Organizers
The conference Contemporary Topics in Heritage for Sustainable Development is organized by two institutions whose work brings together research, education, professional practice, public policy and development in the fields of culture, cultural heritage, tourism and sustainable development.
Institute for Development and International Relations – Center for Sustainable Development through Culture (CORK)
The Centre for Sustainable Development through Culture (CORK) promotes innovative, holistic approaches to the study of culture with the aim of contributing to sustainable development. Culture is examined in terms of both its intrinsic value—what culture is in itself—and its instrumental value, or the role it plays in the development of other fields. The Center’s research focuses on cultural tourism, creative industries, cultural heritage, cultural and social innovation, the experience economy, and behavioral economics in the cultural sector. Through these areas, it investigates the factors that influence the experience design and psychological well-being. The Center also explores international cooperation and international relations in culture within both European and global contexts.
Academy of Arts and Culture, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek – Center for Cultural Heritage
The Center for Cultural Heritage focuses on the research, evaluation, interpretation and preservation of cultural heritage, as well as education about its meaning and value. Through its activities, the Centre seeks to enhance residents’ quality of life and contribute to the development of Eastern Croatia by recognizing cultural heritage as an important development resource and encouraging creative and innovative ways of using it. The Centre raises awareness of the value of heritage, strengthens the role of the Academy of Arts and Culture within the local community, and promotes the community’s active involvement in heritage preservation. Cooperation with the public and private sectors, together with the digitization of heritage content, helps increase the accessibility and understanding of cultural heritage.
Through cooperation between these institutions, the conference provides a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and the exchange of knowledge on contemporary heritage-related issues relevant to sustainable development.