After the visit of Mr Tibor Navracsics, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and his positive attitude towards previous work of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation, during the second day of the ‘To Europe, as Legacy’ conference, Novi Sad hosted Ms Sneška Quaedvlieg Mihailović, Secretary General of the Europa Nostra, the most important European non-governmental organisation in the field of cultural heritage, who is one of the initiators of this important European initiative.
The visit of the Secretary General was of great importance having in mind that this year commemorates the Pan-European initiative of the Year of Cultural Heritage.
During the very extensive programme organised by the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation, Ms Sneška Quaedvlieg Mihailović had a chance to find out about numerous projects in the field of cultural heritage implemented by the Foundation, especially projects in the field of industrial heritage.
During the ‘Year of Cultural Heritage – Behind the Curtain’ session held within the ‘To Europe, as Legacy’ conference, Ms Sneška Quaedvlieg Mihailović, Secretary General of the ‘Europa Nostra’ organisation, was pleased with presented projects of cultural heritage implemented within the European Capital of Culture project, such as ‘Heritage Walks’, ‘DNA of the City’, ‘Almaš Yards’, as well as opening of cultural stations in objects of historical importance for the city: Egység, Svilara and so-called Kineska – Creative District.
The ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation got full support from Ms Mihailović and Mr Navracsics for further implementation of joint activities.
At the same time, the ‘Strategic Planning in Cultural Institutions’ conference organised in accordance with the Strategy of Cultural Development of Novi Sad was held in the period from 2016 until 2026.
New challenge including 5-year strategic planning of cultural institutions was posed for 2018 and 2019, which is turning point in the work of cultural system of the Province and city of Novi Sad. Strategic planning presents the logical order of events after adopting the Strategy of Cultural Development of Novi Sad in 2016 as well as winning the prestigious European Capital of Culture title in the same year. Although it is not the usual practice in the countries of the European Union, this process presents innovation from our point of view.
The ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation and City Administration for Culture of Novi Sad initiated the meeting of directors and general managers of cultural institutions in 2017, founded by the City of Novi Sad, Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and Republic of Serbia, in order to implement plans of the European Capital of Culture project. This was followed up by the joint work with their appointed representatives related to the audience development and accessible arts which resulted in public calls dedicated to cultural institutions in the first place. Systematic cooperation continued in direction of education about development of European projects in culture and drafting European project applications.
Dr Lazar Jovanov, artist programme manager of the ‘Novi Sad 2021’ Foundation stressed that there are multiple benefits from strategic planning:
‘5-year plans should consider culture in the context of mission and vision of cultural (institutional) stakeholders in contemporary context, with new challenges that are imposed in current social-cultural circumstances. This is the right moment to overview strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats imposed on our institutions that have long and reputable tradition. The aim is to get long-term programme, with mutual coordination, as well as synergy, so that the delivered programme could achieve desired aesthetic excellence. The strategic plan should enable democratic planning of staff policies, as well as working standards, which are adopted in Europe’, said Mr Jovanov.
