THE MUSEUM OF SREM

The Museum of Srem, founded in 1885, is a cultural institution which deals with research of material culture of rich heritage, both in Sremska Mitrovica and Srem in general, and it displays the artifacts in permanent and changing exhibitions.
The museum is divided into the following sections: archeology, history, history of arts, ethnology, and naturalist and numismatic collections. An interesting fact is that the museum is situated in two 18th-century buildings, the Brigadirquartier and the Bajić family house.

The former residence of the Bajić family is now the home of CAID – Centre for Archeological Excavation and Documentation on Sirmium, as well as of the permanent exhibition of items dating before the XIV century, including the lapidarium. Within the lapidarium are also the uncovered remains of villae urbanae, of which you can today see a room with an apse and a beautiful geometrically ornamented floor mosaic. Such a finding on the very premises of the museum is very rare in the world. The mosaic was removed, put away and, for already two decades, it has been waiting for better times, that is to say, the funds required for carrying out conservation and restoration. Parts of the mosaic placed in tablets are gradually being destroyed, which makes it an urgency to provide conditions for its exhibiting, and also to find a better solution for the lapidarium itself.

It is also necessary to restore the permanent exhibition, as well as to issue a new guidebook to the permanent exhibition.

Currently in progress are also the negotiations to continue the very successful cooperation with French archeologists, professors from Sorbonne, who once (1973-1978) participated in archeological research of Sremska Mitrovica as members of a mixed French-Yugoslav team.

Some of the artifacts exhibited in the Museum of Srem are:
1. The scull of a giant deer from late Pleistocene of the Megaloceoris giganteus species (according to Blum), protected by law as a unique monument of nature;
2. A sundial with the images of Atlas, Hercules and Ificles;
3. Olearum;
4. Small Roman statues (of Mercury, Larius, Apollo);
5. Roman surgical instruments;
6. Fragments of a fresco with the image of Harpocrates;
7. Rare solids of Constantine the Great;
8. Golden relic holder;
9. Golden Avar belt gear, dating from the VII century;
10. A collection of icons and bourgeois portraits dating from the 17th to the 20th century;
11. A collection of manuscripts originating from the Furška Gora monasteries.

THE “GLIGORIJE VOZAREVIĆ” LIBRARY

One of the oldest libraries in Srem, the “Gligorije Vozarević” Library was founded in 1866 as a succession of the Serbian Citizens’ Library. The library has an inventory of 111 230 books and operates through its Home Department for the region, Department for Acquisition and Processing, Adults` Department, Specialized Literature Department, Children`s Department, and six other branches. Since 1994, the Library has been in charge of work of seven public, 32 primary-school, 12 secondary-school and 5 special libraries. The library has 28 employees.

Computerization of the Library was initiated through uploading the book inventory, and by the beginning of 2002 the work with customers was fully automatized. Operation software is Windows 98, and user software is Office 97, BIBLIO, and MBS. Home Department used the MBS programme and processed the book inventory of the local heritage collection.

The «Gligorije Vozarević» Library follows current trends and scientific developments and it is planned to supplement its inventory with specialized literature and magazines, not only in Serbian, but in foreign languages as well. Another plan is to form a collection of e-books and open a cyber-café, for which purpose the library needs to be equipped with more up-to-date computer technologies. In order for these plans to be realized, the library needs much larger funds than the ones that are currently at its disposal. We hope that with additional efforts and some help from book lovers our plans can be achieved.

THE “LAZAR VOZAREVIĆ” GALLERY

The “Lazar Vozarević” Gallery was founded and started work in 1973 with the exhibition of paintings and drawings by Lazar Vozarević. The Gallery is clearly divided into two separate sections: the memorial and the contemporary section.
The memorial section is the core of the gallery and it comprises original paintings, drawings, and collages created by Lazar Vozarević, and materials related to his work.

