A collaboration of UMAS, Theatre Arts Department (associate professor Davor Pavić and students), the Conservation-Restoration Department, the Centre for Social Innovation in Vienna, and the City Museum of Split.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
· Citizen Science Happening with performance at the stećci site in Cista Provo: 6th of July 2025, 20.00
· Opening of the STECCI exhibition with performance in Split: 10 July 2025, 18:30–20:30 (open-ended get-together)
· STECCI exhibition open to the public: 10–28 July 2025, in the heart of Diocletian’s Cellars (central corridor), Ul. Iza Vestibula 3, 21000 Split, Croatia
The performance is part of the public STECCI exhibition, which visually showcases the unique cultural heritage of stećci. It explores poetry, artefacts, and diverse settings for collaborative performative research, including the stećci sites in Cista Provo and public spaces in Split.
Directed by renowned actor and UMAS theatre instructor Davor Pavić, the performers – Nikolina Domuzin, Mirela Banić, Luka Tino Šajin, Laura Jurišić, Elena Bukvić, and Leon Macanović – interpret poetry and stories inspired by the imagery carved on stećci. They invite the audience to take part in this shared, immersive experience.
The pop-up performance is presented as part of the STECCI project’s public event and incorporates poems from Kameni Spavač (Stone Sleeper) by Bosnian poet Mak Dizdar (1917–1971). Many of the symbols found on stećci influenced Dizdar’s poetic symbolism and served as a source of inspiration. In Kameni Spavač, Dizdar evokes a historical atmosphere by imagining the world through the eyes of the medieval deceased.
This performance transforms individual expressions into a collective experience, drawing the audience into a direct and emotional connection with the artefacts and the poetry they inspired.
The STECCI Summer Academy takes place from 6 to 11 July 2025 in Split and Cista Provo.
It offers a week-long learning programme focused on the preservation of the cultural heritage of stećci and the practice of creative citizen science.
The programme centres on these monumental medieval tombstones, unique to the Western Balkans and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It addresses their historical significance in the context of climate-related threats, pollution, and human impact.
The Academy is part of the European project STECCI (Stone Monument Ensembles and the Climate Change Impact), funded under the Horizon Europe programme. This interdisciplinary initiative combines research, technological innovation, and community engagement to ensure the long-term preservation of stećci.
Against this background, the STECCI Summer Academy seeks to inspire new forms of heritage stewardship through interdisciplinary collaboration, citizen science, and participatory education. It also aims to build a community of interest dedicated to protecting cultural landscapes and promoting sustainable development through culture.
Biographies of the participating artists are available.
Further Inquiries & Information
Krešimir Bosnić, UMAS (Split, Croatia): kbosnic@umas.hr
Pamela Bartar, Centre for Social Innovation (Vienna, Austria): stecci@zsi.at
🌐 Website: www.steccihorizoneu.com
Social media: Instagram & LinkedIn
