Smart4You2 will enable significant long-term impact as the action focuses on infrastructural interventions that bring specific tangible impact on the cross-border communities.
The intervention logic within Smart4You2 project is designed in order to comply both to the needs of the tourist/visitors in the region and cross-border area, and to the professionals and their dedication to conserve and present cultural heritage in a way that it will become a real cultural asset that can accelerate economic development and secure it’s sustainability on the long run. Transfer of knowledge, skills and know-how will contribute to the above results, and it will enable public awareness on the values of the cultural heritage and in the same time on the endless possibilities of tourism industry that can bring economic boost of the cross-border region. Infrastructural improvements will also influence the accessibility (in different forms) of the cultural heritage for tourist/visitors with disabilities, making it more attractive and reachable.
Smart4You2 project with the reconstruction of PARK object will increase the attractiveness of the Officer’s home Plato as a tourist destination, but as well as a space with specific content to be discovered and which develops and presents new possibilities for use of tradition and culture as a socio-economic resources that will bring additional income for the population in cross-border regions. Construction of the path to and from the newly established and conserved old school in the village of Globochani, i.e Museum of Sterjo Spase, will give the visitors sense of care and importance not only for the unmovable heritage objects, but for that intangible aspects, that can be “seen” only through the “eyes of the soul” and creative spirit and connection between the author and the visitors. Internal yard – Patio, in the NI Institute and museum Bitola is a unique place in the wider region, open, but yet closed space, encircled with the main museum building, represented a vivid cultural space, hosting theatre plays, concerts, literary readings, promotional activities, children’s educational workshops and much more. In order to increase the touristic as well as cultural attractiveness of the space, and to show that the “PAST” in the museum context is always “PRESENT”, a lapidarium will be set. Conservation activities will also take place within the permanent exhibition of the museum which will enable the increase of the total museum permanent exhibition surface for about 400m². This experience will be upgraded with the IT technology. Conservation and restoration activities on the St. Mary church on Mali Grad Island, increases the potential of the region and its attractiveness for domestic and foreign population i.e. tourist/visitor’s, but not only as a cultural space but also as a unique natural experience that can be experienced only “now and here”. This activity will also serve as an introduction to the Summer school for young conservators that should enable up to 30 young artist, from both countries, in 2 cycles to get acquainted, learn and be trained in the field concerned. Summer school for conservation should bring experts from both countries, with a possibility for involvement of experts from other countries in the region that will bridge the gap between the lack, need and demand of the responsible institutions in the regions for such expertise. Several exchanged exhibitions between the relevant partners’ institutions will enable to bring life in cultural spaces in both countries, such as museum of Sterjo Spase, but as well as to show different cultural assets of Albania within the museum premises in NI Institute and museum – Bitola.
Smart4You2 is fully complementary with European Union initiatives related to tourism industry in a way that addresses challenges that are very close to the ones detected by the EU tourism policy (security and safety; economic competitiveness; technological challenges; markets and competition).