SARAJEVO, OCTOBER 30 (ONASA) – The final presentation of the architectural project of the ARS AEVI Museum was held in the City Hall in Sarajevo, with the presence and address of representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italian, European and international authorities and organizations, the Embassy of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina announced.
The idea of establishing the museum of contemporary art “Ars Aevi” arose in 1992, and its founder, Enver Hadžiomerspahić, in the following years led a group of enthusiasts and mediated the creation of a unique collection of works of art donated by Michelangelo Pistoletto, Jannis Kounellis, Marina Abramović, Sol LeWitt, Joseph Kosuth, Bizhan Bassiri, Maja Bajević, Jusuf Hadžifejzović, Joseph Beuys, Hidetoshi Nagasawa and numerous other renowned world artists.
The conceptual project of the Ars Aevi museum was presented to the City of Sarajevo by one of the world’s most respected architects, Renzo Piano.
With the support of UNESCO, the Embassy of Italy in the past years has played the role of an incentive to all involved domestic authorities, building awareness of the value of the project, not only from the point of view of art and culture, but also in terms of a tool for reconciliation and inter-ethnic dialogue,
In November 2021, the City of Sarajevo, the Canton of Sarajevo and the Construction Institute of the Canton of Sarajevo signed a framework agreement on the implementation of the “Ars Aevi” Museum of Contemporary Art Construction Project and shortly thereafter, a building permit was issued for Quadrant C – Marijin Dvor.
The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is a long-term partner of the ARS AEVI Project and provided financial support for the final and implementation project of the museum. After the end of the public tender procedure, in September 2022, an architectural studio, STUDIO NON STOP, was selected, which was responsible for the realization of the project, in close cooperation with Renzo Piano Building Workshop.
At the same time, steps were taken with relevant international organizations, such as the UNESCO Office in BiH, to establish a multi-donor fund that will collect public and private contributions for the construction of the ARS AEVI Museum.
The event, which was moderated by the director of the ARS AEVI Museum, Senka Ibrišimbegović, with appropriate opening remarks, was opened by the Mayor of the City of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, the Italian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marco Di Ruzza, and Manoela Lussi in front of the Italian Agency for Development and Cooperation (AICS). in the Western Balkans, the head of cooperation in the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Stefano Ellero, the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk and the Mayor of Novo Sarajevo Municipality, Hasan Tanović. Siniša Šešum, head of the UNESCO Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture of UNESCO, addressed the audience (video message). The moderator read the greeting message sent by Emanuela Baglietto in front of the Renzo Piano Building Workshop. The introductory part of the event was concluded with an address by Enver Hadžiomerspahić, founder of the ARS AEVI project.
Representatives of the architectural studio NON-STOP Sanja Galić and Igor Grozdanić showed the audience a model of the Ars Aevi Museum and provided a detailed insight into the completed architectural project for the construction of the museum.
The director of Ars Aevi Museum, Senka Ibrišimbegović, presented the book “THE ART (OF) MUSEUMS, Creation of contemporary spatial identities, Ars Aevi Sarajevo”, whose publication was financed by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The Mayor of the City of Sarajevo, Benjamina Karić, pointed out that the goal is close: “In a little less than two years, we have done what we have been waiting for for almost three decades. We are successfully completing the key stages before the actual construction of the ARS AEVI Museum of Contemporary Art, the future home of the collection of 150 exceptional works, with a permanent address between the Historical and National Museums. “Since the beginning of the mandate, the current city administration has expressed its commitment and desire to revive the ARS AEVI project and ultimately get a museum that will become a true gem of our cultural heritage,” said Mayor Karić.
