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Translation in Croatia has centuries long tradition both because of its geopolitical position and the inquisitiveness and openness so characteristic of small nations. As a curiosity, the Croatian translation of Torquato Tasso's Aminta by Dominko Zlatarić was printed even before the original came out in Italian. It was after the World War 2 that Translation became a world wide and institutionalized preoccupation - and along with science, technology and politics, literature and literary translations have always kept their special place, even extended it. The FIT (Federation International des Traducteurs) was founded in Paris in 1953 and in the UN it received the status of an A-category non-governmental organization attached to UNESCO. Not long afterwards national translators associations of various kinds sprang up the world over. The Croatian Literary Translators Association - CLTA (Društvo hrvatskih književnih prevodilaca) was officially registered in Zagreb, Croatia, in 1953. The constitutional conference was held on November 11, 1952, stating the basic aims of the Association and electing the Board of Administration. The Society aims at promoting translation and the status of translation as a profession; improving the social status of translators, and the quality of their work. It organizes conferences on professional topics, works on database on translators, occasionally publishes fiction or poetry in translation, or works on the translation theory, etc. To become a member of the Association, a n affirmative review of the least one published translation of literary or related merit is required, with proven activity in the field of literary translation (contributions to relevant literature and cultural periodicals and/or media). The CLTA awards the annual prize for the best literary translation that appeared in the previous year, as well as a prize honoring the life work of a literary translator of outstanding merit. The prizes consist of bronze statuettes. More than one prize may be awarded if outstanding translations in various literary genres have appeared during the previous year. In 1994, the CLTA became a member of the umbrella organization of translators, Conseil Européen des Associations des Traducteurs Litteraries - CEATL. DHKP in continually considering various posibilities for taking an active part in promoting Croatian literature abroad. Apart from honouring outstanding translators of Croatian literature into foreign languages, DHKP has been working on another initiative – that of founding a „translators’ house“: Translators’ houses have been functioning in several European countries (France, U. K. etc.) for years, with outstanding results. A Translators’ House will provide lodging for a translator, equipped with computer, use of internet and reference library etc., creating an ideal opportunity for research into the Croatian author’s setting, vocabulary etc . As an aditional bonus, foreign translators working on a translation from Croatian, may be able to consult a Croat colleague staying in the Translators’ House at the same time, working ona a translation from the guest’s language into Croat. His/her Croatian colleague would be his/her first advisor and contact in the new environment. A possibility of the author of the text being translated spending several days in Translators’ House has also been considered. The duration of stay in the Translators’ House may vary from two weeks to a month. The location of the Translators’ House is currently Podstrana (in Dalmatia, near Split), but there may be other options. DHKP hopes to solve all relevant problems until spring 2007, when the first applications may be considered.Foreign translators who apply for the stay in the Translators’ House should either have a valid contract with the publisher in their country (in which case they can also benefit from the Ministry of Culture funds), or, in case they have no contract, yet, but wish to translate a Croatian literary work into their language, should submit relevant references and letters of recommendation. The House will be run by the Translators’ House Committee, consisting of 2 DHKP board members, 2 representatives of the municipality, 1 representative of the Ministry of Culture. The competition and the final choice of candidates, constitution of a branch office at the DHKP (coordinator, secretary), finalizing the work on the interior, foundation of a reference library (with the help of the Ministry of Culture), technical equipment of the House are the next steps in the organization of the Translators’ House.  
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