C-Change City Profile Šibenik UNDERSTANDING THE CITY

• Unlike other cities along the coast, Šibenik was founded by the , in 1066, and is the oldest native Croatian town located on the Adriatic • An industrial centre in the 19th and 20th century, mainly steel, and a former military base • Occupied by Fascist Italy and During World War II • Part of the Socialist Federal Republic of after World War II • Heavily attacked during the Homeland Wars (1991-1995) which led to ’s independence • Underwent major transformation and restoration after 1995 • Highly successful in securing European funding, following Croatia’s accession to the European Union in 2013 • A city now driven by tourism, based on the its rich natural and cultural heritage and resources • Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites • Facing a of about 1% annually, with many young people in particular leaving to either work or study in larger Croatian cities or other EU countries • A unique opportunity to adopt a more integrated and sustainable approach to tourism and development of its natural and cultural resources and avoid the negative impacts of tourism experienced by other larger tourist destinations in Croatia • Benefits from a range of county initiatives to both protect its natural heritage and develop this key resource in a more sustainable way • A place for music lovers, food and wine lovers and fans

POPULATION NATURAL AREAS

46,000 National Parks Kornati and the

GEOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHY

Adriatic Coast

in a naturally protected harbour at centre of Šibenik-Knin County and the meeting point of the river Krka third-largest city in the historic region 1 and the Adriatic Sea of Dalmatia CULTURE IN THE CITY

The arts, culture and cultural heritage are a key part of city life and range cultural events, with a strong focus on local people, and is play a central role in Šibenik’s shift from an industrial and military past a unique model in Croatia. Its ‘Fortress Friends’ scheme, includes to a city to which tourism is central. Šibenik is home to two a participatory budget approach whereby ‘friends’ can have a say UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Saint James Cathedral which on investment in cultural and heritage projects in the city. Šibenik dates back to Medieval times and is also an important example of is recognised in Croatia for its best practice in cultural heritage Renaissance architecture; and Saint Nicholas Fortress, located on an management and is currently participating in SHARE, an ERDF-funded island off the coast and a unique example of Renaissance fortification project, on sustainable approaches to cultural heritage management architecture. Its cultural sector includes a mix of old and new, and development. traditional and contemporary: from municipal venues – the city history museum, gallery, theatre, library and city-run fortresses – to a strong The city does not have a formal culture policy, and its approach to cultural NGO sector running a range of independent and alternative cultural development tends to be more project-based and funding- cultural venues and events, many on a voluntary basis. The sector is dependent. A new Cultural Council has been recently established to largely dependent on municipal funding. Many of the city’s venues are bring together representatives of the arts and culture sector to work faced with the challenge of securing investment for refurbishment on common themes. It has an advisory role and the seven council and development and fund-raising is also a constant challenge for the members are appointed by the Mayor. independent sector.

Šibenik has an abundance of music events and arts festivals, culture facts including: the Šibenik International Children‘s Festival one of the city’s flagshipCULTURE festivals, FACTS run by the city theatre and renowned for its • 16% of the city’s total budget is for culture interactive and imaginative children‘s workshops, plays and learning • Home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Saint James Cathedral activities; the Šibenik Dance Festival; the Šibenik chanson festival; an which dates back to Medieval times and an important example of international animation festival, and; an annual rock Renaissance architecture and Saint Nicholas Fortress, located on an festival, one of the aims of which is to bring together people from the island off the coast and a unique example of Renaissance fortification countries of the region, creating unity through music. architecture • Recognised in Croatia for its best practice in cultural heritage The Barone Fortress and the Saint Michael Fortress have already management undergone restoration and development. The Saint Michael Fortress • A cultural offering of old and new, from the city history museum, library, is now the stage for a many local, national and international music theatre and gallery to a range of independent and alternative cultural events, from classical and folk to rock and pop. Fortress of Culture, events and venues run by cultural NGOs established in 2013 and the city’s museums department in a former • Fortress of Culture, a new organisation which brings together life, focuses on the sustainable management and preservation of cultural programming and production and an approach to sustainable cultural heritage in the city and manages two of the city’s fortresses. management and preservation of heritage buildings Bringing together both heritage building management and cultural programming and production, it produces and co-produces a 2 CLIMATE CHANGE & THE CITY

The decline of Šibenik’s industrial base has led to an improvement in While the people of Šibenik can see and feel the impacts of climate change - environmental quality. Black smoke no longer dominates the skyline, air flooding due to rising sea levels, forest fires, hotter summers, colder winters quality has improved, and people can now swim in the sea and enjoy the – they rarely make the link to global climate change. Even for those who do, city’s new beach. As a smaller and lesser known Croatian city, inaccessible there is still a gap between awareness and action. There is a clear to larger cruising ships, Šibenik has not suffered the same level of negative recognition within the city, that the arts and culture is best placed of all tourism impacts experienced by Croatia’s other larger tourist destinations. sectors to connect people to climate change, make the global local and Transport impacts – air, water and noise pollution – are the most visible of inspire action to protect cultural and natural heritage so vital to the city. tourism impacts to Šibenik’s citizens. Both city and county recognise that they have a unique opportunity to learn from the past and establish a more integrated and sustainable approach to tourism and the protection and development of their natural and cultural resources. As a place already experiencing the impacts of climate change – notably rising sea levels and resulting flooding, forest fires, hotter summers and colder winters – climate change mitigation and adaptation must be central to this approach. FACTS

Šibenik is in the early stages of developing its approach to climate change. • Experiencing rising sea levels and resulting flooding and forest It doesn’t have a specific climate change team, and tends to take a fires as a result of climate change more integrated approach. For example, the development of Šibenik as a • Low and zero carbon energy sources are less developed in Centre of Green Industries is the remit of the Department for Economy, Croatia, with energy needs met mainly through hydro power, Entrepreneurship and Development. The county has identified the need to nuclear, coal and some gas, 20% of its energy needs are met develop a climate change adaptation policy in the county’s coastal plan ‘A through imports Road to Resilience’, developed with UNEP and Global Environment Facility funding, under a Mediterranean integrated coastal zone management Key initiatives include: programme. • First Dalmatian town to introduce a public bike scheme • Energy efficiency programme for schools The county also undertook ‘Climagine – Adapting to Climate Variability and • New project to improve waste management and recycling Change’, four workshops to inputs from about 50 stakeholder groups on • Climagine, a series of stakeholder engagement workshops sustainable development of the Šibenik-Knin coastal area. Environmental focused on sustainable development to support development education is also a priority for the county. For example, the county’s Public of the county’s coastal plan province’s energy agency Institution ‘Nature’ has worked with NGOs and the International Children’s Festival on raising awareness about forest fires and how to prevent them.

3 EXAMPLES of arts and culture sector climate action and engagement in the city

• Fortress of Culture and Greenpeace’s plastic-free campaign for the city’s Christmas markets • The city history museum’s exhibition on biodiversity and its work to develop solutions for ensuring environmental conditions, using more energy efficient systems and traditional materials • The International Children’s Festival’s ‘Green City’ children’s show • Virtual Faust an artist-led project for children at the city library on imagining and designing renewably powered machines to deal with the city’s water and waste

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