The European STECCI project showcases how cultural heritage (CH) can be not only preserved but collectively reimagined—as a living resource that connects identity, community, creative potential, and new forms of performative and artistic research engagement.
STECCI (2023–2027) is dedicated to exploring and communicating the significance of medieval Stećci—remarkable limestone tombstones created between the 12th and 16th centuries in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, West Montenegro, and Central and Southern Croatia. Today recognised as UNESCO World Heritage, these sites are distinguished by their rich decorative motifs, inscriptions, and symbolic representations, whose meanings remain only partially deciphered. The project brought together scientific expertise, local knowledge, and critical creative, art-based and art-led methods to open new pathways to this cultural heritage.
At its core, the project applies Creative Citizen Science, a term used only recently and rather in the academic discourse and rather open, which uses artistic, speculative, performative, and collaborative methods to actively engage citizens—not only in data collection but also in formulating research questions or identifying problems in the CH ecosystem. This transdisciplinary approach enables scientific knowledge to be intertwined with personal experiences, embedding CH within a vibrant social context.
Integrating performative research, SciArt education and art-led activitie, STECCI expanded the traditional boundaries of CH studies and empowered participants to explore Stećci through embodied, aesthetic and experimental practices.
Through three Social Labs in Bosnia Herzegovina, Montenegro, and regional Citizen Science Hubs in Serbia and Germany, the project developed site‑specific activities that invite local communities to become co‑creators. A highlight of these efforts was the first STECCI Citizen Science Summer Academy (Split & Cista Velika, July 2025), an eight‑day program combining workshops, educational formats, and creative and art-based research practices. Among these were performative sensory mapping walks, textile-based workshops such as “Stitching History – Embroidering the Symbols of Stećci”, performances in the public space in collaboration with the Arts Academy in Split, and the role‑playing activity “Mission to Mars” where participants explored alternative iconographic interpretations and future scenarios related to Stećci.
Pamela Bartar, responsible for the participatory art-based research and citizen science activities in the European STECCI project, is a ZSI team member and teaching at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna: Her Input at the ÖCSK 2026 in Leoben in February 2026 demonstrated how aesthetic practices, embodied inquiry, and SciArt‑based strategies can generate new societal approaches to CH.
ReadME – Learn more about the potential of artistic and design-based approaches in citizen science and co-creation:
· Bartar, P., Göbel, C., Henke, J., Herrmann, T., Marizzi, C., & Mayer, K. (2026). Gemeinsam gestalten: Citizen Science mit Ansätzen aus den Geistes-, Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften, der Kunst sowie kunstbasierter Forschung. In T. Herrmann, M. Brandt, D. Dörler, F. Heigl, C. Liedtke, M. Martin, & A. Bonn (Eds.), Citizen Science – Gemeinsam forschen! Ein Handbuch für Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Springer Nature.
ReadMe…
· Bartar, P. (2023). Citizen Science – a new field for the arts? Reposition: Journal of Reflective Positions in Art and Research. University of Applied Arts Vienna, Center Research Focus. Read here…
· Bartar, P. (2023). Knowledge production with design thinking for citizen science. In Austrian Citizen Science Conference 2023 (ACSC2023) (pp. 1–8). Proceedings of Science (PoS). https://doi.org/10.22323/1.442.0023
· Bartar, P., & Poscharnig, J. (2020). Learning from socially‑engaged artistic research practice. In R. Mateus‑Berr & R. Jochum (Eds.), Teaching Artistic Research. De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110665215-011
· Bartar, P., & Huber, L. (2020). Exploring intersections in art education: A counter assessment of socially engaged arts‑ and community‑based research. In R. Mateus‑Berr & R. Jochum (Eds.), Teaching Artistic Research (pp. 157–166). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110665215-015
· Marizzi, C., & Bartar, P. (2021). Art in Science & Science in Art – Reflections through the lens of Citizen Science. In Proceedings of the Austrian Citizen Science Conference 2020.
Proceedings available from the Austrian Citizen Science Conference 2020
· Bartar, P. (2016). Artistic knowledge production for another planet? Participation as cultural practice and scientific approach for quality enhancement in citizen science. In Austrian Citizen Science Conference 2016 – Event Abstracts. Frontiers.
ReadME…
· Bartar, P., & Knopp, M. C. N. (Eds.). (2011). Im Projekt/ionsraum: Die Projekte von PUBLICwienSPACE. Materialien und Gespräche. Magistrat der Stadt Wien, Magistratsabteilung 21A.
· Bartar, P. (2009). Notizen zur zeitgenössischen Kunst im öffentlichen Raum: Blick-, Knoten-, Ereignispunkte und Methodenexperimente. In G. Bast, F. Bettel, & B. Hollerdonner (Eds.), UNIVERS. Junge Forschung in Wissenschaft und Kunst* (pp. 119–131). edition Angewandte.
· Bartar, P. (2008). Post‑It City: Occasional urbanities. Research Catalogue. https://www.ciutatsocasionals.net
