The two-day conference “Maritime Heritage in Local Communities – Sustainability Models in the EU” primarily aims at taking discussion on Croatian Maritime Heritage from past to future, focusing on local achievements and providing best European practices and examples for tackling remaining challenges and issues.
"Born and raised on the island, it is with great pleasure that I am hosting this event that will bring together leading local and European experts from the field of maritime heritage. The Municipality of Tisno is home to a small town of Betina, an unofficial Croatian capital of wooden boat building. This community where wooden boats are made and are treated as a family member has been selected as an ideal host to this conference", said MEP Picula.
The Conference will take place on the premises of a local marina and adjacent shipyard in Betina.
Preservation of our tradition
Croatian Maritime Heritage in the last ten years has seen considerable progress thanks to dedication of maritime enthusiasts from throughout Croatia. Despite visible progress some problems, including structural ones, remain.
"Croatia still lacks a comprehensive maritime heritage (tangible and intangible) directory that would allow for a design of efficient public policies. We are witnessing decreasing number of wooden boat builders and traditional local shipyards, which threaten traditional skills and craft with oblivion. National educational curriculum, even in the maritime related education, fails to grant maritime heritage and traditional wooden boat building suitable reference and boost interest and knowledge of new generations in this important segment of Croatian culture and life. Therefore, this "action" is a way to remind and also preserve our Croatian tradition", MEP Picula said.
Among other things, conference guests and participants will be offered an opportunity to sail aboard various traditional wooden boats: gajeta, bracera and leut, guided tours of traditional shipyards, local folklore association show and so on.
The Conference is in general targeting audience interested in topic of maritime heritage in Croatia from private citizens to local, regional and national organizations and institutions dealing fully or in part with related issues. No fee is required for participation.
A detailed programme of the Conference can be found at the following link.
