti complex in Dubrovnik was filled with the vibrant spirit of Croatian culture during the Art & Craft Festival, hosted as part of the TUI Colourful Cultures Croatia initiative, in partnership with DEŠA.

The festival was a real melting pot of creativity, featuring artisans and artists from Dubrovnik and surrounding areas who shared their traditional crafts through live demonstrations and hands-on workshops. Visitors had the opportunity to try their hand at embroidery, pottery, weaving and more, gaining a deeper appreciation for these age-old crafts.

“This fair really brought me joy because it provides something that’s very important to me in my work - not just to create and present something on the market, but to also experience the audience’s reaction, to hear feedback from someone walking by… Experiencing that in person is much more powerful than a virtual interaction” - shared Anamarija Bezek, one of the artisans participating in the fair.

Attendees also had the chance to explore a curated selection of authentic hand-crafted local souvenirs. “It’s just a beautiful way of experiencing the culture without having to pry into tradition that’s not your own. You can take a part of it home and honour it. I think it’s a really lovely way to give back to the city that’s been so kind to us during our visit” - said Alexa, one of the festival visitors from Dublin.