The vision and framework program concept with which Nikšić will apply for the title of European Capital of Culture in 2030 were presented yesterday at the 18th International Podgorica Book and Education Fair, in front of a large number of officials, as well as others interested in the initiative.
The coordinator of the Nikšić 2030 initiative, Mato Uljarević, presented the information known so far and presented the vision they had reached in the previous period. Recalling the rich and stormy history of Nikšić, they used its specific urban plan made by Josip Slade, at the invitation of Prince Nikola, after the liberation of Nikšić.
"Josip Slade is building Nikšić based on the idea of ideal Renaissance work that spreads in all directions and is a place of connection. It is precisely on the basis of this specific identity of the city that we continue to build the story of connection in Nikšić, through the main concept of 'Re:Connect', i.e. Connect (with heritage, people, future). Currently, we have established seven main directions that thematize seven important problems and seven important potentials of Nikšić, and each of them has as a symbol one of the important buildings or localities for the identity of the city", revealed Uljarević.
He further presented each of those directions and explained them.
"Re:Inherit, the issue of protecting our and at the same time European cultural heritage in the territory of Nikšić, its promotion and accessibility (for foreigners, young people, people with disabilities and others). The main theme is cultural heritage and the symbol is the castle. Re:Tell is based on the strong storytelling tradition of Nikšić. We want to dramatize, recontextualize and present the powerful stories and legends of Nikšić in a modern way. The symbol is the Wall. Re:Open is related to open public spaces. Nikšić square, which is a symbol of this direction, is the largest in Montenegro, and precisely through this story we want to thematize open spaces as a meeting place of community, democratization, culture and a place where all the potential of the community is activated, which is reconnected in that place, a place where freedom of expression and speech is promoted," Uljarević summed up.
He revealed that the "Re:Start" concept raises the issue of mental health, using the city's corso as a symbol, and that concept is being developed with partners from Belgium.
"We develop projects that deal with the problems and challenges of mental health and problems of peace in general, through what is specific to Nikšić, which is 'slow living', i.e. the culture of slow life for which the Nikšić corso is a symbol. Re:Turn is the direction that connects Podgorica and Nikšić, its symbol is the tunnel, which is also a symbol of the depopulation of Nikšić. That issue focuses on the centralization of culture, while we want to start the process of decentralization by working with the capital and other cities in Montenegro to diversify the cultural scene and expand it to all cities in Montenegro," he said.
Dom Revolucije is a symbol of the "Re:Evolve" concept, which focuses on creative industries and digitization.
"Nikšić is known as an industrial city, but we now want to make a transformation and become a city of creative industries, a city that uses the capacities of young creative people and we plan projects in the field of creative industries, digital arts, technology and so on. The last thematic direction is 'Re:Connect' and concerns the natural resources of Nikšić, their valorization, but also raising awareness of the importance of preserving nature as one of the fundamental principles, with a focus on the Salt Lake," announced Uljarević.
The President of the Municipality Marko Kovačević reminded that this idea received full support in the local parliament, and he expects the same at the state level. He said that they decided on this initiative for the sake of the future of cultural and overall development of Nikšić and Montenegro.
"We have many ideas, and something that is my desire and idea is to crown this complete project in Nikšić's House of Revolution in its highest towers, where there would be a House of Digital Art, the first of its kind in the Balkans, by which we would be recognizable", revealed Kovačević .
In front of the young team working on this initiative, Nemanja Popović from the Office for the European Capital of Culture Nikšić 2030 addressed the audience.
"The point is to reach the maximum of our capacities by 2030, so that after that we would raise the quality of cultural life in Nikšić by a certain percentage, but also that allocations for culture should be raised by about ten percent. It is important that we all get involved and see what Nikšić needs in order to experience that revival, what we need to bring back in a new form, what the people of Nikšić want, what will encourage them to return and create in Nikšić and what it is that Nikšić will map as a cultural destination at the European level", said Popović.
Bulgaria is the next country to be the guest of honor at the Book Fair
The Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, Najden Todorov, the director of the French Institute in Montenegro, Johann Uhres, and the director of the publishing house Nova knjiga and the president of the Program Council of the Book Fair, Predrag Uljarević, signed the Podgorica Charter yesterday at the Book and Education Fair. It is also the first time that the Charter is signed between the current and the next country of honorary guest of the International Podgorica Book Fair, which the organizers plan to turn into a tradition.
Uljarević pointed out that some of the significant moments in the development of the Podgorica Book and Education Fair were marked by the performances of the countries of the honored guests. This was also the case during this year's edition, where France, as the country of honor, set new standards in the performance of the guest country.
"As a country of honor, we hosted French authors and presented books that have been translated or will be translated into your language, which will be very important for the Montenegrin audience," said the director of the French Institute in Montenegro, Johann Uhres.
He "handed over the baton" of the country of the guest of honor to the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, Najden Todorova, so it was made official that Bulgaria will carry that "title" at the next edition.
"I believe that this way we will get to know modern Bulgarian literature and culture better, meet many Bulgarian writers of different generations and genres, and translate and read more Bulgarian books in Montenegro," Uljarević said.
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