FOUR-MONTH ACTIVITY REPORT Croatian Library and Reading Room Sali and Exit Art Studio

Reporting Period: November 2025 – February 2026 1. Introduction

The aim of the collaboration was to design and implement free, publicly accessible cultural programmes, with a particular focus on film, literature, philosophy, theatre, dance, and interdisciplinary artistic practices, while maintaining a strong international and intercultural dimension.

A total of 18 programmes were organized during the reporting period.

2. Partners in the Collaboration

Croatian Library and Reading Room Sali

Ante Mihić – Director

Roberta Karinja – Librarian

Exit Art Studio

Mehrdad Khameneh – Director

Shirin Mirzanejad – Project Manager

3. November 2025

3.1 Publication of a Bilingual Audiobook

In November 2025, the bilingual (Croatian–English) audiobook Daughters of the Sea, a poetry collection by Mehrdad Khameneh dedicated to Sali and Iran, was published.

The poems were interpreted and recorded by Ante Mihić, Lucija Pezo, and Tomislav Grandov.

The final material was released in audio and video formats on the following digital platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook, and the official website of Exit Art Studio.

The English version of the audiobook was additionally released as a vinyl edition.

3.2 Structure of Public Cultural Programmes

From early November 2025 until the end of February 2026, a continuous programme schedule was established as follows:

Tuesdays at 17:00 – film screenings

Thursdays at 18:00 – other public cultural programmes (children’s films, poetry, philosophy, music, and dance)

3.3 Cultural Programme in November

6 November 2025 – A poetry evening dedicated to Ludwig Wittgenstein, accompanied by the screening of the film Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art of Ludwig Wittgenstein.

3.4 First Film Cycle

From 11 to 25 November 2025, the first film cycle titled “Love in Later Life” was held.

Screened films:

My Favourite Cake – Maryam Moghaddam and Behtash Sanaeeha

Amour – directed by Michael Haneke

Ali: Fear Eats the Soul – Rainer Werner Fassbinder

Each screening was preceded by a short analytical introduction focusing on directorial approach, aesthetic strategies, and film language.

The cycle addressed intimate, social, and existential aspects of love in later life.

4. December 2025

4.1 Second Film Cycle – “Christmas Classics”

From 2 to 15 December 2025, the second film cycle titled “Christmas Classics” was held, featuring:

The Gospel According to Matthew (1964), Pier Paolo Pasolini

The Bishop’s Wife (1947), Henry Koster

The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928), Carl Theodor Dreyer

4.2 Other Programmes in December

4 December 2025 – Philosophy evening: What is Aesthetics? – Part I: History, Plato, and Immanuel Kant, followed by the screening of Aesthetics and the Philosophy of Art.

19 December 2025 – Screening of the animated short film In the Shadow of the Cypress (Shirin Sohani and Hossein Molayemi), winner of the 2025 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film. The screening was followed by an active discussion with children.

5. January 2026

5.1 Sali Theatre Evenings (Tuesdays)

20 January 2026 – Good Night, and Good Luck (2025), Broadway

27 January 2026 – Vanya (2024), National Theatre Live

5.2 Other Programmes (Thursdays)

14 January 2026 – Classical music evening: Stories in Sound

29 January 2026 – Contemporary dance evening: Bodies That Think

6. February 2026

6.1 Sali Theatre Evenings

3 February 2026 – Hamlet

10 February 2026 – Frankenstein

6.2 Film and Educational Programmes

5 February 2026 – Children’s Films – Carlos Lascano: Cinema Imagination Without Words

12 February 2026 – Philosophy evening: What is Aesthetics? Part II: David Hume, Walter Benjamin

26 February 2026 – Children’s Films – Tomorrow, animated short film by Aryasb Feiza

7. Film Initiative Sali (FIS)

In January 2026, enrollment began for the programme Film Initiative Sali (FIS) – Film School and Acting for Film.

8. Promotion, Documentation and Archiving

A promotional poster was designed in advance for each programme and displayed at the Croatian Library and Reading Room Sali, the Dugi Otok Tourist Board, and public notice boards in the village.

All programmes were promoted in a timely manner via official websites, social media platforms, and local Facebook pages (Sali @ Dugi Otok, I Love Dugi Otok, Zadar, and Exit Art Studio).

Each event was documented with short video recordings later published on social media. All programmes are permanently archived on the website www.exitartstudio.com

In January, the collaboration between the two institutions was additionally promoted through interviews on HRT 1 – Dnevnik, Zadarski list, Jutarnji list, and Večernji list.

9. Audience Response

Average attendance ranged between 3 and 6 participants per programme. A core group of regular attendees has gradually formed.

The highest attendance was recorded for children’s programmes, where approximately 10 children actively participated in discussions following the screenings.

Prepared on behalf of

Croatian Library and Reading Room Sali and Exit Art Studio Mehrdad Khameneh

February 2026