In August 2024 we installed the SHELeadersVR application and promoted the project in Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro. We drove 1500 kilometers through amazing Balkans landscapes, along the beautiful transparent rivers, lakes, and Adriatic sea.
The first promotion was held in the National Museum Krusevac, Serbia. Our collaborator from the Archaeological Institute in Belgrade, dr Jelena Andjelkovic-Grasar, together with the wonderful people from the Museum, organized an excellent promotion event. The presentation hall in the Museum was full of people of all generations, including a lot of children. Many important local and national media were following the event and later published very nice articles and videos. Museum director Nikola Pantelic introduced the speakers, curator Bogdan Vuckovic was talking about Queen Milica and her historical role, dr Jelena Andjelkovic Grasar presented the work on the historical aspects of the scenarios for VR and AR applications and the project coordinator, dr Selma Rizvic lead the audience through the production process of both applications. VR director Bojan Mijatovic showed the VR application on the headset while the audience was watching the cast of his display on the smart TV. In the end, many visitors tried the application and were very excited and happy. A lot of people took pictures next to the costume of Queen Milica that will remain as a gift to the Museum, together with the application and VR equipment from the project, and become a part of their permanent exhibition.
The promotion in Skopje, North Macedonia, took place in Europe House, It was organized by our local coordinator, Ms. Vasilka Dimitrovska, creative director of HAEMUS center for scientific research and promotion of culture. The promotion was attended by the representatives of the media and diplomatic corps, as well as Skopje citizens interested in cultural heritage. The HAEMUS organization will, in collaboration with Europe House, disseminate the SHELeadersVR application all around North Macedonia. The news about the event was published in the media and on social networks.
In Albania, we went to the National History Museum “Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu” in Kruje. Our local coordinator Prof. Konstantinos Giakoumis has been a liaison to this museum and the VR application will become a part of the permanent exhibition. In the vicinity of the museum is located the site where our AR application is showing the reconstruction of the medieval basilica related to the life of Queen Vojsava Tribalda, mother of Albanian national hero Skenderbey. The promotion event was organized in the place where the VR set up will be located, in a frequently visited corner of the museum. The event was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Kruje who was very happy about the application and very good in playing the VR. The costume also drew a lot of attention and it will be a valuable part of the exhibition.
The tour was completed in Cetinje, Montenegro. The National Museum of Montenegro organized the promo event in the same exhibition space where they show the replica of the printing press that Queen Izabeta introduced to Montenegro, the first one in the country. The ancient royal building of Biljarda was the best venue for the VR storytelling about the medieval Balkans queens. The event was opened by Filip Kuzman, director of the Historical Department of the Museum, who explained the importance of Queen Izabeta for Montenegrin history. After that dr Selma Rizvic introduced the audience with the reasons for selecting educational game as a medium to communicate historical information and went through the production process details. Bojan Mijatovic made a demo of the VR application showing the digital story and gameplay from Montenegro. They also explained how to download and use the AR application in the nearby location of the old monastery Cipur remains. The audience, particularly children, tried the VR application and their excitement was very evident. The costume was also appreciated and people were glad to have it as part of the museum exhibition. Many of them said that they will come back to try the gameplays from other countries in VR.
