By signing a Memorandum of Understanding, the Acting Director of the National Museum of BiH, Ana Marić, and the British Ambassador to BiH, Julian Reilly, have formalized a new project collaboration.
The aim of the collaboration is to increase the sustainability of a key cultural institution by improving its offering, actively involving community members in projects and activities, strengthening partnerships with some of the key cultural institutions in the United Kingdom, and strengthening and preserving capacities and expertise.
Ambassador Reilly emphasized the pleasure that the Embassy has the opportunity to cooperate with the National Museum of BiH, one of the key cultural institutions at the state level.
“Cultural institutions preserve and develop cultural heritage, enable citizens to access art and education, encourage creativity, dialogue and social integration, and contribute to the preservation of identity and the promotion of democratic values ,” said the Ambassador.
“We are very honored,” he added, “to have the opportunity to support the cooperation between the National Museum of BiH and relevant institutions in the UK, such as Kew Gardens and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in Logan, and to contribute to strengthening the capacities and offering of this museum.”
“Unfortunately, the situation in BiH is such that, instead of focusing on modernization, expanding the offer and attracting more visitors, these institutions have to constantly fight for survival. Such institutions must be under the protection of the state, while international support can significantly help in further improving their offer to the citizens of this country,” said Ambassador Reilly.
Marić pointed out that the only botanical garden in Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the National Museum of BiH and in the last few years they have dedicated themselves to its thorough renovation.
“The project with the British Embassy will help us go a step further, especially in terms of connecting with similar relevant institutions, which will ultimately contribute to strengthening the position of the Museum in a wider context.
In this way, the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina continues its long-standing cooperation with various embassies in our country, primarily in the field of renovation. However, as proud as we are of the activities that have been carried out in this way, we are equally saddened by the fact that most of the funds actually came from foreign, not domestic sources,” said Marić, the British Embassy in BiH announced.
