The Association and Club Center
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The Burgenland Croatian Center is the focal point of cultural life for the Burgenland Croats living in Vienna, and it also plays a central role for Croatian groups in general. Today, almost one third of the ethnic group lives in Vienna. In fact, more Burgenland Croats live in the nation's capital than in any area of the Burgenland. |
The Burgenland Croatian Center is a regular meeting place for members of not only Croatian ethnic groups, but other minorities and the population at large.
While the range of events is very wide, the Burgenland Croatian Center has the same goals for all of them: to inform, to eliminate prejudices and fears, to integrate, and to play a role in cultural and socio-political discourse. Even today, the Center is supported to a considerable degree by the unselfish involvement of many people. For many of the Burgenland Croats, the Center serves as both a meeting place and a piece of home right in the city.
As a bridge between the city and the countryside (Burgenland), the Center offers people the opportunity to preserve old traditions while integrating new enriching
trends.
The following associationsand institutions have their headquarters, practice rooms, or contact addresses at our Center:
If you would like to participate in one of the groups, send your request to the appropriate contact person.
KOLO SLAVUJ is the leading folk ensemble of the Burgenland Croats.
The group has been in existence since 1971. Its members, who now number almost 60 currently active male and female dancers and musicians, come from various Croatian localities of Burgenland, Slovakia and Vienna.
With the help of recognized ethnologists and ethnic choreographers from Croatia, Kolo Slavuj explores Croatian dance, song and customs. On the basis of research material, six choreographies have been created which present Croatian dances, songs and customs to the public in the form of adaptations for the stage. In addition, in its repertoire the ensemble has four more choreographies with dances and songs from Croatia.
Releases and publications:
LP: “Na toj vašoj placi”, “Poslušajte priliku”
CD: “Iskre”
Book: “Kolo Slavuj” – Dances and Songs of the Burgenland CroatsCommemorative volumes for the 5th and 20th-year anniversary jubilees
Various films for a number of television programs, including a half-hour documentary made by the Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF), and collaboration on a feature film for television.
Award: the Europe Prize for folk art awarded by the F.V.S. Foundation of Hamburg (1990)
Contact person: Gabrijela Novak-Karall, tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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The SC GRADIŠCE athletic club (Gradišce being the Croatian name for Burgenland) is the athletic division of the Burgenland Croatian Culture Association of Vienna (HGKD). Currently, the club is represented by an active team and a reserve team in the 1st Class A of the Vienna Soccer League. You can find out the times and places of championship games, as well as information about how to play and train with the team from the contact person.
In addition to games, SC Gradišce organizes regular social events at its headquarters in the Burgenland Croatian Center. You will find dates under Events.
Contact: tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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The OTVORENA SRCA (Open Hearts) mixed chorus has been active for 15 years. Approximately 40 members rehearse once a week (Mondays at 7:30 p.m.) at the Burgenland Croatian Center. Its repertoire includes Croatian folksongs from both Burgenland and Croatia, as well as a masses and classical songs in other languages. The group is always open to new members with good voices. The Open Hearts put special emphasis on social activities and celebrating together with song.
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HAKOVSKI TAMBURAŠI tamburica group
The HAKOVSKI TAMBURAŠI tamburica group is an open group which performs in various combinations by request. Its extensive repertoire of old Croatian hits and folk melodies — from Burgenland, Dalmatia, and Slavonia — is especially popular with private parties and festivals.
The open nature of the group is such that guests are invited on a regular basis in order to complete the ensemble. Whoever can play a tamburica instrument is cordially invited to join in.Contact: tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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"Rock and Pop on the Tamburica" is the motto of TAMBECARI. Six musicians from Burgenland, Slovakia, and Carinthia have charted a new path on Austria's tamburica scene. The tamburica, a traditional instrument reserved for folk music until now, is used to perform a wide-ranging repertoire, from folksongs to modern pop music. Since its inception in 1996, the group has performed on many stages in Burgenland, Vienna, Carinthia, Slovakia and Hungary. Its highlights up to now also include performances with other groups, such as Latino, Prljavo kazalište, and the Wiener Tschuschenkapelle.
Contact: Aleksandar Černut, tel.: [+43 676] 337 92 20
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The HATSKI TRIO offers authentic music of the Heideboden Croats of northern Burgenland ("Haci" in Croatian). In the songs of the Haci, a unique song tradition lives on at the point where Croatian, German, Hungarian and Slovak cultures all meet, with the additional influence of Yiddish and Roma musical elements. In addition to authentic folk music, the Hatski Trio also includes readings of authentic texts from the 500-year history of the Croats in Burgenland in its programs. Beginning with 1539 (the officially organized settlement of the Croats in Lower Austria and Burgenland) covering the varied history of the Croats over the centuries and up through the present, these historical texts provide a brief and interesting view of how the "natives" in each case acted toward newly arrived "immigrants".
Contact: tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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PIPLICI was founded in 1986 and at present includes around 25 children and young people ranging in age from 6 to 15. Its weekly rehearsals take place on Mondays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the form of a folk dance course. The course is intended to communicate the joy of dance, movement and music to children. The group also offers children the possibility of becoming more familiar with Croatian, and to encourage and deepen active and passive competence in the language.
Direction and contact: Štefan Novak, tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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VIVERICA kindergarten and children's group
The VIVERICA bilingual children's group is the first Croatian-German bilingual day care institution in Vienna for children from 2 to 6 years old. It has been in existence since 1993. Its major objective is to foster a bilingual environment in all areas, both in preparing new teaching materials and in play and communication within the group. The goal is to improve both languages at the same time and with equal emphasis in line with the competence appropriate to a child’s age.
The children's group is open from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The particular hours, however, are planned in agreement with the parents at the beginning of the work year and may be modified to suit individual needs.
Prices given upon request.
Contact: tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54-15
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KLUB SENIOROV senior citizens' club
The senior citizens' club of the Burgenland Croatian Center is a separate division of the Burgenland Croatian Culture Association of Vienna. The Association has been organized at the individual initiative of those "young and young at heart" and meets every other Friday at the Center (Schwindgasse 14) where a varied program is offered. There are always partners available for card and board games. Also, lectures on topics of interest to the group, as well as group trips are organized on a regular basis. You will find exact dates in the program listings.
Contact: tel.: [+43 1] 504 63 54
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