In order to expand the cross-border tourist offer and create a joint tourist route from Novi Sad to Szeged, which will connect famous women in science and culture, the ‘Famous Women in Science and Culture: Experience Design through Joint Cultural Tourism Route and Product Development in Serbia-Hungary Cross-Border Region – WSCRoute’ project was presented.
This project is a kind of an overture to the ‘Heroines’ programme arch and the year when Novi Sad will hold the prestigious title of European Capital of Culture. The ‘Heroines’ programme arch will open the space for presenting and evaluating Novi Sad female scene, one of the most significant female scenes in the Balkans, but also important in the wider European context.
The project will include two large multimedia permanent exhibitions to be held in May next year – Mileva Marić Einstein in Novi Sad and an exhibition dedicated to significant female figures in Szeged – photographer Manci Beck, painter Kukovecz Nana and librarian Fischhof Ágota.
‘Famous women in culture and science are very important because in their time, they stood side by side with men and worked in their fields: science, culture and art. On the occasion of 8 March, we implemented the ‘Significant Women of Novi Sad’ exhibition, presenting a part of the cooperation with the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation in the title year. In addition to the tourist route, we will also have a mobile application that will be able to connect all famous women in this region,’ said Vesna Ivković, director of the Museum of the City of Novi Sad.
Dalibor Rožić, a member of the City Council for Culture, says that this project, in addition to raising awareness of the importance of these women for the history and culture of both regions, will strengthen relations between the two countries through the promotion of common cultural values and heritage.
‘This is another indicator that culture is an important field of life that connects people, two cities – Novi Sad and Szeged, two countries – Serbia and Hungary, and I am glad that together through the synergy of connecting, networking and good cooperation we will implement everything planned by this project. Certainly, when it comes to the activity of the Museum of the City of Novi Sad, in cooperation with the European Capital of Culture, we have been willing for years to prepare an exhibition about Mileva Marić Einstein in the best possible way and through regular museum activities and preparation of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ project, and now in cooperation with partners from the European Union,’ Rožić pointed out.
Nemanja Milenković, CEO of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation, pointed out that this project is an overture to what awaits Novi Sad next year, through the ‘Heroines’ programme arch, which encourages and promotes female culture, art and creativity, revives women’s historical heritage for the sake of a more equal society.
‘The exhibition about Mileva Marić Einstein has already been mentioned, whose work in science will be presented in the right way for the first time and give the right boost to some future generations. We should not forget the three heroines to whom we will dedicate this programme, and they are Marija Trandafil, not only a patron of art and culture, but also a benefactor, Milica Stojadinović Srpkinja, Serbian Joan of Arc, who is also a poet and the first war reporter, translator, and finally Milica Tomić, an activist, and I dare say a kind of spark of feminism. They will be presented in a different way, through art and culture, but also in the humanities,’ said Milenković.
The ‘Famous Women in Science and Culture: Experience Design through Joint Cultural Tourism Route and Product Development in Serbia-Hungary Cross-Border Region – WSCRoute’ project is an IPA project of the cross-border cooperation between Hungary and Serbia, which will be implemented by Museum of the City of Novi Sad with the support of the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture’ Foundation.