A press conference was held today at the Creative Hub in Kotor to mark the completion of a key phase of the Perast: Mobilising Competences project and to present plans for its continuation. The project is implemented by the SHARE Foundation (leader), the Municipality of Kotor and the Don Branko Sbutega Foundation, with the support of UNESCO through the Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans programme, funded by the European Union.
It was announced that the results of the project will soon be available to the public through a collection of studies of over 130 pages, which includes three strategic documents: a feasibility study, a mapping of the cultural heritage space, and a strategy for the restoration of the Mazarović Palace. The documents were developed through interdisciplinary work of experts and with the active participation of the local community, with the aim of reviving the cultural heritage of Perast in a sustainable and socially beneficial way.
The central initiative of the project is the restoration of the Mazarović Palace and its opening to the public as a space for cultural, educational and artistic programs. Special emphasis is placed on the active involvement of the residents of Perast and the wider community in defining the future purpose of this significant building.
Based on the experiences from previous work, a broader coalition of stakeholders was formed and signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for the new project RECUPERA(S)T. The Memorandum was signed by the SHARE Foundation, the Don Branko Sbutega Foundation, the Perast Local Community, the Friends of Perast Society, and the Expeditio organization, with the aim of starting a long-term process of revitalizing the city.
Director of the Don Branko Sbutega Foundation, Ratimir Martinović, said that the goal of the initiative is to defend the area from further devastation and create conditions for preserving life in Perast, while contributing to the survival of Kotor on the UNESCO list. As the first concrete step, it is planned to put the garden of the Mazarović Palace into operation next year.
Co-founder of the SHARE Foundation, Professor Dr. Đorđe Krivokapić, pointed out that the project will focus on developing continuous cultural, educational and research programs, as well as launching the Perast Living Laboratory as a center for sustainable community development.
Architect and founder of the NGO Expeditio, Aleksandra Kapetanović, emphasized that the Mazarović Palace is one of the rare municipally owned buildings intended for public use, and that the renovation of the garden will be the first step towards creating an open, multifunctional space in the service of the community.
The Municipality of Kotor also expressed support for the initiative, and the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Social Activities, Tatjana Kriještorac, said that the Municipality will, in accordance with its capabilities, support the continuation of the project.
Representative of the Society of Friends of Perast Andro Radulović He assessed that the project brings back focus on the values for which Perast was recognized - culture and education, and expressed his belief that the Mazarović Palace could become the beginning of a broader revival of the city.
In the coming period, the public will be informed about specific activities and opportunities for citizens to be involved in the implementation of the project.
Bonus video:
