Ravne na Koroškem, 12 October 2026 – The Slovene Museum Society brought museum professionals together at the Koroška Regional Museum, located in the Old Ironworks of Ravne na Koroškem, for a regional training exploring how industrial heritage can take on a new role in today’s towns and regions. Our colleague Mateja Softić, Co-founder and Co-creator of Iskriva Institute, presented cultural heritage as a starting point for creating new value and regenerating cities and regions, drawing on the principles of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative.
The training focused on contemporary approaches to interpreting, presenting and bringing industrial heritage to life in museums. The starting point was the ironmaking heritage of Ravne na Koroškem, where tangible and intangible heritage are interpreted together and within their broader historical, spatial and social contexts. The programme also explored new potential uses for former industrial sites, their role in contemporary urban environments and their significance for local communities.
Participants learned more about the revitalisation of the Old Ironworks and gained an international perspective through the story of the Bata factory complex in the Czech Republic and its revival through new uses. The programme also included a visit to SIJ’s active steelworks, connecting contemporary industrial production with its historical and cultural roots. Participants particularly highlighted the value of bringing heritage theory and industrial practice together, as well as the important role museums play in keeping industrial history alive, relevant and accessible.
Over the past four years, Iskriva Institute has contributed to the development activities supporting the revitalisation of the Old Ironworks, which hosted the training. Today, the site is internationally recognised as an example of good practice in breathing new life into a once-degraded area and demonstrating how industrial heritage can become a driver of regeneration and new opportunities for local communities.
