The play Repatica, performed by members of the drama section of the Krešimir City Pensioners' Association, filled the audience at the House of Arts Arsen. The performance was the final event of the Erasmus+ Sustain4Seniors Hub project, organized by the Fortress of Culture Šibenik. The project results were presented during the panel discussion Collaboration, Innovation, and Projects as Catalysts for Social Change, which took place before the play. Additionally, the new Silver program, a result of the project, and the Community Potential program launched by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development were introduced.
The goal of the panel discussion was to foster a conversation about specific projects and collaborations happening in our community, and to demonstrate, through examples of good practices, how we can build a society that takes into account the needs of all generations.
"As a cultural institution, the Fortress of Culture has been active for ten years, and it is our responsibility to provide the best quality of life for our citizens and for everyone visiting our city. Although it may be perceived that we started through cultural and tourism projects, our team has always been sensitive to ensuring our spaces are not just for tourists, but must be open and accessible to everyone in various ways," emphasized Gorana Barišić Bačelić, Director of the Fortress of Culture Šibenik.
While the Sustain4Seniors Hub project, which the Fortress of Culture Šibenik implemented over 11 months with partners from Romania and Lithuania, has concluded, the play marked the beginning of the Silver program's implementation.
"We visited each other, and exchanged experiences and ideas. The goal of the project was professional development, learning, networking, and sharing best practices while developing new ideas among cultural heritage managers. A special focus was placed on creating new programs and activities to increase the involvement and engagement of senior citizens," summarized Đurđa Vrljević Šarić, Head of the International Cooperation and Projects Department at the Fortress of Culture Šibenik.
Through various programs within the Silver initiative, seniors are envisioned as active co-creators and performers, highlighting their importance and contribution to the community. To further incentivize participation, the Silver Friends Club was established, offering free access to all Silver programs and discounted membership.
"After a long time, tonight we are presenting an entirely new program. While the House of Arts Arsen is the venue where this program is being introduced and where most of the activities will take place, what we've envisioned is a year-round program. A variety of programs have emerged from conversations with members of the generation that Silver targets. Activities will continue in December at the Advent Park and also throughout the summer at the Barone Fortress," said Morana Periša, Head of Program Production at the Fortress of Culture, during the event.
Vinko Piližota, representative of the Krešimirov City Pensioners' Association, highlighted the importance of involving all generations in the community's social life.
"We are people who have lived our lives and entered our third age. In the first part of life, we had many desires about what we wanted to become. We raised children, completed our careers, and suddenly found ourselves alone, often feeling like we're no longer socially useful. Our Association has found a way to revive what was dormant within us when we were young—becoming actors, painters… Through the Association, we’ve been given a new opportunity to realize that, and thanks to this project, we’ve been able to show the wider community what we do. Now, even our grandchildren can see their grandparents on stage," said Piližota.
At the end of the panel discussion, Pavle Schramadei, representative of the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, introduced the Community Potential program.
"The goal of the Community Potential program, run by the National Foundation for Civil Society Development, is to support and empower participants—individuals, organizations, and institutions—so they can become leaders of positive change within their local communities. In this first year of implementation, aside from strategic partners like the Fortress of Culture, the program includes eight cities—Zadar, Biograd na Moru, Pag, Karlovac, Duga Resa, Slunj, Šibenik, and Drniš—as well as 10 high schools from three counties. Over 100 young people and seniors (60+) will be involved," Schramadei said.
During the panel, the Sustain4Seniors HUB in Cultural Heritage Roadmap online brochure, created during the project in collaboration with cultural heritage managers from Croatia, Romania, and Lithuania, was also presented. This publication not only summarizes the key steps and achievements of the project but also provides insight into the process of creating sustainable programs for cultural heritage that promote green skills and the inclusion of older visitors. The brochure is available online and can be downloaded here.
