STECCI Summer Academy 1 Opens in Cista Provo, Croatia, Day 1 & 2, 2025

On July 6th, 2025, the STECCI Horizon Europe project marked an important chapter with the opening of Summer Academy 1 in Cista Provo, Croatia. This event represents a core component of the project’s broader mission—to reframe stećci not merely as historical artifacts, but as living elements of Europe’s rich and evolving cultural landscapes.

The Summer Academy provides a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, skills development, and critical reflection on heritage practices in today’s society. Carefully designed by the task leader ZSI, the program embodies a collaborative spirit and forward-thinking approach. The host institution UMAS welcomed participants, with contributions from UNSAUDG, and SPK.

The opening day began with an introduction to the objectives of the Summer Academy by Krešimir Bosnić, followed by an inspiring speech from Tomislav Šitum, mayor of Cista Provo. A warm welcome and project presentation were delivered by Saida Ibragić, project manager of STECCI.

Participants were then invited to the nearby necropolis, where Ivan Alduk, the Representative of the Ministry of culture and media and head of the Department of Conservation in Imotski, offered insights into the site’s historical and archaeological significance. His talk highlighted the exceptional cultural value of the necropolis and its place within the broader heritage landscape of the region. The day concluded with a poetic performance by UMAS art students (Mirela Banić, Elena Bukvić, Nikolina Domuzin, Laura Jurišić, Leon Macanović, Luka Tino Šajin) mentored by Davor Pavić, who brought the ancient stones to life by reciting verses by Mak Dizdar—the Bosnian poet who gave voice to the silent language of stećci, evoking themes of transience, memory, and the deep time of human existence.

On the second day, participants joined a hybrid session featuring a diverse range of topics, including:

·       Innovative educational approaches to heritage preservation

·       The cultural tourism potential of stećci

·       Environmental factors affecting stone monuments

·       The role of chemistry in conservation practices

·       Social innovation and citizen science

·       The digital platform nekropola.ba

As the first in a series of academies, Summer Academy 1 sets a strong foundation for ongoing dialogue, learning, and action within the STECCI project.

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