Lazar Vozarević was born in 1925 in Sremska Mitrovica, and he died in 1968 in Belgrade. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. He also spent some time in Paris, namely from 1951 to 1952, and again from 1954 to 1956, in 1958 and 1962. Apart from paintings he did mosaics and illustrations as well. He was a lecturer at the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade. His works are kept in the «Lazar Vozarević» Gallery in Sremska Mitrovica, at the Museum of Contemporary Arts in Belgrade, the Art Gallery in Cetinje, as well as in many important collections abroad, such as: David Rockefeller (USA), Guido Tervizan (Italy), Villa Lobos (Brazil), Philipe Baudet (France), Paul Flockerman (USA), etc. Vozarević had independent exhibitions in Belgrade, Zagreb, Sremska Mitrovic, Paris, Rome, Brazil, Venice, New York, etc. As part of the Yugoslav team Lazar Vozarević exhibited his works at the Biannual Exhibition of Young Artists in Paris, the International Exhibition in Tokyo, the Mediterranean Biannual in Alexandria, and at the Biannual Exhibition in Sao Paolo.

The second section of the Gallery focuses on the dynamic activities in the field of living and contemporary arts. The Gallery organizes two regular manifestations: the Sremska Mitrovica Exhibition (Exhibition of Vojvodina), which biannually exhibits the latest achievements in the field of painting, applied arts and architecture in Vojvodina, and the Srem Painting Exhibition, which hosts the work of painters from the region. So far, the Gallery has organized over 160 exhibitions on its premises and about twenty exhibitions in the country and abroad.

THE “DOBRICA MILUTINOVIĆ” THEATRE

The development of theater in Sremska Mitrovica is linked to the foundation of the Serbian National Theatre in Novi Sad, although, in addition to this, it was also influenced by Croatian theatres, especially the one from Osijek. The revolution of 1848/1849 in Austria and gathering help for Serbs from the regions affected by war were the direct reasons for the restoration of the theatric life in the town. Unfortunately, this new swing was short-lived.
The reawakened interest in the theatre was to be most closely connected to the founding of the Serbian Citizens’ Library. The Serbian Citizens’ Library, which officially commenced work only in 1866, was to become the cradle of all vocal, acting, and sports groups, and they would in turn be the starting point of the future modern theatric life in the town. Although under the patronage of the Serbian Citizens’ Library, the theatre did not then, nor has it ever had a national character. Instead, it was founded on the principle of unity of Serbs and Croats, who were the majority population in Sremska Mitrovica at that time.
Serbian and Croatian amateurs continued their work even during the period between the two world wars, and the first professional theatre was only founded after the World War II. However, in 1945, the situation suddenly changed. District treasuries were virtually empty and all theatres expected the provincial bodies to take over their subsidizing, for which there was no realistic possibility. So, for a while, all professional theatres in Sremska Mitrovica ceased their activities. The Amateur Theatre was founded in Sremska Mitrovica the same autumn, and in 1974 it was named «Dobrica Milutinović». In 1984, the theatre building was renovated thanks to their own effort, and with the help from state institutions and individuals, and in 1989, the «Dobrica Milutinović» Theatre in Sremska Mitrovica gained professional status. Since then the theatre has worked at a more or less steady pace, independently or in cooperation with other cultural institutions from the municipality, region, country and the world.

It could be said that the modern theatric moment in Sremska Mitrovica is comprised of eight major trends:

• western style, including Shakespeare, realists, absurdist drama, Brecht... and, generally speaking, putting up plays by French, English and German playwrights
• putting up modern plays based on unorthodox theatric forms
• putting up modern versions of classics, both by foreign and domestic authors
• putting up the plays which through their tone reflect the environment, social moment, and humour typical of the local community.
• putting up various theatric forms in all parts of the country and abroad
• organizing visiting performances of other theatres and their plays, while at the same time taking care of all the rules of the market game.
• organizing street theatre in the style of the traditional street theatres
• cooperation with institutions performing social work and providing child care, care for senior citizens and the disabled
• organizing visiting performances and putting up our own plays for children aimed at educating them in terms of multiculturalism and openness to the world and its beauties, environmental protection, tolerance, help for the old and the community, as well as at deepening children’s imagination and steering them towards research and independent learning.
Today, the «Dobrica Milutinović» Theatre from Sremska Mitrovica is one of the highest quality theatres in Vojvodina. Due to the absence of a professional acting ensemble, the business policy of the theatre is to primarily focus on theatre production. From the last year’s production, the play that was most successful was «The Chairs», by Eugene Ionesko, directed by Radoslav Milenković, featuring a team of celebrated actors Eva Ras and Đuza Stojiljković. Serbian theatre critics gave this play raving reviews, and the theatre prided itself in successful visiting performances on stages across the country and at several theatre festivals. This play will represent our town in Sweden next December when it is scheduled for visiting performances at the national theatres in Malme and Lund, and the theatre’s management in currently negotiating visits to Norway and Switzerland.

