Fostering territorial development through cultural heritage valorization and revitalization

By project LOTTI

Published on 12 May 2025

Serbia

Region Šumadije i Zapadne Srbije

About this good practice

Kragujevac was the first capital of modern Serbia at the beginning of 19th century, established as a cultural, educational and industry center. However, industry, business and art had scarcely found common interest and integration, thus creative industries in central Serbia and Kragujevac never developed, although both art and industry developed fast separately.

As a historic industrial center, Kragujevac is the ground of the Military Technical Institute (VTZ) complex, the cultural-historical and industrial heritage under the state protection. It is one of the capital investment locations with great potentials and initiatives of valorizing the heritage through educational and entertainment complex. The cultural heritage protection is one of the priorities of culture development strategies, development plans and investment plans of the City of Kragujevac and other municipalities of the region.

The main infrastructure component is reconstruction of a building of a former school within the VTZ complex and its equipping to provide space for the Faculty of Philology and Arts and Secondary Vocational School. The purpose of the space will be to establish a vibrant center for creative industries, education and artistic expression, strengthening entrepreneurship and innovative ventures. Besides, they are initiating business ideas for establishing art and crafts workshops for producing wood and metal products for potential investors in the vicinity or within the circle of VTZ.

Resources needed

The amount of funding has been nearly 1.5 million USD but most challenging was involving partners: City of Kragujevac, region municipalities, Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, Secondary Vocational School, Faculty of Philology and Arts, Faculty of Economics, "Signpost" Association.

Evidence of success

Faculty of Philology and Arts will get its own building where it can accommodate all departments and Secondary Vocational School will get equipped classrooms and workshops where modern practical teaching can take place. Project will provide around a thousand students in secondary and higher education with improved learning and working conditions. Through their activities, they will create numerous workshops, courses, exhibitions which will contribute to the region's cultural and art development.

Potential for learning or transfer

By revitalizing the VTZ complex, a creative environment and artistic space will be established, enabling further reconstruction of available buildings and areas. In this way, a large cultural-historical and industrial entity will be transformed into a creative district of the city and the region.

Through student's extracurricular activities, they will create numerous and diverse workshops, courses, seminars, and exhibitions that will be easily accessible to the public. This will contribute to the region's cultural and artistic development and integrate this segment into its cultural map.

Fostering territorial development through innovation and cultural heritage valorization is a great example of contribution to the sustainable development by strengthening the urban identity of the territory through preservation of the cultural and historical heritage, its valorization through culture, education and green economy and encouraging innovation and creative industries.