Newly renovated Požega City Museum officially re-opened

The Požega City Museum is the oldest local museum in Slavonia and will be celebrating its 100th shortly. The renovation of the City Museum is part of the "Požeške bolte" project, valued at more than €5 million. The renovation was financed through government’s "Slavonia, Baranja and Srijem" program. The goal is for the museum to become one of the cultural pillars of Požega and its surroundings.

Speaking at the opening Požega Mayor Željko Glavić said that the museum’s previous condition required a comprehensive renovation and extension. The renovation was included in the government's development project for the Slavonia-Baranja-Srijem region of eastern Croatia, as such it was provided government grants for the renovation. Mayor Glavić noted that the existing museum was completed overhauled and refurbished and an additional 600 square meters of space was added. Additionally, the Požeška kuća visitor center was opened, and a permanent exhibition with audio and video content was opened, as a central place for preserving, researching and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of Požega.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and Culture Minister Nina Obuljen-Koržinek were on hand for Saturday’s grand re-opening.

“The best thing is when a project is brought to fruition and completed. You have achieved that goal. And in such a way that you can be proud of your culture, your history, your identity, and the presentation of the heritage of the city, the heritage of the wider Požega region to all visitors to this beautiful Croatian city and region. I am convinced that all those who come to Požega will enjoy themselves. And you have more and more visitors, because you are developing brilliantly as one of our continental tourism destinations, and investments in this regard in this area are particularly important,” Plenković said.

Museum curator Ljiljana Marić recalled that 29 years ago, Požega was hit by an earthquake that left the building structurally damaged and destroyed the existing permanent exhibition. “Many generations of my predecessors and colleagues dreamed of this day, and we, the current employees, had the honor of living this dream, right before the celebration of the 100th birthday of our institution. 29 years ago, Požega was hit by an earthquake that not only damaged the building’s structural integrity, but also destroyed the then permanent exhibition. Because of this, as well as the long-term lack of investment in the building, many parts of the museum looked like a half-ruined shed, and today they look like a palace,” Marić said.

Source: HRT