The Museum of Bećarac as a successful example of investment in cultural heritage

The museum exhibition, which extensively documents and interprets a heritage phenomenon and the people who are inseparably connected with it, was designed by experts in museology and heritage interpretation of the Museum.

17. March 2023.

Last month, one of the most modern museums in the Republic of Croatia was opened in Pleternica - Interpretation Center Museum of Bećarac.

In 2013, the city of Pleternica protected the name Bećarca Museum, and as a strategic development activity, it set up the decoration of Bećarca Square and the establishment of the Bećarca Museum Interpretation Center dedicated to the traditional, vocal-instrumental song 'Bećarca', which is on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage.

The construction of the Museum, the Promenade and Bećarac Square was co-financed through a cross-border project "Cultural route of Bećar and the Ganges", with a total value of 2,3 million euros.

In addition to infrastructure works, the project also co-financed the organization of several different tourist events, the production of a promo film about the project, monographs and traditional cookbooks, as well as designing "Knitting baskets" - products and souvenirs of local cooperatives and OPGs that present the natural and cultural heritage of Pleternica and its surroundings.

Visualization of the permanent exhibition of ljela, the author of muse clinic studio sesnic i turkovic
Visualization of the permanent exhibition, entrance, Author: Muze, Clinica studio, Šesnić and Turković
Installation of the artistic sculpture of a horse with a rider, academic sculptor Janko Petrovic and Mirna Drazenovic, photo by Matej Kuka Brkic
Installation of an artistic sculpture of a horse with a rider, academic sculptor Janko Petrović and Mirna
Draženović, Photo: Mateja Kuka Brkić

The Museum of Bećarac is located in one of the rare buildings in Croatia designed specifically for the needs of the museum exhibition, and designed by Rusan architecture. In it, the experience of the people of Beća is conveyed through meetings with its people - Šokci and Šokice.

Works on the interior design and furnishing of the Museum of Bećarac were co-financed through the Operational Program 'Competitiveness and Cohesion 2014-2020'. as part of the project "The world of Graševina".

The museum exhibition, which extensively documents and interprets a heritage phenomenon and the people who are inseparably connected with it, was designed by experts in museology and heritage interpretation museum.

Their engagement at the Museum of Bećarac spanned a period of eight years, and included the creation of management plans.

"Through the permanent exhibition, we want to convey to all visitors our love for Bećar and its traditions, and at the same time invite them to a fun exploration of their traditions and heritage identities and the environments they come from. Through the intimate stories of Bećar and Bećarusha in the permanent exhibition, visitors discover their personal stories about Bejar and Šokadija, and through interactive exhibits, everyone has the opportunity to connect with the rich content of the exhibition in their own way. Thus, visitors can experience real Bečar competitions and cheer them on, or witness a unique duel between the Bečar player Pava and the famous Slavonian rapper Kanžija. In the singing studio, they can sing the Bečar players, check their knowledge through many interactive quizzes or communicate with the robot - Bećaruša, which challenges you to question the creative power of artificial intelligence. It is a special experience to discover the "Bećar hall of fame" of Vera Svoboda, Marija Pavković - Snaša, Krunoslav Kića Slabinac, Šima Jovanovac, Zlatko Bourek and the most famous literary and of the movie Bećar and - Đuko Begović. The contribution of the Bećar Museum to the scientific and professional community is the basis for the long-term preservation of the authenticity of the heritage of the Bećar and Slavonian customs through synergistic action and partnerships., she pointed out Dragana Lucija Ratkovic Aydemir, director of Muza.

Muses have set the main themes and media in the extensive museological documentation. The exhibition was designed in intensive cooperation with the local community and through an interdisciplinary team process.

In addition to Muze, members of the design co-author team are studio Šesnić&Turković and Clinica studio, and the implementation was led by the company AVC, while the multimedia experiences were produced by the companies Divit and Eltel.

Field collection of objects for the permanent exhibition of the Vienna Museum, family photos of Kate Corac, photos of Vanja Babic
Field collection of objects for the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Bećarac, family photos of Kate Čorak,
Photo: Vanja Babić

Art director of Muza, Mirna Draženović, the main expert for museology and content development in the process of implementing the permanent exhibition, gathered a great team of collaborators from various creative and artistic fields  

"The messages and values ​​of the museological conception were transferred into a three-dimensional experience through superior spatial, graphic and multimedia design, and the teamwork of top professionals created a unique environment in which the contributions of the author and production team, which includes over 200 different collaborators and performers, individuals, institutions, companies and associations. The development of content, in terms of collection of objects, production of audio and video content, photographs, illustrations and sculptural works, is carefully curated and results from a strong museological concept and design solutions. said the artistic director of Muza, Mirna Draženović.

In the process of developing the content, we worked intensively with numerous restaurateurs. Over 200 items were collected from all parts of Šokadija, including Hungary, and were restored and expertly prepared for display.

Restart video recording for the interactive exhibition, I like to play in the car, where the eagle's braid, photo of Vanja Babic
Restart the recording of the video for the interactive exhibition "Alaj volim u kol igri", KUD "Orljava", Pleternica,
Photo: Vanja Babić
Fade in video recording for the interactive exhibition carnival riding, photo of Vanja Babic 2
Fade In video recording for the interactive exhibition "Pokladno jahanje", Photo: Vanja Babić

Close cooperation was achieved with more than 20 KUDs and numerous prominent individuals from local communities. In the work with the local bearers of the heritage of the people of Beća, the contribution of professional associate Marija Gačić, an excellent ethnologist and a passionate Beća woman dedicated to preserving the heart of Šokadija, was crucial.

National houses also contributed to the permanent museum exhibition by providing various video and audio materials: Zagreb film, HRT, Nova TV, ZAMP, Vinkovačka TV and Croatia Records.

Content production included the collection and translation into English of over 400 people from Venice, the production of 50 videos, the creation of over 200 illustrations and photographs, and the collection of 200 original museum objects in just a few months.

All this indicates that this is one of the most complex implementations of permanent museum exhibitions in Croatia and a unique permanent exhibition that extensively documents and interprets a heritage phenomenon and the people who are inseparably connected with it.

The Museum of Bećarac is a successful example of investment in cultural heritage in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, for the revitalization of which 2014 million euros were invested from the Operational Program "Competitiveness and Cohesion 2020-260,5", of which 196,5 million were grants. million euros.

Source: museum

Cover photo: Pavao Pavo Kobaš

17. March 2023.