BIO

Gorana Barišić Bačelić is the director of Fortress of Culture Šibenik (Croatia), a public cultural institution managing some of the most significant heritage sites in the city of Šibenik, including historic fortresses, a contemporary arts venue, and the Croatian Coral Centre on the island of Zlarin. With an academic background in Art History, she has dedicated her professional career to developing innovative and sustainable models for the management of cultural heritage. Under her leadership, Fortress of Culture Šibenik has become internationally recognised for transforming historic sites into vibrant cultural and community hubs that generate social, cultural, and economic value. Her work focuses on the intersection of heritage management, cultural policy, community engagement, sustainable tourism and contemporary cultural production. She is particularly interested in how cultural heritage can serve as a catalyst for urban regeneration, local development, and social transformation. In 2026, the Croatian Coral Centre Zlarin, managed by Fortress of Culture Šibenik, received the prestigious European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2026 in recognition of its contribution to heritage preservation and community engagement.