SIRMIUMART
The SIRMIUMART Cultural Centre was founded in 1971 as a cultural institution which brought together all music-related activities in Sremska Mitrovica at that time. The primary scope of activities of SIRMIUMART is organizing and developing musical, theatric, and poetic activities of children and young people through the work of its organizational units, realization of cultural-artistic and entertainment programmes such as organization of concerts, literary sessions, and exhibitions, as well as publishing activities.
Today, within the SIRMIUMART there are about 300 amateurs engaged in the following organizational units:
• "Branko Radičević" Folk Dance Ensemble (three generations);
• "Srem" Tambura Orchestra (children’s and youth orchestra);
• the National Orchestra;
• "Kaliopa" Recitation Studio (children and youth);
• Children’s Drama Studio "Aes";
• Keyboard School;
• English Language School.
Formation of the Mixed City Choir "Sirmium Cantorum" is in progress.
Through its programme selection, the Cultural Centre is active in all areas of culture and art and it works on establishing artistic potentials of our town; it promotes and presents various trends in art. An equally important activity of SIRMIUMART is its cherishing of amateurism and increasing involvement of young people in the field of art and culture.

WWW.SIRMIUMART.ORG.YU

INSTITUTION FOR CHERISHING CLUTURE “SREM”

Institution for Cherishing Culture, located at 10, Vuka Karadžića Street, was founded by the decision of the Sremska Mitrovica Municipal Assembly on the 11th September, 2003, with the aim to unite all activities of great importance for the development of amateurism and preservation of cultures of national minorities.
The Institution deals with:
• cultural and educational activities, organization and development of musical, poetic, theatric and visual arts activities of school children, individuals and citizens’ associations which are involved in these and similar activities, providing professional and technical conditions for their realization, organizing cultural and arts manifestations, gatherings, festivals, concerts, specialized lectures, exhibitions, poetic, theatric and other appropriate programmes;
• the development of inter-municipal and international cooperation and exchange of cultural and art resources;
• encouraging equal frequency of events in urban and rural environments;
• cherishing culture and cultural tradition of national minorities through development of all types of cultural-artistic amateur and professional activities;
• providing funds for the work of independent artists, and
• publishing activities.
The most significant achievement of our publishing department is the Sundial Magazine which deals with science, art and culture. The first issue of the magazine came out in 1992. It is issued annually in the circulation of one thousand copies on the average, and its aim is to cherish the cultural-historic heritage of Sremska Mitrovica and the whole of Srem.
For already 14 years, as part of the “I love Mitrovica” project, Sremska Mitrovica has been the host of the Oratory Festival “Sirmium Lux Verbi” – Sirmium Light of Words.
The festival rose on the antic monuments of one of the oldest cities in Europe, and it takes place on the site of ancient Sirmium. In the first years after the birth of Christ, the city had a class of intellectuals who left indelible traces of timeless value. Among those traces is also a rare bronze sculpture of an orator from the first years of A.D., made as a tribute to true words. In ancient times, famous writers and biographers visited Sirmium and praised the city as the “glorious populous mother of cities”.
The Festival has gained general recognition and it represents the most significant cultural manifestation in our town. It is an international manifestation, and so far its participants have included representatives of Greece, Russia, Bulgaria, Republic of Srpska, Italy, France, etc.

