We propose an EXHIBITION-DESIGNED PLATFORM for engaging communities, social networking and expressing solidarity to address the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquakes in Croatia, offer moral support and know-how to strengthen the capacity of citizens & key stakeholders for post-disaster recovery and enhance collaboration and knowledge sharing of the importance of cultural heritage in maintaining the social and cultural values in the redevelopment of earthquake-damaged areas.

Central Croatia: Zagreb, Petrinja and Sisak wider areas

The earthquakes affected region faces societal challenges such as social uncertainty, social vulnerability and confusion caused by the lack of comprehensive rehabilitation plan based on local social & cultural needs, neglect of local social capital important for returning to the normal life after earthquake-induced damages and the inefficiency and inability of local governments and/or authorities in providing assistance and taking an active role in post disaster socially sensitive recovery. To respond appropriately to these challenges, the focus would be changed from the present top-down approach that builds distrust between the earthquake-stricken people, benefactors and the government to the approach based on active citizens’ participation in the process of post-disaster recovery.

Croatia has been hit by a series of devastating earthquakes whose consequences are not in the focus of the national public preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic, although the risk of severe socioeconomic consequences is much higher for the EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN RESIDENTS, especially those who live in cultural-historical parts. They face the threat of being driven away from their properties due to high renovation costs, lack of professional assistance or changing the purpose of residential mixed-use buildings and making it incompatible with their historical, social and cultural significance. To return life to this area, we need to enable sustainability of these parts and resilience of their communities, and that depends on heritage revitalization and the preservation of their character.

• Team meetings to prepare for engagement of collaborators and organize content development that is in line with the project’s goal and needs of communities involved; planning and creating steps towards digital venture and supporting materials; budgeting human resource related to the aims and the outcomes of the project, time required for the various activities and the task of completing the objectives
• Work with CITIZENS and COLLABORATORS through onsite and remote visioning meetings and online sessions to adapt and use the multimedia digital platform and communication channels and jointly work on gathering content for platform; open call for participants via social media
• Digital platform pre-production & production: concept, architecture, design, action plan, visual identity and software development for web-based multimedia information and exhibition system / online exhibition, based on co-curation (researching, mapping, collecting and selecting data & digital and visual material and resources, co-creating stories & visual and textual digital representations)
• Enabling social impact on communities affected by the project through participation strategy and by retaining a database for further use in new holistic rehabilitation projects
• Building visibility and awareness at national and local level using promotional and communication materials

Strengthening solidarity and building bridges between stakeholders and participants locally and internationally will contribute to the adoption of a socially sensitive post-disaster recovery and restoration strategy and measures to preserve the historical and collective values that constitute the strength and opportunity of this region and are essential to the cultural and social prosperity of its residents. Awareness of the specific vulnerability of cultural heritage to natural hazards, of techniques and possible measures and procedures for mitigating the impact of earthquake on cultural heritage will be raised and understanding of the social value of the cultural heritage of this region increased through information and subtle persuasion and identification tools (e.g. storytelling).

The new digital community engagement platform with tools for informing, interacting, engaging and networking will connect people impacted by the situation to the decision makers and will increase people’s engagement in plan making for their localities through virtual arena. The multi-directional communication flow & flow of data, experiences, personal stories, ideas and resources will support active collaboration, build solidarity discourse based on sharing “work” context and responsibility for the hardships of others and feelings of mutual support. Active citizenship will be further attained by creating opportunities for local people to use different knowledge resources and participate in collective actions, to collaborate and thus develop a common discourses toward the invaluable damage

The team is composed by experienced professionals that have large experience in the subjects at the core of the present project. It is composed of distinguished and internationally recognized professionals with great experience in conducting socially responsible artistic, cultural and educational activities in local and international context. They have been involved in a number of interactive, multimedia and exhibitions projects and projects focused on exploring participatory and creative approaches to social development in a culturally sensitive way, re-addressing, re‐directing and critically modelling participative approaches in different art and culture fields and on developing transformative capacity of communities with focus on collaboration and building inclusive relationships.

SUMMARY – EXPENSES:
A. Personnel: 25.000 EUR
B. Travel, Per Diem & Accommodation Costs: 1.000 EUR
C. Production: 6.000 EUR
D. Public relations 800 EUR
E. Office expenses: 1.000 EUR

We seek a critical comparison of the effectiveness of participatory approaches to sustainable project implementation and assessment of methods that encourage participatory innovation and sustainable social and cultural development while expanding the discourse of solidarity.