Established on 22 September 1994, the HNK Mostar is the first professional theatre of the Croat people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"Our mission and vision is to be a Croatian, people's, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina and European theatre," Vukoja said at the anniversary-marking ceremony.
He recalled that the Croats of Mostar and Herzegovina, gathered in the Fraternity of St. Anthony and the Catholic musical ensemble Hrvoje in 1897 built their first venue for theatre and music performances but its work was soon banned by the Austro-Hungarian regime. Similar things happened under other state regimes, Vukoja said, adding that it was only in 1994 that the HNK Mostar was established.
Construction work on the new building to house the HNK Mostar, which for years has been staging performances in a basement, has been underway and so far Croatia has contributed €2.7 million for it.