The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites Regional Workshop for Europe 30 September – 2 October 2018, Palermo (Italy) Thematic Session 2: Interpretation of heritage and educational services. “The designations employed and the presentation of material throughout this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNESCO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The ideas and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors; they are not necessarily those of UNESCO and do not commit the Organization”

1. Introduction
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
TATJANA DIZDAREVIĆ, director of the public institute Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre
EDUCATION
1988: Bachelor of Science in Mining Enginnering (B.S.M.E.) - Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Department
of Mining, University Ljubljana, Slovenia
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1988-2016: Head of department at Idrija Mercury Mine, Ltd., Bazoviška 2, SI-5280 Idrija, Slovenia,
2014-2016: Acting director of the Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre (public authority),
2016-present: Director of the Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre.
WORK EXPERIENCE
2014-2017: project leader of the project 'Idrija – Smelting plant area of Idrija Mercury Mine – 1st Phase of
reconstruction' in the total amount of 2.3 million EUR and co-funded of the EEA Financial Mechanism Programme
2009-2014, Set B – Cultural Heritage, Hg Smelting plant Visitor centre
MEMBERSHIP
2008-2012: member of the Working group for preparing the nomination of »Mercury Heritage. Almadén and Idrija«
on UNESCO World Heritage List,
2013-present: member/secretary of national and international Coordination Committee of UNESCO serial property
»Mercury Heritage. Almadén and Idrija«, and Site Manager of serial property »Mercury Heritage. Almadén and Idrija«

2. Framework – Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
FUNCTIONS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE Hg SMELTING PLANT VISITOR CENTER
Hg Smelting Plant Visitor centre is dedicated to the industrial heritage of Idrija
Mercury Mine as part of UNESCO World Heritage Site, but it also provides
information and services about the UNESCO designated site
Centre’s activities and services, with regard to education and interpretation:
- experiments, animations, video films and devices operating based on
mercury, offers to the visitor to discover and experience the significance of
this unique liquid metal that changed the world and contributed to the
flourishing of human civilization,
- the contents of the UNESCO Visitor centre upgrade up today's history of the
mine and the city of Idrija with the global use and meaning of mercury,
- part of the exhibition in Visitor centre is aimed to raise awareness about
mercury and especially the toxicity of methyl mercury; archival footages
from the Minamata Bay in Japan are witnessing that mercury pollution
should never be repeated

3. Activities - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTRE
The contents of Visitor centre are upgraded with educational programs and workshops related to the environment,
science, technology, physics and chemistry.
The renewed industrial heritage of the smeltery has been upgraded in
content with an interactive educational exhibition:
- visitors, through experiments, animations, videofilms and mercury-
based devices, learn and experience the importance of a unique liquid
metal – mercury,
- the underground experience of the oldest part of the Idrija mine – the
underground mine museum Anthony‘s Main Road continue the story
‚From Ore to Mercury Drops‘, in the Hg Smelting Plant,
- performances of several cultural and social events regarding the
Idrija‘s mercury heritage (The Idrija Mine Comes Alive, Days of
Mercury Heritage,
- promotional materials (leaflets, brochures, …)
- exhibition ‚From Ore to Mercury Drops‘ is accessible to vulnerable
groups.

4. Lessons learned - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
Management
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
CENTER’S IMPACT AND MAIN ACHIEVED RESULTS
With its purpose or mission, the Hg Smelting Plant Visitor centre:
- has supplemented the tourist offer of Idrija, thus helping the
entire region in recognizing and signifying the world heritage of
mercury, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List,
- with the renovated facility, an interesting exhibition and
promotion, the number of visitors increases, and thus the
possibility of employment of young people who have been
working only occasionally (contractually); eemployability is
extremely important for the continuity of natural and ecological
research and the exceptional history of the mine,
- within the new center, we plan and execute attractive programs
for the Mine museum Anthony’s Main Road and Hg Smelting Plant
visits, suitable for different groups of visitors.

5. Potential - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
LATENT OR NOT FULLY DEVELOPED CAPACITIES AND CONDITIONS TO EXPRESS THEM
‐ unrecognizability in a wider area, i.e. in Slovenia and across-border (Visitor centre with exhibiton was opened in
February 2017);
‐ the distance and inadequate connection between other facilities and sites of UNESCO Cultural Heritage in Idrija;
‐ the problem of marking and directing to the Hg Smelting Plant Visitor centre mainly due to inflexible national
regulations;

6. Future - Education and Interpretation of Heritage
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
THE ONGOING ACTIVITIES IN LINE WITH THE ACTIVITY OF EDUCATION AND DISSEMINATION OF MERCURY
HERITAGE KNOWLEDGE
- varied program of visits to the Visitors Center for families with children, youth
(kindergartens and schools), agency guests, associations, individuals,
professional groups, etc.
- introduction of family ticket and combined ticket for visiting the Underground
Hg Mine Museum and Hg Smelting Plant Exhibition
- guided tours for school youth in the Mine Museum and interactive educational
exhibition of mercury in Hg Smelting Plant were customized to their knowledge
and understanding
- other planned activities are:
• searching for funds (projects) to obtain the second phase for the completion of the project "Restoration and
Recovery of the Hg Smelting Plant area of the Idrija Mercury Mine - Phase 2",
• raising awareness, disseminating knowledge and informing the general public on topics related to the mining
history and use of mercury,
• management of archival documentation (projects, plans, mine’s and geological maps), which will be needed in
the future for further implementation of maintenance, monitoring and training activities and encouraging and
developing new activities.

7. Contacts
The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)The role of Visitor Centres in UNESCO Designated Sites – Regional Workshop fo Europe – 30 September – 2 October 2018 Palermo (Italy)
Idrija Mercury Heritage Management Centre
Center za upravljanje z dediščino živega srebra Idrija, Bazoviška 2, 5280 Idrija, Slovenia
http://www.cudhg-idrija.si/en/
http://www.cudhg-idrija.si/en/hg-smelting-plant/
http://www.cudhg-idrija.si/en/anthonys-main-road/
Tatjana Dizdarević, director
tatjana.dizdarevic@cudhg-idrija.si
References:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1313