Culture and art are what connect people – said European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos in Sarajevo’s City Hall, where she was hosted by Sarajevo Mayor Samir Avdić, on the occasion of the official marking of the start of the project to build the Ars Aevi contemporary art museum.
The start of the Ars Aevi Museum construction project was formalized with the signing of a letter of cooperation between the European Union in BiH and the UNESCO Office in BiH, signed by the Head of the EU Delegation and EU Special Representative in BiH, Ambassador Luigi Soreca, and the Head of the UNESCO Office in BiH, Siniša Šešum.
The construction of the Ars Aevi Museum, which will be located in the municipality of Novo Sarajevo, is financed by a grant from the European Union in the amount of 4.1 million euros through the EU4Culture project, and is co-financed by Italy, France and the local authorities.
Through the EU4Culture project, the European Union has provided a total of 8.5 million euros in grants for the construction and renovation of five cultural facilities in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Mostar.
The Mayor of Sarajevo, Samir Avdić, welcomed EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, stating that her arrival in Sarajevo, in the heart of BiH, in the heart of Europe, “represents encouragement for us, but also strong support for building a common European future, based on peace, solidarity and the values that bind us”.
“Our partnership brought us together today to witness the signing of a letter of cooperation between the EU in BiH and the UNESCO Office in BiH, which begins the construction of the new Ars Aevi Museum of Contemporary Art, a project born as a symbolic response to the destruction and siege of Sarajevo,” said Avdić.
He added that the European Union’s grant of 4.1 million euros, which will be invested through the EU4Culture project in the construction of the museum, is another proof of the European Union’s deep commitment to the development of culture, peace and common identity in BiH.
Avdić emphasized that Ars Aevi is not just a museum, it is a symbol of resistance, dialogue, international friendship and the universal language of art.
“Its construction between the National and Historical Museums will make Sarajevo a unique museum district in this part of Europe, and the collection of 150 works by the world’s leading contemporary artists will finally find its permanent home,” said Avdić.
On behalf of all the citizens of Sarajevo, he thanked the European Union, UNESCO, Italy, France, Spain and everyone who recognized the importance of this project, thus leaving a mark of good on the pages of the history of this city and country.
“Let the future Ars Aevi museum be a meeting place and a permanent testimony that it is possible to build not only buildings, but also community, trust, beauty, dignity and, above all, peace,” said Avdić.
European Union Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said that the idea of the Ars Aevi museum, this whole project carries with it the power of unification made possible by art.
“I hope you will have a world-class, world-class museum here, and I am very pleased that the European Union, together with our member countries and others, recognized its importance and expressed support,” said Kos.
She expressed the hope that this will be a leading institution of culture and attract many visitors, because art, among other things, has this transformative power.
“I hope that it will serve as a true inspiration to everyone in Sarajevo, as well as its visitors, and at the same time it represents a great tool for connecting within the country, connecting with Mostar, Banja Luka, Sarajevo and beyond. Europe, among other things, its essence is culture and the issue of cultural heritage, but above all, culture and art are what connect people,” stated Kos.
The Head of the UNESCO Office in BiH, Siniša Šešum, said that the works should be completed in two years.
“We hope and I certainly say this, that we will open the museum before the end of your mandate,” said Šešum, addressing Commissioner Kos.
Today’s event in the City Hall was attended, among others: the ambassadors of Italy, France and Spain to BiH Sarah Eti Castellani, François Delmas and Maria Molina; Arnhild Spence, UN Resident Coordinator for BiH; Darja Softić Kadenić, Minister of Justice and Administration of the Canton of BiH; officials of the City of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, Mayor of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo, and the founder of the Ars Aevi project Enver Enjo Hadžiomerspahić, Fena writes.
