At the House of Arts Arsen in Šibenik, on Friday, October 10, 2025, a public participatory workshop was held as part of the process of preparing the Socio-Economic Impact Study of the Public Cultural Institution Fortress of Culture Šibenik for the period 2014–2024.
The objective of the Study is to examine the impact of the Fortress of Culture’s operations on the development of the local community over the past decade — from the re-opening of the first of Šibenik’s three fortresses to the public in 2014, to the present.
Open to All Stakeholders and Citizens
The call for participation was open to all interested representatives of the cultural sector — artists, cultural workers, employees of cultural institutions, associations, arts organizations, craftsmen, and private cultural enterprises — as well as stakeholders from other relevant sectors such as education, tourism, media, health, civil society, and public administration. All interested citizens of Šibenik and Šibenik-Knin County were also welcome to take part.
Aim: Understanding Effects and Contribution to Community
As a public cultural institution playing a key role in the cultural development of Šibenik and Šibenik-Knin County, the Fortress of Culture initiated the Study in order to comprehensively analyze the achievements, scope, and nature of its activities over the past ten years. In that period, the Fortress of Culture has become recognized as an example of sustainable cultural heritage management in Croatia and beyond.
For the preparation of the Study, the Fortress of Culture contracted the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO), which designed a participatory process focused on researching and critically reflecting on the institution’s past socio-economic impacts. The process includes a series of activities, among which is the workshop intended for all stakeholders who wish to contribute to joint reflection on the role and outcomes of the Fortress of Culture’s work.
Workshop Led by IRMO Expert Team
The workshop was led by the expert team from IRMO: Dr. Dea Vidović, Dr. Aleksandra Uzelac, and Sunčana Franić. On behalf of the Fortress of Culture Šibenik, the director Gorana Barišić Bačelić greeted the participants.
The purpose of the workshop was to gather and analyze the experiences and perspectives of participants about the different forms of contribution the Fortress of Culture has delivered to the community — from stimulating cultural and social life, to contributing to the local economy and developing new forms of inter-sector collaboration. The workshop was designed as a dynamic and interactive process, including individual work, small-group discussions, and plenary sessions.
Part of a Broader Research-Analytical Process
The workshop represents just one step in the broader research-analytical process that IRMO is undertaking as part of the Study preparation. The process encompasses the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, as well as inclusion of diverse perspectives — from the Fortress of Culture’s staff and partners to representatives of the local community.
Connection with the European FORTIC Project
The preparation of the Study and the execution of the workshop are carried out under the FORTIC project (Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027), in which Fortress of Culture Šibenik is one of the partners. The FORTIC project aims to strengthen cooperation between cultural institutions and develop sustainable models of cultural heritage management by connecting partners from Croatia and Italy.
Through the implementation of the Socio-Economic Impact Study, the Fortress of Culture Šibenik continues its developmental path as an institution that bridges culture, community, and sustainability, maintaining an open dialogue with citizens and stakeholders about the future direction of the city’s cultural and social life.
