The exhibition is organized as part of the international project TEMPUS, and presents the results of the Open Call for ideas based on the heritage of Rijeka and the port of Rijeka. The Rijeka Development Agency Porin, along with the City of Rijeka and six other partners, our partner in this project, invited entrepreneurs to recognize the economic potential of cultural heritage and propose their ideas by connecting the past and the present. The author of the exhibition is Luka Strašek, and the organizers are the Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka and the City of Rijeka. The exhibition is open on Rijeka's Korzo until January 20, 2022.

On behalf of the Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka, Nikolina Radić Štivić, director, addressed the audience and reminded them of the first exhibition which was originally presented in a virtual version on the website www.myportheritage.eu
 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. physical form on the pedestals of the City of Rijeka on Rijeka's Korzo. With the first exhibition, we presented the mapping of interesting topics of port heritage, not only with the intention to show and prove its value, but also with the intention to see the port heritage as a possibility. The goal is to turn opportunities into ideas for business ventures in terms of developing different products.

The director expressed satisfaction that this exhibition, although in aggravating circumstances, was presented in the city and thanked the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, the City of Rijeka and the Rijeka Development Agency PORIN who contributed to the realization of this exhibition.

Luka Strašek, the author of the exhibition, also addressed the audience, emphasizing that this exhibition represents the economic benefits of cultural heritage and ideas collected by the Open Invitation. Some of the ideas have already been realized and in practice show the sustainability of heritage-based business ideas. Guided by the exhibition, he presented its contents in more detail, the visual materials of which it consists and highlighted its central message - the past can be an active factor in creating the economic future of Rijeka.

The head of the Department of Culture of the City of Rijeka, Ivan Šarar, emphasized the importance of the industrial heritage, the revitalization of which is still in its infancy, citing the renovation of the Benčić complex. He reminded that the entire zone of the former Torpedo is not used, but that projects are underway that will revitalize and put into operation significant parts of the industrial heritage zone of Rijeka. He thanked the Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka and partners for trying to stimulate the imagination in an innovative way for the period in which EU funds will be available to us that will enable further development of the city.

Dario Zorić, director of the Rijeka Development Agency PORIN, pointed out the belief that this is only the first project in a series that will valorize and activate cultural heritage and stressed that the Open Call was attended by entities from the wider region, not only from Rijeka. shows significant interest in Rijeka's heritage.

On behalf of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Petar Mamula, Deputy Prefect of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, congratulated all those present, emphasizing the importance of the Port of Rijeka for its citizens and the region.

Photos: Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka