The 4th Project Team Meeting and the 3rd GIFTS Network Meeting of the GIFTSnet project – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions – were held in Bar on 15 and 16 June 2026. The two-day meeting was hosted by the Municipality of Bar, one of the project partners, and brought together representatives of partner organisations from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
During the meeting, project partners discussed the progress of the project, completed and planned activities, procurement procedures, partner reports, and challenges related to the implementation of project activities. Special attention was given to the further development of the GIFTS Network, exchange of experience among partners, and preparation of future joint activities.
Project Manager Kata Žganjer presented an overview of the project progress so far, the implementation of the work plan, the status of project activities, procurement procedures, key challenges, and possible deviations in implementation. After that, the partners presented the progress of their project activities and open issues important for the continuation of the project.
The second part of the programme included the 3rd GIFTS Network Meeting, dedicated to “Night of Fortresses 2026” and the further development of the international network. The organisers of the event presented their activities, programmes, and examples of good practice, with a special focus on the programmes held in Montenegro. In this part, the Municipality of Bar, the Municipality of Ulcinj, and other organisers of the event shared their experiences. The partners also exchanged ideas on how to further connect sites, institutions, and cities involved in Night of Fortresses.
Project Communication Manager Vera Jergović presented the development of Night of Fortresses during its first five years, its international growth, and the overall results of this year’s edition. Special focus was placed on the growth in the number of participating sites, the diversity of programmes, and the potential of the event as a shared platform for promoting fortified heritage.
Đurđa Vrljević Šarić, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and Projects at Fortress of Culture Šibenik, spoke about the importance of further developing the GIFTS Network. In her presentation, she highlighted the importance of cooperation, knowledge exchange, and networking among institutions, cities, and organisations managing fortified heritage. The role of the network in strengthening capacities for sustainable heritage management, developing inclusive cultural and tourism content, and continuing cooperation after the end of the project was also emphasised.
The partners also discussed the plans of the GIFTS Network for 2027 and the period after the project ends. In this context, the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation in Trebinje was announced, as a confirmation of the partners’ shared intention to continue cooperation and ensure the long-term sustainability of the GIFTS Network.
The two-day programme also included a study visit to the Old Town of Bar. During the visit, the partners visited the works on the Gavadolla building, financed through the GIFTSnet project, and learned more about previous investments in the restoration and valorisation of cultural heritage in the Bar area.
The meeting in Bar confirmed the importance of the GIFTS Network as a platform for long-term cooperation between partners involved in the protection, management, and sustainable valorisation of fortified heritage.
The GIFTSnet project – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions is implemented within the Interreg VI-A IPA Programme Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027. The aim of the project is to develop green and inclusive models for the management of fortified heritage and to improve sustainable cultural tourism. The lead partner is the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik. The project partners are the City of Banja Luka, the Municipality of Bar, the City of Karlovac, the Public Institution Homeland Museum of Herzegovina in Trebinje, and the Municipality of Ulcinj. The total value of the project is EUR 2,244,442.80, of which 85% is co-financed by the European Union. The project runs from 15 September 2024 to 14 March 2027.
This text was produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents are the sole responsibility of the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.
