The 20th Fran Horvat Kiš Days were opened in Lobor, a manifestation held in a particularly festive atmosphere this year, marking the 20th anniversary of the event and the 150th anniversary of the birth of Fran Horvat, a prominent Croatian writer and travel writer born in Lobor.
The event began with the opening of an exhibition and the awarding of prizes to the best participants of the second regional visual arts and literature competition 'Dječji putopis' (Children's Travelogue). The competition was jointly organised by the Municipality of Lobor and the Fran Hor Elementary School, and was announced in February this year. This year, it brought together children from numerous schools and kindergartens, with the regional character allowing participation from primary and secondary schools in the Krapina-Zagorje County, primary schools from the Krapina-Zagorje and Varaždin counties, and kindergartens from the Krapina-Zagorje and Split-Dalmatia counties. The theme of the visual arts component was 'Following the Trail of Imagination – a Journey that Tells a Story'.
The director of the Fran Hor Elementary School, Valerija Debeljak, stated that 'Dječji putopis' was launched last year. The head of the Municipality of Lobor and Member of Parliament, Ljubiša Jambriak, stated that the Croatian Parliament had recognised the value of the manifestation and accepted the patronage, thanking Darko Raškaj, who launched the Fran Hor Days 20 years ago. Support for the manifestation was also provided by the Krapina-Zagorje County.
The submissions were assessed by two expert panels. The panel for visual arts works was chaired by Maja Burek, with members Briga Brlečić and Suzana Matej, while the literary works were assessed by a panel chaired by Marina Rod, with members Daniela Bak and Dubravka Soić. The prizes were presented by the head of the municipality of Lobor, Ljubiša Jambriak, and the director of the Fran Hor Elementary School, Valerija Debeljak, along with members of the panels.
In the category of visual arts works by children, the first prize was awarded to Tena Boroš from the Jurek Kindergarten in Gornji Stubica, the second to Matea Ferkić from the Miholjček Kindergarten in Mihovljan, and the third to Vida Novak-Filip from the Zlatni Dan Kindergarten in Zlatar Bistrica. In the category of visual arts works by pupils from the first to fourth grades, the first prize was awarded to Laura Čuk from the Antun Mihanović Primary School in Klanjec, the second to Ana Božić from the primary school in Petrova Gora, and the third to Vid Bial from the primary school in Oršić.
In the category of literary works by pupils in the fifth and sixth grades, the first prize was awarded to Alma Gorički from the Bedekovčina Primary School, the second to Lana Totić from the Bedekovčina Primary School, and the third to Sara Butek from the Ludbreg Primary School. In the category of literary works by pupils in the seventh and eighth grades, the first prize was awarded to Teo Balažinec from the Martinec Primary School, the second to Veronika Ilić from the Martinec Primary School, and the third to Marta Kuli from the Fran Hor Primary School. In the category of literary works by secondary school students, the first prize was awarded to Ema Trtinjak from the Zabok School of Art, Design, Graphics and Clothing, the second to Diana Plancetić from the Secondary School in Zagor, and the third to Elena Martinjak from the Secondary School in Zagor.
