Center | BORE

The scientific paper “Leadership Mindset and Skills for Wellbeing in Museums” has been published

Dragana Markanović — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 07:55:08 +0000

Marta Šveb Dragija and Dr. Daniela Angelina Jelinčić have published the scientific paper “Leadership Mindset and Skills for Wellbeing in Museums” in the journal Muzeológia a kultúrne dedičstvo, through CORK – the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture, as part of the BORE project.

The paper explores how museums can become important promoters of wellbeing and which leadership skills and mindsets are needed to develop wellbeing-oriented initiatives in museums. Based on interviews and research conducted with the leadership of Croatian museums, the authors identify nine key leadership skills and highlight museums as important places that support community wellbeing. The paper also provides recommendations for fostering a growth mindset and strengthening leadership competencies.

Link to the paper: https://muzeologia.sk/index_htm_files/MKD_4_25_dragija.pdf

New guidebook in the series – Manual for Greening Cultural Heritage

Dragana Markanović — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:15:46 +0000

The new “Guidebook for Greening Cultural Heritage” authored by IRMO researchers Daniela Angelina Jelinčić, Sanja Tišma and Marko Raič has been published by Jesenski and Turk. The guidebook is the result of the research performed by the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture within the framework of the BORE project and published as the 4th book in the series “Cultural Heritage in Practice” (the first book was ” Cultural Sustainability Guide”, 2022, the second “Comprehensive Assessment of the Impacts of Interventions in the Field of Cultural Heritage”, 2023, and the third “Guidebook for Participatory Planning and Management of Cultural Heritage”, 2024). Its goal is to provide inspiration for action so that cultural heritage is recognized not only as a remnant from the past, but also as an active resource in facing the challenges of climate change and shaping a more resilient future. It provides practical information on possible ways of greening cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, with inspiring practical examples, through its reactive, but also proactive role: reactive refers to activities to preserve and ensure the sustainability of cultural assets themselves in response to the negative impacts of climate change (heritage as an object) while proactive implies activities and initiatives by which cultural heritage contributes to preventing and reducing the consequences of climate change (heritage as a subject).

The guidebook first introduces the initial concepts related to greening cultural heritage, or green cultural heritage. It then presents international, European and national policies related to the interrelationship between cultural heritage, the environment and climate change, and in the central part presents examples of good practice in greening cultural heritage through three thematic areas: monitoring and mitigating the effects of climate change on cultural heritage itself; shaping ecological behavior through cultural heritage; and the concept of green heritage, which implies heritage associated with plants and the plant environment. This is followed by a chapter on cultural ecosystem services and green infrastructure, followed by practical steps to be taken for success in one’s own projects. Finally, the main challenges of greening cultural heritage are described, indicating the direction of future research and concrete activities.

It is intended for everyone involved in cultural heritage, environment and sustainable development: experts in the field of heritage protection and management, conservation specialists, urban planners, decision-makers, cultural workers, architects, researchers, academics as well as representatives of civil society and everyone interested in the link between cultural heritage and climate change. It is particularly useful for those working on climate change adaptation projects, green infrastructure development and public policy development.

The guidebook can be obtained here: https://www.jesenski-turk.hr/hr/prirucnik-za-ozelenjavanje-kulturne-bastine

Scientific Article “Graffiti Vandalism at Cultural Heritage Assets: Review and Effectiveness of Prevention and Removal Methods„

Dragana Markanović — Fri, 28 Nov 2025 18:00:36 +0000

Cultural Heritage Conservation

Biodiversity Conservation

Environmental Science and Engineering

IJCS is indexed in:

Web of Science – ESCI &Scopus
DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals)
EBSCO & Chemical Abstracts
IndexCopernicus  & Ulrich’s Database
Academic Google & Genamics JournalSeek
WikiArc  & A-Z e-Journals List
Journal Seek & Smithsonian Libraries
Forum UNESCO & OAKList Records

Summary:

Graffiti vandalism poses a huge issue for many cities globally, while heritage sites and individual cultural goods are not spared. The usual methods applied in the fight against graffiti vandalism relate to prevention and removal methods. This study has been undertakenwith the aim of reviewing the existing scientific literature on this topic with the purpose of detecting types of methods used in solving this problem as well as evaluating their effectiveness/efficiency.The findings revealed that among prevention/removal methods, fourtypes dominate: (a) chemical, (b) physical-mechanical, (c) biological (bioremediation), and (d) social methods. While all of them are effective, the selection of the method may vary depending on a number of factors (e.g., type of spray paint, substrate, cost, environmentaleffects, etc.). The pros and cons for each method are provided, which may serve heritage managers in the selection of a method as well as decision makers in creating an efficient policy framework related to the analyzed issue.

