A research project on the history of emigration from Dalmatia is about to get its online hub
Earlier this year, the Croatian Maritime Museum in Split and the Split branch of the Croatian Heritage Foundation have launched a project aiming to research the history of emigration from Dalmatia. Starting from today, they are also launching a Virtual Museum of Dalmatian Diaspora, reports Morski.hr on December 7, 2017.
The initiative sprung from a proposal originally submitted by representatives of the Croatian diaspora in South America, according to multiple declarations composed at meetings of Croatian emigrants to Bolivia and Chile.
Earlier this evening, the Maritime Museum in Split hosted a presentation of the project, headed by the museum director Danka Radić, manager of the Split branch of the Croatian Heritage Foundation Branka Bezić Filipović and the CEO of Aspira College for Management and Design in Split, Alen Jerkunica.
The presentation was opened by a screening of a documentary film on Ivan Ursić, a Croatian emigrant known for building lighthouses on the Pacific; the screening was followed by a Skype conversation with his grandson Juan Ursić Leale who is currently residing in Chile.
The other part of the event was dedicated to the programme connecting the Maritime Museum with various associations committed to researching history and cultural heritage of islands in central Dalmatia.
The first presented programme, titled ‘4 islands / 4 places / 4 recipes’, connects Brač, Hvar, Korčula and Vis, respectively the towns of Bol, Stari Grad, Blato and Vis. All of the listed islands are known for their history of emigration, with its former residents who are nowadays living all over the world still preparing traditional Dalmatian dishes. Maja Duka spoke about the gastronomic heritage of Brač island, Vinka Tudor touched on the paprenjak biscuits of Stari Grad, historian Ivana Sardelić spoke about lumblija cake of Blato, while Anela Borčić, the headmaster of the Elementary School Vis, gave a presentation on the Vis pie.
As the initiative aims to preserve the traditional cuisine of Dalmatian islands, a separate themed event is planned for December 8: a cooking class dedicated to local specialties will take place at 10 at Aspira College in Split. The workshop will be recorded on film, and the resulting footage will be published both on the Virtual Museum’s website and the portals of all organisations of Croatian diaspora operating worldwide.
We’ll make sure to follow up with more details on the Virtual Museum once the site is launched!
