Study visit to Ljubljana for the representatives of cultural sector from Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi

From 30 May until 3 June 2011, a delegation of representatives of cultural institutions from the Municipalities of Kotor, Tivat and Herceg Novi had a study tour in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Our host was the non-governmental organization Bunker from Ljubljana, one of Expeditio’s partners in the Sostenuto project. The aim of the visit was to acquaint the cultural sector representatives from the municipalities in Boka Kotorska with the Slovenian good practices in cultural resources management.

During the visit to the Municipality of Ljubljana, we had the opportunity to learn more about the process of developing a cultural strategy of Ljubljana. Then we visited ROG, the former bicycle factory, one part of which is going to be reconstructed and converted into a contemporary art centre. We also had a chance to learn more about the models of civic engagemnet in local urban policy development. With the spatial sociologist, Matjaž Uršić, we had a workshop treating the topic “How culture can influence the development of a town, based on the example of Ljubljana”. On the last day of the visit we were received by the town architect, Professor Janez Koželj, who spoke about the engagement of citizens and local initiatives and spatial changes in the city of Ljubljana. Our hosts, members of Bunker, presented on their own example how one public space can be utilized and managed by an NGO (Old Power Station as an example of public-private partnership) and took us to Metelkova centre - an autonomous cultural zone in the centre of Ljubljana. The visit ended with a sightseeing tour of Ljubljana focusing on buildings designed by Plečnik, guided by the architect Robert Potokar.

The Municipality of Ljubljana