Institute of Art History Delegation Informs President Milanović on Post-Earthquake Reconstruction Developments
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović has received today a delegation of the Institute of Art History and the Scientific Committee of the 5th Congress of Croatian Art Historians, which was held on 10-12 November 2022 under the auspices of the President of the Republic.
Post-earthquake reconstruction was the central theme of the 5th Congress of Croatian Art Historians. Not only was the post-earthquake reconstruction of Zagreb and Petrinja discussed, but other such endeavours that changed the faces of many towns and cities throughout history were a meeting topic. The 5th Congress of Croatian Art Historians was attended by some one hundred participants, who gave 75 presentations and organized three panels, and the final discussion was devoted to the issue of post-earthquake reconstruction. The congress organizers and representatives of the Institute of Art History pointed out that the devastating earthquakes that struck the city of Zagreb and the Banovina region presented art historians and architects with the demanding task of restoring valuable architectural and artistic heritage.
The Director of the Institute Katarina Horvat Levaj recalled that since its inception, the Institute has been involved, apart from conducting research, in the restoration of monumental heritage. Therefore, immediately after the earthquake struck, the Institute became involved in the process of reconstruction in Zagreb. Noting that reconstruction is a long-term process, the director also presented to President Milanović the Institute’s projects related to the restoration of particular buildings, but also to Zagreb’s complete reconstruction. One such project is “Block 19 – Conservation model of reconstruction.”
The meeting with the President of the Republic also discussed the impediments to faster post-earthquake reconstruction, whereby ownership issues were highlighted as one of the main problems, particularly in the reconstruction of private buildings. When it comes to public institutions, the reconstruction process is going relatively well, the delegation said. The art historians pointed out that the profession is facing great challenges, which demand that every effort be made to completely save the severely damaged monuments and landscapes in their original form.
Apart from the Director of the Institute of Art History and member of the Scientific Committee of the 5th Congress of Croatian Art Historians Katarina Horvat Levaj, the following persons attended the meeting with President Milanović: Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute of Art History Tamara Jurkić Sviben, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Art History and member of the 5th Congress Organizing Committee Petar Prelog, Emeritus at the Institute of Art History and member of the 5th Congress Scientific Committee Academician Željka Čorak, member of the 5th Congress Scientific Committee Irena Kraševac, Head of the City Institute for the Conservation of Cultural and Natural Heritage of the City of Zagreb and delegate of the Mayor of Zagreb at the 5th Congress Lana Križaj, members of the 5th Congress Scientific Committee Dragan Damjanović and Petra Vugrinec, and Secretary of the Institute of Art History Nela Gubić.
Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Culture Zdravko Zima was alongside President Milanović.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Filip Glas