About

Photo by: Jonas Sergio

Since September 2016, Neven Mihic has been an Instructor, and Assistant Professor in the College of Design at the American University in the Emirates, Dubai. In eight academic years, he was teaching thirteen different courses in field of fashion, and he produced many fashion shows and competitions with the fashion students. He began his career as a dancer in the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek, dancing for four years in many famous operas, musicals and dramas. After graduating from the School of Textiles, Design and Applied Arts, in Osijek, he went to Zagreb, where he graduated MA Costume, Faculty of Textile Technology. After graduation, he presented six important individual exhibitions of Costume and Set design. For the next twelve years, Neven designed costumes for over thirty theatre performances, and cooperated with theatres of different repertory policies and formats, from large national theatre houses to informal companies. The performances comprised of the following genres: opera, operetta, ballet and drama, covering the historical periods from Ancient Egypt to modern times. His most recent project was Bizet’s opera Carmen directed by Kobie van Rensburg in Croatian National Theatre in Osijek, as well as new production of Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker in the same theatre. Other projects include; opera La Boheme by Giacomo Puccini, Don Giovanni by W.A.Mozart, operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár and Croatian traditional folk operetta The Split Aquarelle by Ivo Tijardovic. Neven designed dresses for the Chevrolet Motor Show in Geneva (Switzerland) and Frankfurt (Germany). He is also author of several individual fashion shows and projects related to fashion, and he received several awards in his field. In the UAE, he created hats and fascinators for Dubai World Cup 2017, 2018 and 2019. His work is concentrated mostly for complex opera and ballet costumes, as well high and experimental fashion. In February 2024, he presented new set and costume design for the neoclassical ballet The Snow Queen in choreography by Svebor Secak. He is nominated three times for Croatian Actor Awards 2023 for two productions: ballet Onegin CNT Split (Set and Costume Design) and operetta The Merry Widow CNT Osijek (Set Design). His future project is ballet Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus. He is a member of the Croatian Association of Dramatic Artists.

EDUCATION
2010 – 2012 MA Costume design – University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
2006 – 2009 BA Fashion design – University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology, Zagreb, Croatia
2002 – 2006 High school diploma Fashion design – School of Textiles, Design and Applied Arts, Osijek, Croatia

CURRENT POSITION Since September 2016, American University in the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates College of Design – Fashion Department – Assistant Professor – Full time position

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES – THEATRE
OPERA / OPERETTA

2023 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Franz Lehár THE MERRY WIDOW Operetta Director: Damir Lončar – Set and Costume Design

2018 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Georges Bizet CARMEN Opera Director: Kobie van Rensburg – Costume Design

2015 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

W.A.Mozart DON GIOVANNI Opera Director: Robert Bošković  – Costume Design

2014 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Giacomo Puccini LA BOHEME Opera Director: Petar Vujačić – Costume Design

2014 Komedija Municipal Theatre, Zagreb

Ivo Tijardović THE SPLIT AQUARELLE Operetta Director: Richard Simonelli – Costume Design

BALLET / DANCE

2024 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek (Collaboration with CNT Split*)

Hans Christian Andersen / Davor Bobic THE SNOW QUEEN Ballet, Choreographer: Svebor Sečak – Set and Costume Design

2022 Croatian National Theatre, Split

P.I. Tchaikovsky ONEGIN Ballet, Choreographer: Vasily Medvedev – Set and Costume Design

2021 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

P.I.Tchaikovsky THE NUTCRACKER Ballet, Choreographer: Dinko Bogdanić – Set and Costume Design

2020 American University in the Emirates, Dubai

P.I.Tchaikovsky THE SLEEPING BEAUTY Ballet, Selected ballet costumes – experimental creative work

Adolphe Adam LE CORSAIRE Ballet, Selected ballet costumes – experimental creative work

2015 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Ferdinand Herold – Ludwig Hertel LA FILLE MAL GARDEE Ballet Choreographer: Svebor Sečak – Set and Costume Design

2013 Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb

KOREOLABOS – HOMO FABER Ballet Choreographer: Sven Copony – Costume Design

2011 Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb

P.I.Tchaikovsky THE NUTCRACKER Ballet, Chor. Derek Deane Tiaras – Jewellery design for complete ballet

2005 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Antun Marinić LET’S DANCE THROUGH THE HISTORY Ballet – Costume Design

DRAMA

2013 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Mira Perić Kraljik HANA & HANA Drama Director: Mira Perić Kraljik – Set and Costume Design

2012 Castle/Kaštel Morosini Grimani,Svetvinčenat/Istra

Petra B. Blašković WITCH MARE Drama, Director: Petra B. Blašković – Costume Design

2012 Satirical Theatre Kerempuh, Zagreb

Jean Poiret LA CAGE AUX FOLLES/THE BIRDCAGE Comedy, Director: Krešimir Dolenčić – Costume Design

2012 Croatian National Theatre, Zagreb

CROATIAN THEATRE AWARDS Director: Mario Kovač – Selection of costumes and styling

2011 The Dubrava Children’s Theatre

Tomislav Zajec PIGS Drama Director: Helena Petković

CHILDREN THEATRE

2015 Children Theatre „Žar Ptica“, Zagreb

Carlo Collodi PINOCCHIO Children’s performance

Director: Želimir Mesarić – Costume Design

(NAJ, NAJ, NAJ FESTIVAL, 1st Prize for Costume Design „Pinocchio“)

2015 Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

Lewis Caroll ALICE IN WONDERLAND Children’s Musical Director: Marijana Matoković – Costume Design and making

