On Wednesday, September 15th 2021, The City of Rijeka organized a workshop in order to prepare a management plan for the Benčić complex. This former industrial complex is in the process of revitalization, and the goal is to create a cultural district where citizens of all ages will spend time and consume cultural content. The City of Rijeka invited a number of experts from relevant fields, such as architecture, tourism, culture, science, catering and marketing, as well as a representative of the local community, i.e. the neighborhood, to help in the preparation of the management plan. Discussions took place rotationally in moderated groups, according to the World Cafe method, where four topics were discussed: physical, program-related, financial, and marketing management. The groups were moderated and supervised by the Head of City of Rijeka Department of Culture, Ivan Šarar. Daniela A. Jelinčić from IRMO took part and she primarily participated in the program management discussions. At the end of the workshop, each group presented their ideas and conclusions, followed by feedback from other participants. Most agreed that such a large-scale project requires some kind of innovation in management, in order for the cultural district to really come to life in the long run. Some of the other outcomes pointed to the importance of collaboration of all institutions, whether in content creation, management or marketing campaigns. Regarding physical management, a multifunctional green area was proposed that will connect all institutions within the complex, and will be available to citizens to enjoy their free time. In addition to institutions within the cultural district – the Museum of the City of Rijeka, the Children’s House and the City Library, cultural events can also be found outside the complex, such as in the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art and the Art Cinema. As the European Capital of Culture in 2020, Rijeka strives to expand its artistic and cultural content and integrate culture into everyday life.
Workshop for the preparation of a management plan for the Benčić complex in Rijeka within the Interreg CE project ForHeritage
