The prestigious Golden Pen Awards ceremony was held in the distinguished setting of the Meštrović Gallery in Split. Organised by the Croatian National Tourist Board, these awards are presented annually to journalists, bloggers, influencers, and media creators for outstanding publications promoting Croatia as a tourist destination. The Golden Pen Award is one of the most important recognitions in the field of tourism promotion, honouring individuals whose work contributes to Croatia’s international visibility and reputation.
One of the unique features of this event is that it takes place in a different Croatian city each year. Accordingly, the design of the award is entrusted to a local artist whose work reflects the identity of the host destination. As this year’s ceremony was held in Split, the honour and responsibility of designing the award was entrusted to Jakšić Gallery, which conceived and produced a unique stone plaque crafted from Brač stone.
The award was designed by Dr Dina Jakšić Pavasović, academic painter, in collaboration with visual communication designer Goran Pavasović. The award takes the form of an elegant square plaque carved from Brač limestone, a material that has symbolised Croatian architectural and artistic heritage for centuries.
Its shape references the geometric structure of the fields of the Croatian coat of arms while simultaneously creating a white surface that symbolises a sheet of paper—the place where the written word is born and the foundation of journalism and authorship. As the central visual element, the designers created a distinctive symbol that combines the motif of a golden pen with the name of the award itself. This symbol is positioned on the white stone surface as the first letter of an imagined text.
To further emphasise the idea of writing, horizontal relief lines were carved into the stone, representing lines of text. These relief elements, combined with gilded details, reinforce the symbolism of the award, while the minimalist design successfully connects contemporary visual expression with the rich cultural heritage of Dalmatia.
The robust form of the plaque also evokes the monumental walls of Diocletian’s Palace, one of the most significant monuments of ancient architecture in the Mediterranean, built from the same high-quality Brač limestone nearly two thousand years ago.
The creation of this award is yet another confirmation of the value of Croatian stonemasonry craftsmanship and of the contemporary possibilities of Brač stone in design, art, and ceremonial awards.
We are particularly delighted that one of this year’s recipients was filmmaker Christine Degan, who received the award for her documentary film about Brač stone and the Jakšić family. Her recognition further confirms the international interest in the stone-carving tradition of the island of Brač and the multi-generational contribution of the Jakšić family to preserving and promoting this valuable part of Croatian cultural heritage.
Through the creation of the Golden Pen Awards, Jakšić Gallery once again united art, design, and tradition, presenting Brač stone as a distinctive symbol of Croatian identity, exceptional craftsmanship, and contemporary Croatian design.
