Promotion of cultural heritage through the contemporary art engagement

Project leader:NGO Culture Zone with the support of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism

Project generally draws on the conclusions of the cultural decentralization of Montenegro, balanced development of culture throughout the territory, on a culture of sustainability and the Conclusion of sustainable management of cultural goods(Law on Culture and National Culture Program by the Ministry of Culture 11/2010,4/2016) Believing that Montenegrin culture is promoted by contemporary works equally as bycultural heritage, Culture Zone has developed the concept of Art trails and areas which aims to promote cultural and natural landscape, traditional architecture and biodiversity in coalition with contemporary artistic expression.
In this sense,the works of art can be displaced from the framework of conventional space and become a point through objects of cultural heritage can be reached. In this concept,works of art are located on routes of old pedestrian roads which themselves are monuments of traditional architecture.
Specific route that is the focus of this project is the route which connects the village of Smokovci(LCLJubotinj, Royal capital Cetinje) with the old urban core river of Crnojevici over Obod fortress.

Smokovci in this context represent the central point of the route, which continues towards the village of Poseljani,in which there are the remains of 14 mills from the end of 18th century.Smokovci-Poseljani routehas already been valued in the aforesaid within the framework of a pilot project funded by the GTZ, what has largely contributed to the specification of the concept for the current initiative.

Such innovative concept can be a matrix of reviving landscapes which are not on the front line of tourist interest and in continuing activities lead to positive social effects, such as the provision of economic benefits to the residents of these regions.In addition,the aim of this concept is the preservation and sustainable management of cultural heritage through artistic activities and educational activity.
We intend to set up this program as annual activity and it is related to the organization of art residences according to the principle of residence of local and international artists and promotion of landscapes and cultural heritage through the involvement of contemporary art.
Specific objectives related to this activity are concerned with the provision of space,working and other resources for continuous stay,work and socialization of groups of artists for a 7-to-10-day period through artistic action.
This concept has been developed especially for the rural area of Montenegro and relies on traditional architecture with emphasis on micro location of the old Montenegro. This year, activities will take place in the existing building with common facilities,while the accommodation of the participants is ensured through their own activity making temporary shelters of natural materials.
In addition to this program,which is the conceptual basis of this manifestation, there are very important other activities that are organized in accordance with the above objectives and with the support of which continuity in actionwill be achieved.
Besides permanent outdoorexhibition created through this workshop with the aim of supplementing through subsequent phases of the project, one of the tasks perceived is the promotion of Montenegrinintangible cultural heritage such as old skills and crafts and traditional cuisine (Law on Culture – Law on Intangible Cultural Goods by:the Ministry of Culture),all in order to promote this region as an area with high quality dynamic and continuous activity.
In this respect, we will promote contemporary film,music,poetry and other cultural products whichconceptually fit into the set target.Spatial resources which are being emphasized through the formation and functioning of this project will serve as the support to the existing cultural events and as the initiative for new ideas and programs.This is also related to the other NGOs and other organizations that can promote their own projects in this space.
Our organization has successfully implemented several projects of similar nature in the hinterland of the Skadar Lake and has contributed to the implementation of objectives described in the text. (More details can be found in the description of the organization.).

Within the implementation of this project,on a long-term basis,we strategicallyrely on the Ministry of Culture,Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, National Committee for UNESCO and NP Skadar Lake.

In this case,through a short-term pilot activity, we explore the resourcesand opportunitiesof artistic actions on the mentioned location.We are making a platformof preservation and proper presentation of cultural heritage and through participation in the project,we animate local community in that direction.
Goals:
• Creation of platform for the implementation of UNESCO Resolution for the Protection of Cultural Heritage;
• Promotion of natural material in the artistic activities with specific examples;
• positive influence on equal development of culture on the whole territory of Montenegro, relativizing the terms urban and rural relative;
• Production of art pieces through joint work and on the joint idea of traditional approach to architecture;
• Creation of pre-conditions for continuation and extension of the project;
• Research of the possibilities for tourism valuation in order to secure sustainability;
• Enrichment of cultural and tourism offer of Cetinje and surrounding area;
• Education on the topic of cultural heritage.