View source for The History and Development of the Museum Sector


==17th century==
{{Image|Bogensperk Castle.JPG}}

As elsewhere in Europe, the history of museums in Slovenia is connected with the private collections of  individual enthusiasts and their attitude towards the preservation of the past. The founder of Slovene museology is said to be Baron [[Bogenšperk_Castle#Janez_Vajkard_Valvasor_and_his_work|Janez Vajkard Valvasor]] (1641&ndash;1693). A polymath or, more precisely, an historian, geographer, ethnographer, cartographer, naturalist, and technician, whose private collection included books, graphic art works, antiques, coins, and medals, Valvasor became a member of the Royal Society in London in 1687.

==19th century==
{{Image|Slovenian Museum of Natural History 2006.JPG}}

In 1821 the Carniolan Provincial Museum was established in Ljubljana, its first collections mostly related to natural science (for example, Baron [[Žiga Zois|Žiga Zois's]] collection of minerals). The [[Slovenian_Museum_of_Natural_History#Rudolfinum|first permanent museum collection]] moved in 1888 to a building designed specially for the purpose of storing and exhibiting objects of historical, scientific, or cultural interest. In 1898 the first specialised museum institution, the [[Slovene School Museum]], was founded in Ljubljana. During this period new museums also began to appear in other towns throughout Slovenia such as Celje (1882), Ptuj (1883), Kamnik (1883), Maribor (1903), and Koper (1911).

==20th century==
===Between the wars===
{{Image|National Gallery of Slovenia - 2006 - 02.jpg}}

The most important museological event between the two world wars was the establishment of the [[National Gallery of Slovenia]], the institution that the famous Slovene painter [[Rihard Jakopič]] had unsuccessfully attempted to found decades earlier. During the inter-war period the Carniolan Provincial Museum was renamed as the [[National Museum of Slovenia|National Museum]], and in 1923 its ethnographic collections were given a separate home in the Royal Ethnographic Museum, forerunner of today's [[Slovene Ethnographic Museum]]. The establishment of the [[City Museum of Ljubljana]] and the Museum of Škofja Loka also date from this period.

===After World War II===
{{image|Metlika castle 2012 02.JPG}}

After World War II and the founding of the Republic of Slovenia, museum activities underwent a period of major development. Covering the whole Slovene area from the outset, the [[Slovenian Museum of Natural History]] was established in 1944 on the basis of the [[National Museum of Slovenia|National Museum's]] natural history collections. It was followed in 1948 by the establishment of the [[Moderna galerija (MG)|Moderna galerija]], with its focus on modern art. The [[Technical Museum of Slovenia]] was set up in 1951 and opened to the public two years later. The subsequent increase in activity concerning the protection of technical heritage led to the foundation of further technical collections in Kropa, Železniki, Ravne, and Idrija, where new museums were set up. Some specialised museums were also founded during this time, notably the [[Slovenian_Theatre_Institute#History|Museum of Film and Theatre Arts]], the [[Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum, Piran|Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum]] in Piran and a range of regional museums, including the [[Dolenjska Museum Novo mesto]], the [[Murska Sobota Regional Museum]], the [[Goriška Museum|Nova Gorica Museum]], and the [[Bela krajina Museum, Metlika|Bela krajina Museum]] in Metlika. Numerous museums dedicated to World War II and the struggle for national liberation also originated in this period. After Slovenia separated from Yugoslavia in 1991 to become an independent state, however, these museums changed their focus to presenting contemporary Slovene history.

==21st century==
{{Image|Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies KSEVT 2012 01.jpg}}

Today the museum sector has once again been undergoing institutional reorganisations and reforms by local and national governments (for example, the [[Slovenian Theatre Institute]], the [[Museum and Galleries of Ljubljana]], the [[Museum of Architecture and Design]], the [[Koroška Regional Museum]], the [[Eco-Museum of Hop-Growing and Brewing Industry in Slovenia]]). In addition several new museums have been established by local communities (such as the [[Museum of the Forestry and Timber Industry]], the [[Cultural Centre of European Space Technologies (KSEVT)]], the [[Slovenian Alpine Museum]]). The Computer Museum (established in 2003 by [[Cyberpipe]]), however, is still looking for a permanent venue.

{{Image|MSUM 2014 01.jpg}} 

In 2011 [[Moderna galerija (MG)]] expanded its activities by opening a new [[Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova (MSUM)]] in the renovated building of the former military barracks complex on Metelkova Street &ndash; a complex which has grown into a new museum quarter in Ljubljana, encompassing also the [[Slovene Ethnographic Museum]] and the [[National Museum of Slovenia - Metelkova]].

Nowadays, the museums in Slovenia focus on audience development with strong educational programmes. The free museum events on the occasion of the traditional national cultural celebrations (3 December, 8 February) have become very popular. The annual Museum Summer Night (the third Saturday in June), coordinated by the [[Association of Slovene Museums]], kicked off in 2003 at the initiative of [[International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana|International Centre of Graphic Arts]] and has successfully promoted museums as spaces for relaxation and creative use of free time.

{{Image|International Centre of Graphic Arts - 05.jpg}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Museums|All about Slovenian museums on Culture.si]]

==External links==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valvasor Janez Vajkard Valvasor on Wikipedia]
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baron_Sigmund_Zois_von_Edelstein Žiga Zois on Wikipedia]
*[http://www.arhiv.mk.gov.si/fileadmin/mk.gov.si/pageuploads/min_eng/legislation/CHPA.pdf Cultural Heritage Protection Act (ZVKD-1)], 2008
*[http://www.tms.si/PMN/?page_id=91 Museum Summer Night website] (mostly in Slovenian, with a description in English)


[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Heritage overview]]
[[Category:Museum overview]]
[[Category:Overviews]]