The National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a special Terrarium Workshop as part of its celebrations for European Night of Museums and International Museum Day 2024, observed on May 18th. This year’s theme, “Museums for Education and Research,” provided an inspiring backdrop for the event. The workshop took place in the National Museum’s Botanical Garden, where 20 participants from the Cantonal Public Institution “Home for Children without Parental Care” in Bjelave joined the experience. To enhance focus and foster meaningful engagement, we divided the participants into two groups of ten.

The workshop began with a short, guided walk around the Botanical Garden. This allowed participants to relax, connect with nature, and gain insight into the purpose of botanical gardens. Along the way, they encountered various seasonal plants, with opportunities for hands-on sensory exploration, touching and smelling specific species. The main activity was designing terrariums, where participants learned about the complexities of natural ecosystems and the interdependence of living organisms. While the goal was to create terrariums, the broader outcomes included fostering interaction, connecting with the tranquil garden environment, and boosting participants’ moods.

In addition to the Terrarium Workshop, the museum also partnered with the social enterprise “Greens,” a company dedicated to growing herbs and medicinal plants and providing employment for individuals with disabilities and developmental challenges. On October 23rd, a second workshop took place in the Botanical Garden. Following a brief tour and an introduction to the garden’s past and current projects, participants engaged in hands-on activities like weeding, digging, and planting aromatic plants, including rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, and mint. The plants, grown by the talented team at Greens, were a delight to work with, and we were thrilled to support their efforts.

Twelve participants, along with staff from the botanical department, took part in this collaborative effort, creating a wonderful atmosphere of learning and teamwork. We are deeply grateful for these opportunities to connect, exchange knowledge, and promote inclusivity in our activities here at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We extend our heartfelt thanks to BMN and the Headley Trust for their invaluable support in helping us bring these ideas to life.

Both workshops were made possible thanks to the generous support of the Headley Trust and BMN.

Text by Dzana Bordanic