International Scientific Conference “Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar”

The Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Center for Research and Valorization of Architectural Heritage VAM are organizing the international scientific conference “Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar,” which will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo.

The conference is dedicated to one of the most significant works of memorial architecture in the former Yugoslavia — the Partisan Memorial Cemetery in Mostar, a masterpiece by the architect Bogdan Bogdanović. Today, this national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina stands between years of neglect and increasingly strong efforts to ensure its permanent protection, restoration, and international recognition. The conference is taking place at a time when an initiative has been launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina to nominate Bogdan Bogdanović’s monuments for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Its aim is to open an interdisciplinary dialogue on the preservation and valorization of this exceptional memorial complex, as well as the broader body of Bogdanović’s work in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the wider region.

The conference will bring together experts from various fields — researchers and specialists on Bogdan Bogdanović’s work, architects, conservators, historians, art historians, cultural theorists, researchers of memorial heritage, and other domestic and international experts dealing with issues of monument heritage, memory culture, and monument preservation. Through a series of presentations and discussions, the conference will address the architectural symbolism and aesthetics of the Partisan Memorial Cemetery, its history and transformations, the challenges of conservation and restoration, as well as possibilities for its revitalization and integration into the contemporary social and cultural life of Mostar. This international conference represents a continuation of many years of activities carried out by the organizers and partner institutions through exhibitions, workshops, professional consultations, and research projects dedicated to the work of Bogdan Bogdanović in Mostar, Travnik, Bihać, and Sarajevo. A special focus of the conference will be directed toward improving the preparation of a high-quality UNESCO nomination dossier and promoting the memorial heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina in an international context.

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NOTE:
Recording statements before the start of the conference will be possible between 9:00 and 10:00 AM at the premises of the Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the conference organizers will be available for statements and media inquiries throughout the day (by prior arrangement).