Slovenia/ 4.2 Recent policy issues and debates  

4.2.9 Heritage issues and policies

Basic plans for the digitisation of cultural heritage in Slovenia have been outlined in several documents: in the Strategy of the Republic of Slovenia in the Information Society (2003), and both National Programmes for Culture (2004-2007 in 2008-2011), as well as in a research project entitled Information Models of Cultural Heritage (2004). The aim is to connect institutions of cultural heritage and to create instruments for the development of digitisation programmes and projects.

By joining the EU MINERVA and MINERVA Plus projects, institutions, especially libraries, museums and archives in Slovenia have become more aware of the need for digitising cultural heritage for which they are responsible (see previous chapter 4.2.8). The importance of this topic reflects in the fact that international conference "Culture Online" is one of the seminars during the Slovenian presidency of EU in first half of 2008 (see chapter 2.4.6).

One of the cultural priorities in Slovenia's Development Strategy 2007-2013 refers to "comprehensively preserving and developing cultural heritage and connecting it with modern life and creation, because the society of our time must take responsibility for natural and cultural heritage and fulfil its moral commitment to future generations". In its implementation, the cooperation with ministries such as ministries of the economy, of the environment and spatial planning, of transport, of agriculture, forestry and food, and of defence is announced in the areas where joint projects, primarily concerning restoration of cultural heritage and its protection against natural disasters, bring a better tourist offer, create new jobs and foundations for revitalisation of old city centres and rural development. The link between tourism and culture is especially emphasised within Slovenia's inclusion in the European Cohesion Policy. As part of the Operational programme for strengthening regional development potentials for the period 2007-2013, the Ministry of Culture is also involved in the implementation of content in the priority guideline Information Society, which involves projects of publicly available digital collections and e-cultural content and projects on development and establishment of systems, user programmes and information and communication technology services in culture. The Ministry of Culture already participates in the Operational programme for human resource development 2007-2013, in the priority guideline Culture as support for social inclusion of social groups, which falls within the priority Equal opportunities and reinforcing social inclusion. As part of the European Territorial Cooperation 2007-2013, culture and cultural heritage are defined at the level of tourism development as one of the main elements in creating the identity of areas and their valorisation.

Priorities (movable, immovable heritage and archives) listed in the National Programme for Culture 2008-2011 are:

• better collaboration of all three strands of cultural heritage "from recognition and recording to storage and declaration for a monument and primarily in the preparation of museum projects (exhibitions), in projects on renewal and revitalisation of cultural monuments and in providing information on heritage";
• education and training to cover missing programmes in some fields (for example, education programme for museology and conservation studies) and to provide knowledge of modern doctrines and new technologies including lifelong training of employed experts for all public services;
• introduction of a single review of qualified performers of specialised protection;
• adoption of tax relief for owners of cultural monuments;
• promotion of a uniform display of digital material (data collections, publications, photography, museum items, etc.); and
• improvement of the standards for protection (financial, technical, material, scientific etc) and access to heritage.

See also chapter 3.3 and chapter 4.1. 

For more information, see
European Heritage Network: Country profile Slovenia

Chapter updated: 18-11-2008