Hašimbegović: Experts are silent because they are protecting their piece of the pie

Director of the Historical Museum of BiH Elma Hašimbegović reveals to the BiH news agency Patria why there is no outcry for the preservation of cultural institutions in BiH.

- The fact is that the experts are mostly silent, probably in a desperate struggle to hold onto their share or crumbs of the pie, and only become aware and speak out when they themselves start finding themselves in a similar position. And this is an increasingly frequent occurrence year after year – Hašimbegović believes.

For the year 2013, the Historical Museum of BiH received only 47,881 KM from the budget of the competent institutions. With the decision on co-financing the institution, the FBiH Government and the competent ministry promised funds until the status is finally resolved.

- However, the allocated funds are to be distributed among eight institutions. The functioning of the institution depends on how much the museum will receive in this distribution and when these funds will be operational – emphasizes the Museum Director.

Despite basic existential problems, the Museum does not cease its work and activities. They currently have an increased number of school visits to see the exhibition of exhibits from the 1984 Winter Olympic Games in Sarajevo, a project with which the Museum marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Winter Olympics and which they realized in cooperation with Gimnazija Obala.

- Preparations are also underway for two significant exhibitions: one concerns the history of football in Bosnia and Herzegovina and traces the development of this sport from the first ball brought to Mostar in 1903 to the departure of the BiH national team to Brazil. We are also preparing for foreign visitors in the summer period, as we are preparing an exhibition with the Imperial War Museum from London and the British Council BiH as part of the commemoration of the centenary of the start of World War I – says Hašimbegović.