Project FORTIC Conference & EFFORTS Annual congress "Sustainable business models for fasteners"

The EFFORTS Annual Congress 2024 took place as part of the FORTIC (Interreg Italy - Croatia) project at St John's Fortress in Šibenik (HR).

40 participants from 9 countries took part in the three-day event, which was organised by the Šibenik Cultural Fortress in an "un-conference format" and featured many workshops instead of lectures. FORTE CULTURA took part in the conference with two workshops:

• Nataša Urošević / Kristina Afrić Rakitovac (University of Pula)
  Creating spaces and promoting inclusion: How can fortresses become places for vulnerable social groups?
• Dirk Röder (FORTE CULTURA) / Josip Pavić (PCI Fortress of Culture)
  Education for culture and peace - The role of fortifications as dissonant cultural heritage.

As part of the EFFORTS General Meeting the participants discussed the new network orientation and structure. The meeting was rounded off by presentations from various members and interest groups, including a contribution from EFFORTS Ukraine on fortress cooperation for the preservation of fortified cultural heritage in Ukraine. Further steps to support the Ukrainian partners are planned in the near future.

Impressions from Šibenik

The EFFORTS Annual Congress 2025 is expected to take place as part of the European Heritage Days 2025, from 18-20 September 2025 in Cherbourg (FR).