{"id":9259,"date":"2023-01-01T09:17:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-01T09:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inv.si\/?post_type=projects&p=9259"},"modified":"2026-04-14T09:25:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T09:25:59","slug":"museums-as-strengtheners-of-slovenian-national-identity-the-case-of-museum-collections-in-the-nadiza-and-tar-valley-regions-and-in-resia","status":"publish","type":"projects","link":"https:\/\/inv.si\/en\/projects\/museums-as-strengtheners-of-slovenian-national-identity-the-case-of-museum-collections-in-the-nadiza-and-tar-valley-regions-and-in-resia\/","title":{"rendered":"Museums as Strengtheners of Slovenian National Identity: The Case of Museum Collections in the Nadi\u017ea and Tar Valley Regions and in Resia"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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The project titled Museums as Strengtheners of Slovenian National Identity: The Case of Museum Collections in the Nadi\u017ea and Ter Valleys and in Resia<\/em>, examined the public activities of museums in the Slovenian community<\/strong> in the Videm region and the role such institutions play in preserving and strengthening national consciousness. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is a lesser-known topic that has so far been only tentatively researched, yet it is of exceptional importance for understanding the functioning of the community, as museums go beyond the mere presentation of exhibition content. Although in most cases the content of the collections is limited to a small space, their presence ensures the preservation of the identity of local Slovenian communities. This is particularly true for collections located in smaller settlements, where basic public infrastructure (e.g., schools, shops, post offices) is being phased out due to population out-migration. The presence of museums keeps these places alive and the population active. <\/span><\/p>\n

Within this framework, traditional events (carnival parades, cultural events) are organized, in which entire local communities participate, attracting a large number of visitors from the wider region, including across borders. At the same time, museum staff are actively involved in general operations and efforts to develop the Slovenian community both within the Province of Udine and the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia (FJK). The main purpose of the research was to examine the local population\u2019s attitude toward museum collections and the content presented by these institutions, as well as the impact of the institutions\u2019 public activities on the development and strengthening of Slovenian national consciousness and culture. In addition, emphasis was placed on analyzing connections with the homeland. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this way, political, museum, and other research institutions, as well as the interested public, can gain a more detailed insight into the cultural, ethnic, and social conditions of the Slovenian community in Italy, particularly in areas where it faces the greatest challenges. From the perspective of the development of the field in border regions and the importance of such institutions for overall social progress, the results are particularly useful for the Slovenian and Italian museum sectors. <\/span><\/p>\n

This academic text, to be published in early 2024 and available on various online platforms, will contribute to the understanding of the public activities of the Slovenian community in Italy, which, within the museum context, works to promote the development and visibility of Slovenian culture in the Udine area. Work Process The research was conducted during the spring months of 2023 and focused on analyzing the results of two projects (Language\/Lingua \u2014 Multilingualism as a Wealth and Value of the Cross-Border Slovenian-Italian Area<\/em> and Collections – Cultural Heritage in Collections between the Alps and the Karst<\/em>) from the Slovenia-Italy Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2007-2013<\/strong>, which were implemented in the Province of Udine between 2009 and 2015. <\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, relevant literature and journal sources were reviewed, particularly Primorski dnevnik and Novi Matajur. An interview was also conducted with Dora Ciccone, a representative of the Institute for Slovenian Culture, based in Cividale. Due to the limited amount of allocated funds, certain changes were made to the initial plan, resulting in a reduction in the scope of the field research. Instead of visiting museums and conducting in-person interviews with museum staff, collection owners, and local residents, the project author communicated with these individuals via email or telephone. The work thus focused on reviewing materials available in Ljubljana (libraries of the Research Center of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, the Institute for Ethnic Studies, the Institute of Contemporary History, and the Department of History at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana) or online (Digital Library of Slovenia). Based on a relevant selection of appropriate sources and literature, an original scientific paper was prepared (length: 5,651 words, 40,145 characters including spaces, Appendix 1), which was submitted for publication in August 2023 as part of a scientific monograph by the Institute for Ethnic Studies. The book will be published in early 2024. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n