Croatian Museum Wins Top Honors at Živa Awards in Trebinje

The Croatian Natural History Museum in Zagreb has been awarded the title of the best Slovenian museum at the Živa Awards, an event organized by the Forum of Slavic Cultures (FSK) held from October 8 to 11, 2023, in Trebinje. The Local Museum of Pljevlja received a special recognition for its leadership and team efficiency during the ceremony, which highlighted the achievements of museums across the region.

Under the auspices of the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Serbia, Nikola Selaković, the Živa Awards and the accompanying international conference attracted over 140 participants from 13 countries. This event confirmed the vibrancy and interconnectedness of the Slavic museum community. The municipality of Trebinje hosted the event with support from Mayor Mirko Ćurić and the Director of the Museum of Herzegovina, Ivana Grujić.

This year’s awards also introduced a new category, the Award for Preserving Slovenian Heritage Worldwide, which recognized institutions from Hungary, Italy, and the United States. The conference, titled “Echoes of Heritage and the Future of Museums,” featured esteemed experts including Alessia Mazzolotti, Sandra Debona, and Robert Zancan. They discussed the role of museums as living spaces for memory, dialogue, and innovation, emphasizing the importance of technology in modern exhibitions.

Nominees showcased projects that blended tradition with contemporary technologies, including digital exhibitions, 3D scanning, and the use of artificial intelligence.

The awards ceremony, held on October 10 in Trebinje, saw a jury composed of 16 museum experts from Slavic countries and the European Museum Academy (EMA) grant a total of 13 awards, recognitions, and diplomas. Among the recipients were museums from Poland, Slovakia, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, and Croatia, alongside the winners from Zagreb and Pljevlja.

Established in 2014, the Živa Awards are named after the Slavic goddess of life and fertility. The awards promote the protection, preservation, and social roles of museums and cultural heritage sites. Today, this network encompasses nearly 250 museums and sites from 13 Slovenian countries. Organizers have announced that the 12th edition of the Živa Awards will take place next year in Bled, Slovenia, continuing the celebration of cultural heritage across the region.