THE SREM ARCHIVE

The Historical Archive “Srem” was founded in 1946, with the seat in Sremska Mitrovica. It is a regional institution covering seven municipalities: Stara Pazova, Inđija, Irig, Šid, Ruma, Pećinci, and Sremska Mitrovica.
The Archive’s activities include registrations supervision, collecting, archiving and processing materials and their use in public, private and scientific purposes.
The Archive contains about 1300 collections documenting life in the region (economy, judiciary, education, administration, social, political, and religious organizations, etc.).
The most important archive materials are the Church Register Books dating from 1732 to 1900 (Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Greek Catholic, and Jewish). The Archive received requests to allow access to these materials to Germany, Italy, Austria, France, Russia, even the USA, Canada and Brazil.

Next, from the second half of the XVIII century all the way to 1900, there are the trading centres, estates, districts, counties, municipalities, etc. These collections have not yet been fully researched.

Older collections are used for tracking down migrations of population from the North and East Europe to this region, and from this region to West Europe and the USA.

This region is a sort of a bridge between West Europe, East Europe, and Asia. From the XV to the XIX century, this territory was part of the Military Frontier Zone between the Hapsburg Monarchy and the Turkish Empire. The Archive is located in a building constructed around the year 1700, which in the late XVIII century served as the headquarters of the IX Frontier Battalion of the Petrovaradin Regiment.

During the I and II World War, both ally and enemy armies crossed the territory of Srem, and, as a result, there are materials in the Archive which are of great importance for studying the European history.

THE INSTITUTE FOR PRESERVATION OF MONUMENTS

The military facility of the IX Frontier Battalion of the Petrovaradin Regiment was built after 1747 when Sremska Mitrovica became the headquarters of the regiment. Today this building houses the Institute for Preservation of Monuments.

Institutional preservation of cultural monuments has been present in the territory of Srem and part of Mačva for four decades already, and it was initiated with the founding of the District Institute for Preservation of Cultural Monuments in Sremska Mitrovica in December 1961.
Historical circumstances had their share in making Srem the whereabouts of material evidence of highest importance for the cultural history of the Serbian nation, other nations, and national minorities which gained that status right here. The aftermath of the World War II caught the monasteries on Fruška Gora severely damaged. They were in ruins, just like dozens of Orthodox churches. Monumental heritage was in the process of constant and accelerated disappearing.
The past few decades represent a new epoch in preservation of cultural heritage. A large number of cultural resources have been saved and preserved, and are now in service of further cultural heritage.
Cultural monuments are a vision of an epoch and the spiritual life of people, the voice of destiny of creation, national individuality, and creative energy imprinted with the essence of history. Every monumental item has its history which is its very identity and its integrity.
On the territory of Srem, under the jurisdiction of the Institute, there are all together 215 immovable cultural goods and it has been determined that, out of that number, the following 29 immovable cultural goods have the status of extraordinary importance: 23 cultural monuments, 1 spatial cultural-historical unit, 3 archeological sites and 2 landmarks.
125 immovable cultural goods have the status of great importance and those are 112 cultural monuments, 4 spatial cultural-historical units, 6 archeological sites and 3 landmarks. The total of 154 immovable cultural goods has been classified. The remaining immovable cultural goods (61 all together) do not belong to any special category and they are the following: 36 cultural monuments, 5 archeological sites and 20 landmarks.
The Institute for Preservation of Monuments

The monastery complex on Fruška Gora has been nominated for registration on the list of cultural and natural heritage of the world under the protection of UNESCO.