The article is availabe in open access: https://ijcs.ro/public/IJCS-25-04_13_Jelincic.pdf

IRMO expert associate Marko Raič participated in the conference “The Power of Heritage: Who Inherits and Who Decides?”

Dragana Markanović — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 11:31:20 +0000

The Conference titled „The Power of Heritage: Who Inherits, and Who Decides?“ was held at the Kuća halubajskega zvončara in Viškovo on 20-21 November. At the Conference, Marko Raič representing the Centre for Sustainable Development through Culture within the framework of the BORE project, delivered a presentation titled „Until Disinheritance Ours or Yours: The Sustainability of Bunjevac Heritage in the Context of (Sub)National Divisions“.

In his presentation, Raič explored the complex challenges surrounding the perception and governance of Bunjevac heritage, emphasizing the ways in which political interventions and competing identity narratives compromise cultural and social sustainability. He placed focus on institutional practices and top down interventions in culture that contribute to community fragmentation and the emergence of parallel interpretations of heritage. The Conference brought together professionals in culture and the presentation encouraged discussions on the role of institutions and local communities in heritage governance.

Call for Papers Announced for the International Conference “Culture, Tourism, and Well-being: From Heritage to Healing”

Dragana Markanović — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 15:28:31 +0000

The Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) has announced a call for papers for the international conference Culture, Tourism and Well-being: From Heritage to Healing, which will be held on October 22–23, 2026, at the Croatian Natural History Museum in Zagreb.

The conference explores the connections between culture, tourism, and well-being, and examines how experiences in cultural tourism—through art, heritage, storytelling, and emotional engagement—can contribute to individual and collective well-being.

Participants are invited to address, through interdisciplinary approaches, topics such as designing for well-being in cultural tourism, emotional and sensory engagement in museums, digital storytelling and the role of artificial intelligence, sustainable community development, and transformative forms of travel.

The call for abstracts is open until January 1, 2026, and the conference is jointly organized by the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture, the Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) from Portugal, and the Croatian Natural History Museum.

The full call text is available below in English.

Call for Papers International Conference Culture, Tourism, and Well-being From Heritage to Healing

Photo credit: Installation by Ivona Martinčić, photo by Mary Crnković Pilaš.

Agreement on future cooperation in culture, health, and well-being projects

Dragana Markanović — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 10:28:53 +0000

Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development through Culture, Dr. Daniela Angelina Jelinčić, and assistant Marta Šveb Dragija held a meeting with doc.dr.sc. Ana Havelka Meštrović, during which they agreed on future collaboration with a particular focus on the areas of culture, health, and well-being.

During the meeting, the participants discussed opportunities for joint action on projects that strengthen awareness of the importance of culture in preserving and promoting mental well-being.

The participants expressed their satisfaction with the agreements reached and their mutual readiness to further develop cooperation through specific activities and projects to be implemented in the coming period.

IRMO researcher IRMO scientist at the international conference on sustainable development goals in Split

Dragana Markanović — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 07:18:57 +0000

Dr. sc. Daniela Angelina Jelinčić, Head of the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture within the framework of the BORE project, participated in the international conference “A Decade of Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2025): Reflections and Future Perspectives”, which took place at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Split on September 25-27, 2025. The conference was organized by the Center for Transdisciplinary Promotion of Sustainable Development – OdRaST at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Split. The conference marks 10 years of adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provides a platform for discussion of achievements, challenges and future directions of sustainable development. As part of her presentation prepared together with Marko Raič, Dr. Jelinčić presented the results of research studies conducted at IRMO on the topic of sustainability of cultural heritage, as well as on greening of cultural heritage. The presentation was well received, and the conference was also a good opportunity to establish closer cooperation between the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture and the organizers.

