The destination for the latest cultural tour Savremena’s students took part in was the Museum of Yugoslavia, which consists of the 25 May Museum, the House of Flowers, and the Old Museum. This was a great opportunity for the students to learn about the phenomenon of Yugoslavia.

According to many students, this was an experience to remember, and an indicator that we should study history by actively learning about our cultural heritage.

The Museum of Yugoslavia is a memorial which safeguards the layered history of Yugoslavia. Catalogues, exhibitions and documents from the period provide a well-structured insight into the Yugoslav heritage, making this institution unique in the world.

With guidance from their history teacher, Isidora Smiljanić, the students “read” the coordinates of Yugoslavia from several perspectives. First they learnt about the geographical context and the republics that constituted the former Yugoslavia. The students had a unique opportunity to see Josip Broz Tito’s personal objects, and go through the most important historical points in the life of SFRY. 

LEARNING THROUGH A BLEND OF HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY AND CIVICS

Finally, Savremena’s students learnt about Yugoslav culture, an aspect for which the country was known throughout the world. They were introduced to accomplishments made in visual arts, theatre, film, music, and architecture, and learnt about the numerous intellectuals revered around the world. Another topic that was addressed was multiculturalism, an important staple of Yugoslav culture.

This way, by blending history, geography and civics, the students got a wide picture of life in Yugoslavia. They asked many questions and gave their views and impressions about the country their parents were born in.

25 MAY MUSEUM, HOUSE OF FLOWERS AND OLD MUSEUM

Today’s Museum of Yugoslavia was called the Museum of Yugoslav History until the end of 2016. The May 25 Museum was created with a clear mission of muzealization of socio-political activities and life of the president by collecting, studying and exhibiting gifts presented to Josip Broz Tito in Yugoslavia and abroad, allowing these items to become available to the general public for the first time.

Broz himself participated in decisions regarding the establishment of the Museum and he personally decided that it should be located close to his residence. The collection is heterogeneous, and among those who presented the items were authorities of state and local government, social and political organizations, labor collectives, citizens, (self-taught) artists, amateurs, immigrants, as well as presidents and other officials of foreign countries.

The students’ tour also included the House of Flowers, the resting place of Josip Broz Tito, the President of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and his wife Jovanka. It’s one of the most visited tourist attractions in Belgrade. It was built in 1975 as a winter garden for president Tito and was internally called the flower shop.

The Old Museum is a museum laboratory with a permanent exhibition that’s open for the public. The exhibition displays parts of the collection of the former Memorial Center “Josip Broz Tito” and the Museum of the Revolution of Yugoslav Nations and Ethnic Minorities, which merged in 1996 to create the Museum of Yugoslavia.

This rich cultural experience is part of Savremena’s “classroom without walls” concept, the idea of which is to allow students to not only learn at the school, but gain knowledge through experience and learning about the culture and society that surrounds them.