The Ecomuseum Batana was established in 2004 in Rovinj, Croatia to safeguard local maritime culture and the tradition of boat building. It uses a holistic and inclusive approach to interpret related skills like fishing, gastronomy, sailing, dialect and songs. The Ecomuseum is community-led and interprets cultural heritage across a wide geographic area. It consists of the House of Batana exhibition center, Spacio Matika experience space, a shipyard for boat building demonstrations, and boat regattas. The Ecomuseum management follows nonprofit organization law through executive, working group, and general assembly levels. It continues advocacy to raise awareness of community cultural heritage management.

1. ECOMUSEUM BATANA
A participative heritage practice
dr.sc. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, program manager

2. ASSOCIATION ‘HOUSE OF BATANA’ AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS ECOMUSEUM
Established in 2004 the Ecomuseum aimed at safeguarding local maritime culture through the
revitalization of traditional boat-building
From the very beginning the methodology included holistic and inclusive approaches in
valorizing and interpreting this specific skill including fishing activities, gastronomy, traditional
sailing, local dialect and songs typically sang by fishermen
The Ecomuseum is based on community-led management and wide geographic scope in
interpreting local (intangible) cultural heritage

3. PHYSICAL SPACES AND PROGRAMMES
The Eco-museum’s mission and main goals are conveyed and implemented through its principal
elements:
The House of Batana, local title muòstra, the central interpretation and documentation centre
with a permanent exhibition;
Spacio Matika, local title spàcio, gathering place to experience the tastes, smells and the singing
of the local maritime heritage;
(Little Shipyard), local title peîcio squèro, the place to celebrate the intangible heritage of the
batana’s construction;
Rovinj’s regatta of traditional wooden boats with mainly lateen and lug sails;
The Batana Way from the Little Pier to Spacio Matika; two thematic routes – the first by sea
accompanied by barkarioli (boatmen), and the second a stroll along the waterfront.

7. ASSOCIATION ‘HOUSE OF BATANA’ AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS ECOMUSEUM
The Ecomuseum started a ‘natural’ process which would later become an UNESCO Good
Safeguarding Practice (2016) leading to the possibility to act as agent of change in Croatian
heritage practice(s)
The change is mostly related to the democratization and flexibility of management models
addressing the Authoritative Heritage Discourse (Laurajane Smith), conservation and preventive
care of objects which are effectively in use and contribute to safeguarding relevant practices
and the holistic approach to valorization of tangible and intangible heritage in relation to its
natural environment
Since 2020 accredited NGO under the 2003 Convention

9. ASSOCIATION ‘HOUSE OF BATANA’ AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS ECOMUSEUM
The management of the Eco-museum is following the Law on non-governmental and non-profit
organizations and is carried out on three levels
1. executive management: president, secretary, program manager
2. working groups
3. general assembly/ monitoring and evaluating

10. ASSOCIATION ‘HOUSE OF BATANA’ AND THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF ITS ECOMUSEUM
The Ecomuseum continues the advocacy activities in order to raise awareness on the
possibilities and rights communities have in managing their cultural heritage and thus
contributing to the development of heritage practices from which communities can benefit on
emotional, social and economical levels

12. Thank You for Your attention
dr.sc. Tamara Nikolić Đerić, program manager
Ecomuseum Batana, tamara@batana.org