Serbian Cultural Center to Open Soon in Rijeka

In Rijeka and the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, national minorities continue to develop their own cultural spaces and programs. Following the existing Czech Home and Slovenian Home (Bazovica), the opening of the Serbian Cultural Center in Rijeka is expected soon. The new center, featuring exhibition spaces and a courtyard, will be open to all citizens and will offer a variety of cultural programs, including a permanent exhibition dedicated to architect Bogdan Bogdanović. This was highlighted at a regular meeting of the deputy prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Toni Štimac, and the head of the Administrative Department for the Prefect and County Assembly, Ermina Duraj, with representatives of national minorities and minority councils, where past activities and plans until the end of the year were presented.

Štimac emphasized that diversity and unity are the greatest values of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, noting that it is an example of open dialogue and mutual respect. Ermina Duraj reminded that the County monitors and supports the work of minorities throughout the year through their cultural programs and connections with the local community. The representative of the Slovak national minority, Miroslava Gržinić, reported on a successfully held multi-day event that gathered nearly 200 participants from all over Europe, promoting the cultural and tourist heritage of the County, including a visit to the island of Cres.

The representative of the Czech national minority, Franjo Kužela, highlighted activities aimed at preserving traditions among young people at the Czech Home, while the president of the Association of Macedonians in Croatia, Ilija Hristodulov, announced the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the association's activities, which will be held in the Golubinjak Park-Forest in Lokve. The meeting also discussed administrative and legal rights of minorities and possibilities for stronger support for their programs in the coming year.

The opening of the Serbian Cultural Center is seen as an important step in promoting cultural diversity and minority rights in the region. The center aims to be a cultural and meeting point not only for the Serbian community but for all residents of Rijeka. The permanent exhibition dedicated to Bogdan Bogdanović, one of the most prominent architects of the former Yugoslavia known for his war memorials, is expected to be a major attraction.

Primorje-Gorski Kotar County continues to foster an environment that allows national minorities to preserve and develop their cultural identities. Through cooperation with minority councils and associations, the county administration supports cultural programs. The Serbian Cultural Center's opening is a concrete example of this collaboration, and it is planned to become an important cultural destination for both locals and tourists.