ZAGREB, 11 Oct (Hina) - The Croatian Natural History Museum has been named the best Slavic museum of 2025, receiving the prestigious Živa Award at a ceremony in Trebinje, Bosnia and Herzegovina, organised by the international non-profit Forum of Slavic Cultures (FSK), the museum announced on Saturday.

This year's 11th Živa Awards brought together over 140 participants from 10 Slavic countries and three others, showcasing 32 nominated institutions from more than 150 applicants. The jury, composed of 16 museum specialists from Slavic countries and the European Museum Academy, praised the museum for its "innovative approach to content creation, creative storytelling, departure from traditional permanent exhibitions and exceptionally welcoming attitude to visitors."

The award recognises the museum team's vision and dedication in creating a modern, interactive and inclusive space that makes natural history accessible to all audiences.

"Having recently completed an extensive renovation, this award represents the culmination of years of work and a strong confirmation of our international relevance," director Tatjana Vlahović said, adding that it is also a significant achievement for the broader Croatian museum community.

The Živa Award, named after the Slavic goddess of life and fertility, was established in 2014 to promote excellence and the social role of museums in the Slavic world. It now includes a network of nearly 250 museums and heritage sites across 13 Slavic countries. The 2022 award went to the City Museum of Virovitica, the first Croatian museum to receive the honour.

Srđan Baković

Izvršni urednik 

Hrvatska izvještajna novinska agencija (HINA)