The Ambassador of Italy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marco Di Ruzza, also thanked all partners for the extraordinary teamwork and emphasized that Ars Aevi is not only a precious artistic and cultural project, but much, much more than that. “Ars Aevi represents, in a symbolic sense, a powerful tool for encouraging, promoting and sealing the path of reconciliation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, paving the way for a desirable future of deeper and more responsible cooperation between the various components of this country, in the interest of the population, especially the new generations, and in support of its the path towards European integration, a path of which Italy will continue to be a firm supporter and constant point of reference. The sincere hope of the Italian side is that ARS AEVI will become a modern, inclusive, multifaceted cultural space open to all, the most expressive representative of the rebirth of Sarajevo and Bosnia and Herzegovina and a testimony to the value of international cooperation”.
Adnan Mehmedović from the AICS Office in Sarajevo conveyed the message of Stefania Vizzaccaro, head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in the Western Balkans, expressing her gratitude to all project partners and stating that the main goal of the Italian development strategy in the Western Balkans is the protection and promotion of numerous and diverse cultural identities of the region in the perspective of peaceful coexistence. “Investing in cultural cooperation is of key importance. Cultural tourism deserves a special review – it is a sustainable and high-quality branch of tourism that needs to be promoted. In this context, Bosnia and Herzegovina can count on the friendship of Italy and the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation”.
Stefano Ellero, head of cooperation in the Delegation of the European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the audience, emphasizing that art has the power to overcome borders and bring people together, and that the construction of a museum will contribute to the sustainable development of society. The European Union will support the ARS AEVI Museum with significant funds through a program of support for cultural and artistic institutions throughout the country.
The Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton, Nihad Uk, stated that the construction of the Ars Aevi Museum will have a positive economic impact. It will create employment opportunities, attract tourists and increase cultural tourism. The museum will serve as a cultural symbol, attracting visitors from all over the world and putting Sarajevo on the map as a vibrant cultural destination.
Mayor of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo dr. Hasan Tanović stated that the revitalization of the Museum of Contemporary Art “Ars Aevi” and the construction of the building of this cultural-historical institution is very significant, not only for the municipality of Novo Sarajevo and the Sarajevo Canton, but for the entire country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but also for the whole of Europe. “I sincerely want the construction of this important cultural-historical building to start as soon as possible, and all further activities that fall under the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Novo Sarajevo will be prioritized,” said Mayor Tanović.
Siniša Šešum, the head of the Unesco office in BiH stated that the Ars Aevi Museum, which will be built according to the conceptual design of today’s great architect Renzo Piano, will certainly contribute to the creation of a museum district in Sarajevo, the only one in BiH and the region. “UNESCO has established a Fund through which, over the next three years, financial contributions and donations will be collected to support the implementation of the Ars Aevi Museum project. The announced, or rather confirmed contributions of the Sarajevo Canton Government, the European Union and the Italian government through the Agency for Development Cooperation speak of the importance of the cooperation of all of us present here today to achieve common goals around the idea of the Ars Aevi Museum”.
This was followed by a video message in which Ernesto Ottone, Assistant Director General for Culture at UNESCO, underlined the importance of the Ars Aevi project and invited all those interested to join the already confirmed donors and participate in the Fund, which will be coordinated by UNESCO.
A message was read from Emanuele Baglietto, representative of the Renzo Piano Workshop Building studio, in which she expressed her delight at the fact that the construction project of the Ars Aevi Museum is taking on more and more concrete forms. She underlined the close cooperation of RPWB and Studio NON STOP in the work on the architectural project of the museum. “Renzo Piano has always been a great supporter of this project and is grateful to all partners for their efforts”.
Enver Hadžiomerspahić, the founder of the idea of establishing the Ars Aevi Museum, greeted the attendees and stated: “On behalf of all the participants in the birth and development of the Ars Aevi Project, I undertook the obligation to write a book during the period of the upcoming construction of the Ars Aevi Museum, the Monograph of the History of the Ars Aevi Project, which will remain an eternal witness to the truth of the magical path of development of the Ars Aevi Project, and which will, in a dignified way, say thank you to all participants in this unique and planetary embrace of positive and creative energies”.