More information available at: https://www.ffst.unist.hr/centri/centar_tpsd?@=24lnd

IRMO researcher at the FORTIC international conference

Dragana Markanović — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 12:40:09 +0000

Daniela Angelina Jelinčić, PhD, Coordinator of the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture within the BORE project participated in the international conference “FORTIC: Fortified Architecture For The Culture Of Peace – European Best Practice In Fortified Heritage Management”, which took place in NP Brijuni on September 15 and 16, 2025. The conference was organized by the Faculty of Economics and Tourism “Dr. Mijo Mirković” of the Jurja Dobrila University in Pula within the framework of the FORTIC project. The goal of the conference was to encourage an interdisciplinary dialogue focused on the best European practices in the sustainable valorization and revitalization of fortifications and former military heritage and its transformation into areas of international cultural and scientific cooperation, civil and peace initiatives, solidarity and intercultural dialogue. Participatory sustainable management of fortified and former military heritage through transnational networking and cooperation can contribute to more balanced sustainable planning and the quality of life of local communities. As part of her presentation ‘Cultural heritage in practice: sustainability, assessment of impact on cultural heritage and participatory management’, dr. Jelinčić presented the results of research studies conducted at IRMO on the topics of sustainability of cultural heritage, participatory management of cultural heritage, and impact assessment of interventions in the field of cultural heritage. Her presentation served as an introduction to other presentations at the conference that focused on fortifications and military heritage, as an exemplary model for heritage sites management. The conference presented interesting research and good practice examples.

More information is available at: https://fet.unipu.hr/fet/fortic/about_the_conference/conference_program

IRMO Research at DSOTT’25 Conference in Coimbra, Portugal

Dragana Markanović — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 10:13:50 +0000

Marko Raič from the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) took part in the DSOTT’25 – Diversity & Sustainability: Opportunities and Threats on Tourism conference, where he presented IRMO’s latest research. The event was held from 4 to 6 June in Coimbra, Portugal, and was centred on the future of tourism. By linking academia, governance and the tourism industry, it brought together more than 200 researchers from Europe, Asia and Africa. The conference was jointly organised by the University of Coimbra, the European University, the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies (ESHTE), the International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) and others.

Several parallel sessions were held throughout the event. In the session Creative Tourism as a Platform for Sustainability, the research Creative Tourism Experiences for Visitors’ Wellbeing and Sustainable Museums by Marta Šveb Dragija, Daniela Angelina Jelinčić and Marko Raič from IRMO was presented. Covering multiple thematic strands devoted to current challenges in the tourism sector and examples of best practice, DSOTT’25 set out guidelines for more sustainable, innovative and technologically advanced tourism management around the globe.

Slavic Culture in the Creative Industries

Dragana Markanović — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 09:54:27 +0000

The Beskonačnost Slavena Festival (Infinity of the Slavs Festival) was held in Zagreb from June 6 to 8, 2025, at the Czech National Home in Zagreb. It was organized by the Besediranje Association, the Association for Interslavic Culture, and the Interslavic Union, with the Institute for Development and International Relations and the Center for Sustainable Development through Culture participating as co-organizers within the framework of the project Essence and Colours of Sustainable Regional Development in the Republic of Croatia – BORE. The festival aimed to present and affirm Slavic culture through contemporary artistic expression.

The rich three-day program included multiple parallel activities, such as performances by folk and cultural ensembles, classical music concerts featuring Slavic composers, a traditional slavic products fair, as well as workshops, expert presentations, and panel discussions.

Marko Raič from the Institute for Development and International Relations gave a presentation titled Slavic Culture in the Creative Industries, in which he emphasized the importance of the presence of Slavic culture within the field of contemporary creative industries. He highlighted that Slavic culture, rich in both tangible and intangible heritage, offers exceptional resources for creating innovative and successful products in today’s digital and globalized world. Increasing influence of Slavic culture in the production of creative content was particularly emphasized with an outstanding example of the Polish series “The Witcher”, a globally popular fantasy novel series by Andrzej Sapkowski. Rooted in Slavic mythology and imagination, the Witcher series has achieved international popularity not only through the books and the Netflix adaptation, but also as a successful video game franchise, with over 75 million copies sold. This places “The Witcher“ among the best-selling video games.