Photo by: Jonas Sergio
Since September 2016, Neven Mihic has served as an Instructor, and Assistant Professor in the College of
Design at the American University in the Emirates, Dubai. He began his artistic journey as a dancer with
the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek, performing in numerous operas, musicals and dramas over four
years. After graduating from the School of Textiles, Design and Applied Arts, in Osijek, Neven pursued a
Master’s degree in Costume Design from the Faculty of Textile Technology in Zagreb. Following his
academic achievements, he showcased six significant solo exhibitions of costume and set design. Neven’s
career as a designer spans over twelve years, during which he created costumes and sets for more than
thirty theatre productions. He collaborated with a diverse range of theatres, from major national
institutions to smaller, experimental companies. Among his notable projects are Bizet’s opera Carmen,
Puccini’s La Bohème, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Lehár’s The Merry Widow, Ivo Tijardovic’s The Aquarelle of
Split, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Hérold – Hertel La fille mal gardée, Tchaikovsky’s Onegin, and The
Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen/Davor Bobic. In addition to his theatrical work, Neven led several
individual fashion shows and projects, receiving numerous accolades in his field. In the UAE, he created
hats and fascinators for Dubai World Cup 2017, 2018 and 2019. His work is concentrated mostly on
complex opera and ballet costumes, as well high and experimental fashion. Neven received three
nominations for the Croatian Actor Awards 2023 for his contributions to the ballet Onegin (set and
costume Design) at the Croatian National Theatre in Split and the operetta The Merry Widow (set design)
at the Croatian National Theatre in Osijek. His future project is Don Quixote by Ludwig Minkus marked
as first collaboration with SNG Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana and ballet star Denis Matvienko. Since 2013,
he has been proud 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