Matrix Croatica (Matica hrvatska), one of the oldest cultural Institutions of the Croatian people, like the lighthouse, has the leading role in the preservation of Croatian identity, culture and language. In the wing of Illyrian reading room, on the proposal of Count Janko Draskovic, the Matrix Illyrian was established in 1842 in Zagreb. Under the presidency of Ivan Kukuljevic Sakcinski, the name Matrix Illyrian was changed into Matrix Croatica in 1874.
Today, Matrix Croatica is the largest publisher of books and magazines in Croatia, each year it publishes more than a hundred books in its headquarters and branches. The special attention is paid to library "The centuries of Croatian Literature“(Stoljeća hrvatske književnosti), which has so far published about seventy titles. The headquarters publishes newspapers for literature, art and science "Vijenac“, then the literary and scientific journal "Kolo“ and "Hrvatska revija“. About a hundred of existing branches of Matrix Croatica are bearers of cultural life in their areas, especially in advocating and trying to attract children and young people.
For the first time the General Assembly of Matrix Croatica will be held outside the Croatian borders, on 19th June in Čitluk (B&H). In this way a great trust and honor is pointed out to the branch in Čitluk, and it is also a tribute to all Herzegovinian branches of Matrix Croatica.