The scope of the Institute’s preservation service includes the following:
• research and registration of goods that have had previous protection;
• valorization and identification of goods that have had previous protection;
• producing decision drafts to declare immovable cultural goods;
• identification of borderlines of protected environment of immovable cultural goods;
• keeping a register of immovable cultural goods;
• protection of immovable cultural goods through documentation;
• valorization (categorization) of immovable cultural goods of extraordinary and great importance;
• research and studies of immovable cultural goods and preparation of studies and elaborations for their most appropriate protection and utilization;
• obtaining insight into the condition of immovable cultural goods of extraordinary and great importance and making provisions for their protection and utilization;
• obtaining insight into the implementation of technical protection provisions and utilization of immovable cultural goods, and proposing provisions for their protection;
• providing professional assistance to proprietors and users in preserving and maintaining immovable cultural goods, as well as improving the quality of work on protection of immovable cultural goods in terms of modern methodology of work;
• enforcing international conventions and recommendations for protection of cultural goods;
• publishing activities and other forms of public informing;
• labeling immovable cultural goods;
• protection of immovable cultural goods in social, spatial, and urban planning;
• previous research of immovable cultural goods of extraordinary and great importance and preparation of studies, programmes and elaborations for technical protection provisions;
• preparing projects for carrying out repair work and conducting repair work on immovable cultural goods .

The Institute for Preservation of Monuments

The Institute has achieved considerable results in the field of research, registration and declaring, and especially in the field of technical protection of objects of material culture. Particularly important are the efforts to protect, uncover and present the remains of Sirmium and the medieval Mitrovica, which at the same time represents the setup of an ambience favourable for the development of tourism and cultural creation. Exceptionally important are also the archeological sites Basijan, near Donji Petrovci, and Gomolav, in the fields near Hrtkovci. Other sites worth mentioning are the early Christian and medieval church complex in Mačvanska Mitrovica, and also the results of research on the prehistoric find "Gradine" near Vašice, where work was being carried out from 1975 until 1988. Protective excavation was also carried out on the accumulation locations in: Erdevik, Maradik, Pavlovci, Sot and Šatrinci, at the sugar factory in Pećinci, and the "Cemetery" site in Batrovci. In 1978, when foundations were being dug for the Town Tavern in Sremska Mitrovica, the discovery was made of the remains of the tri-nave Basilica of Saint Demetrius.
Conservation and restoration work was carried out on the following monasteries: Kuveždin, Mala Remeta, Privina Glava, Ravanica, Staro Hopovo, Šišatovac, and on the Orthodox churches in Grgurevci, Divoš, Donji Petrovci, Irig, Jarak, Kraljevci, Kuzmin, Kupinovo, Laćarak, Molovin, Sremska Mitrovica, Šimanovci, the Catholic church in Novi Slankamen, and Slovak Evangelist churches in Stara Pazova and Šid.
Conservation and restoration work was carried out on objects of town architecture from the 18th and 19th century, which include the following buildings: the Historical Archive, the Museum of Srem, the Institute for Preservation of Cultural Monuments, the Theatre, the Police Department, the Serbian Centre, the hospital and military barracks in Sremska Mitrovica, the Local Heritage Museum in Ruma, the home of Đorđe Vojnović in Inđija, the library building in Krčedin, and the "Sava Šumanović" Gallery in Šid, as well as the family home of Sava Šumanović. Ambient units have been arranged in Sremska Mitrovica, Ruma, Irig, Inđija, Erdevik and Stara Pazova through production of conservation documents. At the moment, we are preparing the documents for restoration of the "Šlos" building in Golubinci and its introduction into the project of "ethno-eco" villages.
Attention was paid to the construction of monuments and memorials from the time of the World War II and work on their conservation and preservation was carried out in Belegiš, Grgurevci, Rohalj Baze, Pećinci, Salaš Noćajski, Surduk, Subotište, Stara Pazova and Šid. The restored monuments from earlier history include the monument to Filip Višnjić at the cemetery in Višnjićevo, the monument in Slankamen dedicated to the tercentennial of the famous battle and construction of the monument in Leget near Šašinci. We have also completed the construction of the Ethno Park project in Kupinovo. A proposal was drafted for restoration of the house from Ogar, at 29 Šumska Street, which is an immovable cultural good of extraordinary importance together with the barns and granaries in Golubinci and Karlovčić.
The Institute for Preservation of Monuments in Sremska Mitrovica will readily execute all preservation actions which will allow appropriate conservation and preservation of cultural heritage, and undertaking of all measures that modern protection techniques can deploy.