REGIONAL NGO DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

 

About regional NGO development network

Cultural Heritage without Borders organised a regional NGO workshop at National Museum in Sarajevo, in September 2006.

 

The aim of the workshop was to exchange experiences and identify the needs for joint activities in the cultural heritage sector. The meeting resulted in the creation of a network of NGOs in the region.

 

In a joint statement at the end of the workshop the participants agreed on continuing the work to strengthen the regional network, which shall focus its activities on capacity building and the development of increased capabilities in the cultural heritage sector. The network shall also safeguard and take care of the interests of civil society organisation in Western Balkans in their efforts to maintain and protect their common heritage.

 

The founding partners of the network are coming from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

 

Second regional NGO workshop was held in Gjirokastra, Albania in December 2006. Main success of the workshop was that the participants defined Network’s common mission and vision (46KB ).

 

After the meeting in Gjirokastra, the SEEheritage (SouthEast Europe heritage) network was working very hard on a couple of common projects. The leaflet (259KB ) with common vision and mission is finalized, and the web page www.seeheritage.com will be launched very soon.

 

The third meeting of SEE (South East European) Heritage Network was held in Skopje and Ohrid, Macedonia, in July 2007.  The goal of this conference was to discuss how these organizations, through the further development of the network, could jointly contribute to the preservation and promotion of the region’s rich cultural heritage as a tool for sustainable and responsible development. 

 

Two outcomes emerge from this meeting as the most significant: the decision to include Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania in the network, and the joint production and ceremonial signing of the Membership Declaration, a document professing the network’s values, commitment and vision.

 

The network plans to organize its next meeting in November in Montenegro.

 

 

REGIONAL MUSEUM COOPERATION

 

About regional museum cooperation

The museum network was established in April 2006 at Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala, Sweden. The workshop in Uppsala was organised by Cultural Heritage without Borders. The participants were museum directors and key museum staff from eleven museums in the Western Balkans region (from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia). At the workshop, it was also determined that a special network for female museum directors was required in order to address the specific needs of this group.

 

Regional museum cooperation is based on strengthening the contacts and collaboration between museums in the Western Balkans and has the potential to enhance cultural understanding, staff competence, exchange of ideas and exhibitions and make the museums more inviting to the public.

 

In a workshop in Uppsala and through internet contacts between the museums and CHwB, a regional museum cooperation programme has been developed. Three areas were prioritized by the museum participants:

• leadership / management
• joint exhibitions / travelling exhibitions
• workshops / study tours

 

The purpose of the programme is improved capacity and creativity for participating museums in management and reaching out to the public. This will be done through enhanced inter-ethnical understanding and in accordance with international museum standards. Eleven museums have committed themselves to take responsibility for different parts and to participate in the programme with staff, time and as far as possible with some funds.

 

Twelve workshops have been planned within the museum network during the 2006 – 2007. Specialists from the Balkans and Sweden jointly organise the workshops and study visits (leadership workshops incl. female network, communication network, exhibition techniques workshop, joint/travelling exhibitions workshop, workshops on inventory and documentation, museum ethics, children enjoying museums etc). Approximately 140 museum employees are expected to participate in the training and joint activities.

 

Institutional cooperation between museums in the Western Balkans and Sweden is also part of the programme.

 

 

REGIONAL EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVE

 

About regional educational initiative

Perceiving the actual needs of the Region in the field of protection of cultural heritage in accordance with the modern principles of conservation and rehabilitation MNC – ICOMOS (Macedonian National Committee of ICOMOS) and CHwB (Cultural Heritage without Borders, Sweden) have launched an initiative for regional cooperation with a special emphasis on education, transfer of knowledge and technology as well as direct participation in the activities in the field of conservation and protection of the cultural heritage in the Region.

 

As a first step towards the realization of the regional cooperation, it is anticipated to hold a Regional Expert Meeting in Skopje/Ohrid (Republic of Macedonia) in the period 26–30 September, 2006. Regional cooperation is anticipated to be realized among the following participating countries/territory: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro.  

 

The meeting was organized by ICOMOS – Macedonia, and the CHwB Foundation supported by the Sida agency and the Swedish Government provided the financial support for the expert meeting.

 

The meeting was held at a high professional level, with participants from the region and experts from Sweden and it confirmed the necessity of regional cooperation in the field of protection and conservation of cultural heritage through establishment of a Regional Master Programme. The conclusions drawn and the recommendations given at the meeting clearly define the strategy and the goals of future cooperation from the aspect of short- and long- term activities.