Panel discussion 1

Main issues of the exhibition design

The panel will cover different aspects of producing permanent exhibitions. We will have a chance to discuss the main issues of the exhibition design having different perspectives, from art-historians/curators, designers, architects/designers, conservators/restorers, educators to the managers. Panelists with different backgrounds will talk about designing various types of exhibitions, starting from gallery space to open air industrial exhibitions, setting the stage for a rich exchange of ideas and approaches.

This fascinating exploration of how exhibition design adapts to various contexts and purposes will also include another important issue: how to balance aesthetic considerations with the practicalities of conservation or visitor engagement? That intersection often sparks innovative solutions.

Agata Abramowicz

National Museum in Gdańsk

Agata Abramowicz is a museum curator and cultural heritage expert with extensive experience in exhibition design, historical research, and international collaboration. She holds master’s degrees in history and art history from the University of Gdańsk and Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Her career began at the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk, where she played a key role in curating sections of the museum’s permanent exhibition, conducting research, and collecting oral histories across Eastern Europe and the Balkans. She later joined the Gdynia City Museum, where she served as Deputy Director, co-created the permanent exhibition “Gdynia – an open work”, and led international projects. Currently, she is the Director’s Proxy for Projects and Exhibitions at the National Museum in Gdańsk, overseeing major exhibition projects, strategic planning, and funding acquisition.

Agata is an advocate for participatory approaches in museum storytelling. She has lectured internationally, sharing insights on engaging audiences through dynamic narratives. Her work bridges history, art history, architecture, and modern exhibition practices, making museums more accessible and relevant. She actively collaborates with institutions in Poland and across Europe, fostering innovative museum strategies in contemporary heritage interpretation.

Tijana Palkovljević Bugarski

Gallery of Matica srpska

Tijana Palkovljević Bugarski museum advisor, is the director of the Gallery of Matica srpska as of 2010, leading the institution where she began her carrier in 2001. She holds Ph.D. in art history from the Belgrade University (2016). Her research interests are both in the field of international and national art of the 20th century as well education, management and marketing in museums. She has organized numerous exhibitions and published extensively, and in recent years led activities on the renovation and design of the exhibition space of the Gallery of Matica Srpska and on enhancement of international cooperation to preserve and promote the Serbian cultural heritage.

She holds key roles in cultural associations, including the ICOM Serbia, the European Museum Academy (as national coordinator since 2012 and as a Board member as of 2025), and as the coordinator for Serbia in the Forum of Slavic Cultures. She was the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Novi Sad European Capital of Culture 2022 Foundation. Since 2022, she is the president of the Committee for election of the National (Serbian) Capital of Culture. Tijana is the holder of the French Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (2019) and Austria’s Gold Medal of Merit (2023).

Igor Stepančić

Blueprint Design Studio

Igor Stepančić is an artist with a deep-rooted connection to the world of museums and exhibitions. His grandfather, Stevan Jenovac, was one of the three founding members of a museum established in Sombor in 1945, marking the beginning of a family tradition in museum work. Igor’s journey in the field of exhibition design began 40 years ago, and in 1997, he joined Blueprint Design Studio, a creative hub led by graphic designer Irena Stepančić.
Over the past three decades, their collaboration has resulted in the design of 10 permanent exhibitions for museums across Serbia. Their work began with the museum in Prijepolje, followed by projects in Užice, Čačak, Niš, Kragujevac, and Belgrade, where they co-created the permanent exhibition for the National Museum of Serbia. Beyond these major projects, they have also designed over 100 exhibitions, working with a diverse range of clients, though their primary focus has remained on museums.
Their approach to design is rooted in the seamless integration of art and graphic design, a practice that has defined their creative output and established them as influential figures in the field of museum exhibition design.

Sanja Vrzić

Cultural Heritage without Boarders Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sanja Vrzić is an architect and visual artist. She is the Expert Associate for Spatial and Graphic Design for Cultural Heritage without Borders BiH. Through the integration of multimedia disciplines, she transforms spaces and places into captivating narrative experiences. Sanja has carved a niche in visual storytelling and exhibition design, skillfully blending spatial and graphic elements to create visually striking and intellectually engaging environments.

Facilitator: Azra Bečević Šarenkapa

National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Azra Bečević Šarenkapa museum advisor, works at the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina as conservator since 1997. Her expertise spans a wide selection of areas, from preserving objects made of textiles, wood, and metal to conducting environmental monitoring, pest control, reorganization and organization od storges.

Her involvement in exhibitions, both nine permanent and more than 40 temporary, showcases her dedication to sharing Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural and historical treasures with the public.

She was also part of the lecturing team at the Regional Conservation camps, which show her passion for advancing conservation practices and mentoring others in the field. She was a president of Association of Information Professionals – Librarians, Archivist and Museologist (2016 –2023). Azra is Steering Board member of BMN and member of the managing board of ICOM SEE, as well as member of ICOM, ICOM CC.