2014 Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

Alexandre Dumas – Boris Senker THREE MUSKETEERS Drama Director: Majkl Mikolić – Costume Design and making

2015 Teatar Orange Pula Istra

Franjo Tončinić CLEOPATRA Children’s Musical Director: Luka Juričić, Franjo Tončinić – Costume Design and making

2014 Teatar Orange Pula Istra

Franjo Tončinić SANTA FROST Children’s Musical Director: Luka Juričić, Franjo Tončinić – Costume Design and making

2014 Teatar Orange Pula Istra

Franjo Tončinić HERKUL Children’s Musical Director: Luka Juričić, Franjo Tončinić – Costume Design and making

2013 Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

H.C.Andersen / Majkl Mikolić THE LITTLE MERMAID Children’s Musical Director: Majkl Mikolić – Costume Design and making

2013 Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

Brothers Grimm HANSEL E GRETEL Children’s Musical Director: Luka Juričić – Costume Design and making

2013

Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

Charles Perrault – Majkl Mikolić CINDERELLA Children’s Musical Director: Majkl Mikolić – Costume Design and making

2013 Teatar Orange Pula/ Istra

Franjo Tončinić ENCHANTED EASTER Children’s performance Director: Franjo Tončinić – Costume Design and making

2013 Children Theatre „Žar Ptica“, Zagreb

Johana Spyri HEIDI Children’s performance Director: Želimir Mesarić – Costume Design

2012 Teatar Naranča Pula/ Istra

Majkl Mikolić ALADDIN Children’s Musical Director: Majkl Mikolić – Costume Design and making

SET DESIGN

2022 Croatian National Theatre, Split

P.I. Tchaikovsky ONEGIN Ballet, Choreographer: Vasily Medvedev – Set and Costume Design

2021 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

P.I.Tchaikovsky THE NUTCRACKER Ballet, Choreographer: Dinko Bogdanić – Set and Costume Design

2015 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Ferdinand Herold – Ludwig Hertel LA FILLE MAL GARDEE Ballet Choreographer: Svebor Sečak – Set and Costume Design

2013 Croatian National Theatre, Osijek

Mira Perić Kraljik HANA & HANA Drama Director: Mira Perić Kraljik – Set and Costume Design

2009 Humanitarian concert ANA RUKAVINA “I want life”, Zagreb/Croatia, Set Design

2009 Children’s Festival, Avenue Mall – shopping centre (cinema), Zagreb/Croatia, Set Design

2009 Children’s theatre Branko Mihaljevic, Osijek/Croatia, Set Design

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES – FASHION

2019 DUBAI – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Dubai World Cup 2019, Millinery Design – Competition for the best dressed man
2018 DUBAI – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Dubai World Cup 2018, Millinery Design – Competition for the best dressed man 2017 DUBAI – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES International Fashion Week, Workshop Millinery Design     2017 DUBAI – UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Dubai World Cup 2017, Millinery Design
2016 OSIJEK – FASHION SHOW (White collection) School of Applied Arts and Design Osijek, Croatia
2014 OSIJEK – FASHION SHOW (Black collection), Croatia
2013 MARIBOR – FASHION SHOW (Black collection), Slovenia
2012 ZAGREB MOVIE FESTIVAL Hostess Dress Zagreb, Croatia
2011 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW Dresses for Chevrolet Frankfurt, Germany
2011 GENEVA MOTOR SHOW Dresses for Chevrolet Geneva, Switzerland
2009 JOY AND GALA STYLE Fashion, female magazine Fashion stylist (Over one year)
2008 FASHION WARDROBE, Zagreb/Croatia Competition – Fashion design Participant
2007 FASHION INCUBATOR, Osijek/Croatia FASHION SWEETNESS Competition – Fashion design Patricipant
2006 FASHION INCUBATOR, Osijek/Croatia FASHION MANOR Competition – Fashion design Patricipant

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITION

2021 “EXHIBITION OF CLASSICAL BALLET COSTUMES” Dusit Thani Hotel, Dubai – Individual Exhibition
2017 “EXHIBITION OF THEATRICAL SKETCHES – Exhibition of fashion and theatre drawings” American University in the Emirates Dubai – Individual Exhibition
2014 “LE CONVENIENZE ED INCONVENIENZE TEATRALI – Exhibition of theatre costumes and sketches” Museum of Slavonia Osijek – Individual exhibition
2010 „BEFORE THE PREMIERE – Exhibition of theatre costume sketches“ Zagreb, Croatia Ministry of Beauty and Photo Gallery – Individual exhibition
2009 „COSTUME & STAGE – one author“ Costume and set design for opera and ballet Institut Francais de Zagreb – Individual exhibition2012 “50 years MARILYN MONROE – Miniature dresses from paper” Zagreb, Komedija Municipal Theatre

AWARDS

2016 NAJ, NAJ, NAJ FESTIVAL, 1st Prize for Costume Design „Pinocchio“
2013 BUDI.IN, 1st Prize Award for Fashion Illustration Kaptol center, Zagreb
2010. Zagreb CROATIAN TOP STUDENT 2010.
2008 University of Zagreb, Faculty of Textile Technology DEAN’S AWARD for Excellence in Innovation, Second Year of Study.
2008 Chevrolet, Turin/Italy Type of business or sector: Pan-European Competition „Young? Creative? Chevrolet!“ Occupation/position/award: 3rd Prize Award, Discipline – Fashion
2008 Chevrolet, Zagreb/Croatia Type of business or sector: National Competition „Young? Creative? Chevrolet!“ Occupation/position/award: 1st Prize Award, Discipline – Fashion