FORTIC Cross-Border Workshop and 5th Partner Meeting Held in Venice
13/05/2026
On 24–25 February 2026, project partners and stakeholders of the FORTIC project gathered in Venice for a two-day programme combining the Cross-Border Experimental Workshop, Local Seminar, 5th Project Partner Meeting, and Steering Committee meeting. The events were held at Forte Marghera and hosted by Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia.
The gathering brought together project partners from Italy and Croatia, representatives of public and private institutions, cultural heritage professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders engaged in the management and revitalisation of fortified heritage sites. The overall objective of the meeting was to strengthen cross-border cooperation and support knowledge exchange on the sustainable interpretation, reuse, and management of fortification heritage.
The Cross-Border Experimental Workshop focused on approaches to the sustainable valorisation and adaptive reuse of fortified sites. Partners presented ongoing project activities, including socio-economic perspectives, innovative management models, and examples of good practice from fortified heritage locations across the programme area. The workshop encouraged interactive discussion and peer learning, contributing to a shared understanding of challenges and opportunities in this field.
A study visit to Forte Marghera complemented the workshop activities, allowing participants to explore the site and its successful transformation from a former military complex into a multifunctional cultural and social space. Today, Forte Marghera hosts exhibitions, cultural events, educational activities and community initiatives, serving as an example of how fortified heritage can be integrated into contemporary urban life.
The Local Seminar further explored the multifunctional reuse of fortified sites and their role in promoting social inclusion, cultural diversity and sustainable local development. Through presentations and a roundtable discussion, participants exchanged best practices and reflected on how former defensive structures can be transformed into active cultural and creative hubs within sustainable territorial development strategies.
On 25 February 2026, the 5th Project Partner Meeting and Steering Committee meeting was held. Partners reviewed the progress of project implementation, discussed upcoming activities, and addressed key administrative and operational topics related to project delivery. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss the capitalization of results and the long-term sustainability of project outputs beyond the current implementation phase.
The two-day event in Venice further strengthened cooperation among project partners and stakeholders, reaffirming the shared commitment to the preservation, interpretation and activation of fortified heritage as a driver of cultural identity, cross-border cooperation and sustainable development in the Italy–Croatia area.
