St. John’s Fortress as a Hub for Knowledge Exchange and Sustainable Practices
From Monday, 27 October to Wednesday, 29 October 2025, the classrooms of the Educational Campus at St. John’s Fortress in Šibenik will become a centre for knowledge exchange, networking, and planning future activities related to sustainable management of cultural heritage and tourism.
The workshop “Sustainable Event Management and Tourism Destination Governance”, organized by Fortress of Culture Šibenik as the lead partner of the GIFTSnet – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions project, will gather around sixty professionals in cultural management and sustainability from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro.
Workshop Objectives
The workshop aims to broaden the understanding of sustainability and deepen knowledge of sustainable development principles, as well as to highlight the role of cultural institutions and the tourism sector in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants will gain practical tools and insights for integrating sustainable practices within their organizations and events, while the interdisciplinary approach will encourage collaboration among stakeholders from various fields – culture, tourism, environmental protection, and public administration.
Through hands-on work, participants will develop action plans and proposals to improve sustainability within their own projects, institutions, or destinations.
Three Days of Learning: From Theory to Practice
The three-day programme combines theoretical and practical perspectives on sustainable development in the cultural and tourism context.
On the first day, 27 October, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of event sustainability, strategic frameworks, and the international standard ISO 20121, followed by practical exercises in designing sustainable events.
The second day, 28 October, will focus on resource management and environmental protection, climate action, and practical methods for reducing energy, water, and material consumption. Participants will also explore examples of sustainable waste management and biodiversity protection and learn about relevant European regulations, including the CSRD Directive.
On the final day, 29 October, the workshop will focus on communication, branding, and audience engagement, with an emphasis on storytelling and community involvement in sustainability processes.
Participants will develop communication plans for their own projects, using the “Night of Fortresses Goes Green” initiative as a reference example of how sustainability principles can be effectively integrated and communicated through cultural events.
Workshop Leader: Laura Orlić (Artivist Company)
The workshop will be led by Laura Orlić, founder of Artivist Company, an organization dedicated to sustainable development in the fields of cultural heritage and business.
With more than twenty years of international experience in people and organizational development, Laura designs educational programmes that connect art, the business sector, and sustainability, inspiring the creation of organizations focused on social impact and a sustainable future.
About the GIFTSnet Project
The workshop is organized as part of the GIFTSnet – Network for Green and Inclusive Fortified Tourism Solutions project, funded through the Interreg VI-A IPA Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina – Montenegro 2021–2027 Programme. The project runs for 30 months, from 15 September 2024 to 14 March 2027, with a total budget of €2,244,442.80.
In addition to Fortress of Culture Šibenik as the lead partner, project partners include the City of Banja Luka and the Museum of Herzegovina Trebinje from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the City of Karlovac from Croatia, and the Municipalities of Bar and Ulcinj from Montenegro.
GIFTSnet contributes to the sustainable and inclusive development of cultural tourism through investments in seven cultural heritage sites – in Šibenik, Karlovac, Banja Luka, Trebinje, Bar, and Ulcinj – and through the development of inclusive tourism offers and capacity building of stakeholders in sustainable cultural tourism.
Fortress of Culture Šibenik – A Leader in Sustainable Cultural Development
Fortress of Culture Šibenik, a public institution managing three revitalized Šibenik fortresses – St. Michael’s, Barone, and St. John’s – as well as the House of Arts Arsen and the Croatian Coral Centre on Zlarin Island, plays a key role in the urban revitalization of Šibenik and the development of cultural tourism.
Each year, its programmes attract more than 200,000 visitors, while the Friends Club connects around 4,000 members, mostly from the local community.
Workshop Venue
The workshop will take place at the Educational Campus of St. John’s Fortress, a modern facility opened in 2022, equipped with classrooms, dormitories, and conference halls.
The historic fortress, built in 1646, is today one of the region’s most important educational and cultural hubs – an ideal venue for international workshops, residencies, and learning programmes.
Contact Information
For more information about the workshop and participation, please contact the Department for International Cooperation and Projects, Fortress of Culture Šibenik:
