Workshop parallel session 1

Andreja Bjelan & Alenka Černelič Krošelj & Urška Purg, Mitigating Risks in Conflict, Crisis and Natural Disasters: Building Resilience in Museums

The workshop will explore strategies and tools to mitigate risks in museums operating in or affected by conflict and crisis and by natural disasters. This session will engage participants in practical, hands-on activities, focusing on proactive planning, crisis management, and post-crisis recovery strategies. Participants will work on the risk mitigation practices, ethical considerations, and the development of actionable plans that help museums protect their collections, staff, and communities. This interactive session is designed to prepare museum professionals to handle complex situations with greater preparedness, responsiveness, and resilience.

Alenka Černelič Krošelj

Director of the Posavje Museum Brežice

Alenka Černelič Krošelj is a museum advisor who studied at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. She holds degrees in art history, ethnology, and cultural anthropology. Throughout her career, she has worked in various institutions and participated in numerous projects funded by the European Union. Since 2014, she has served as the managing director of the Posavje Museum Brežice in Slovenia. Alenka is actively involved in strategic and development groups, including the Posavje Regional Development Agency, as well as various organizations and associations dedicated to advancing Slovenian society through the promotion and preservation of cultural heritage.

Urška Purg

Curator at the Slovenian Banking Museum

Urška Purg is a museum advisor, social pedagogue, ethnologist, and cultural anthropologist. Currently, she works as a curator at the Slovenian Banking Museum. With over a decade of experience in museums since 2010, Urška has contributed to both large and small-scale international projects, focusing on challenging heritage, participation, inclusion, and oral history. Her diverse experiences in museum work have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the field, which she now applies to international collaborations and contemporary museology. Urška is dedicated to innovative approaches that bring museums closer to their audiences in engaging and meaningful ways.

Andreja Bjelan

The head of the Photo Library at the National Liberation Museum Maribor

Andreja Bjelan began her career at the National Liberation Museum Maribor in Slovenia, initially as a student and later as an intern. Over the years, she has also dedicated a significant part of her career to journalism, researching and writing extensively about the influence of media on society, the impact of social networks, local politics, and cultural affairs. At the National Liberation Museum Maribor, her responsibilities include managing depots and various collections, as well as participating in the organization of exhibitions. Her research primarily focuses on the 20th century, with a special interest in the period between World War I and World War II, and the history of photography. Since 2024, she has been the head of the Photo Library at the National Liberation Museum Maribor.