During the management of Franjo Buntak, PhD at the Zagreb City Museum from 1957 to 1967, the museum employed professionals—curators Vanda Ladović, Nada Premerl, and photographer Josip Vranić. After the first celebration marking the Museum’s 50th anniversary, the same team organised a second anniversary celebration: a full-day event commemorating 60 years of the existence of the Zagreb City Museum. This included the exhibition “Zagreb City Museum 1907–1967”, a formal reception at Dverci, and an evening celebration with a concert.
The author of the “Zagreb City Museum 1907–1967” exhibition’s concept was Franjo Buntak, PhD and it was visually designed by art historian and conservator Joža Ladović. Although it was criticised for being visually stereotypical and unappealing, the exhibition depicted development of the Zagreb City Museum, its various phases and circumstances, key individuals involved, and the Museum’s role and significance. A commemorative poster was printed to accompany the exhibition, featuring the first designer trademark of the Zagreb City Museum. That graphically clear and simple contemporary solution was created by Joža Ladović.
The exhibition was formally opened at noon on 3 October, 1967 by Museum director Franjo Buntak, PhD and the chairman of the Cultural and Educational Council of the Zagreb City Assembly, Prof. Ivan Lovreček, PhD. After the opening, the Chairman of the City Assembly, Josip Kolar, hosted a reception for museum staff and cultural dignitaries at Dverci. In the evening, the Museum held a celebratory event featuring Zagreb Quartet performing a previously unperformed composition by Juro Tkalčić, guitarist Milan Grakalić, and harpist Rajka Dobronić, who played the “Hymn to the People of Zagreb”.
After the 60th anniversary celebration, Zagreb City Museum faced a new challenge: how to modernise its permanent exhibition with limited funds and insufficient support from the authorities. The best solution was sought by means of interpolation of new discoveries and applying modern museological and museographic approaches to interpretation. The next story on the blog delves into the solutions found for the permanent display that followed. Within this story you can view images from the opening and setup of the “Zagreb City Museum 1907–1967″ exhibition, reception at Dverci, evening celebration, and the dignitaries in attendance.
SOURCES:
Buntak, Franjo. Šezdeset godina Muzeja grada Zagreba // Vijesti muzealaca i konzervatora Hrvatske, 18, 1(1969), p. 30.
Muzej grada Zagreba 27. X – 12. XI : Šezdeset godina Muzeja grada Zagreba // Čovjek i prostor, 14, 177(1967), p. 19.
Kolveshi, Željka. 2007. Stota obljetnica Muzeja grada Zagreba: 1907. – 2007.; 100/sto/C/cento/hundres/… – Stoljetnica; Muzej grada Zagreba, Zagreb
Premerl, Nada. Joža Ladović – likovni postavi izložbi // katalog izložbe: Joža Ladović, umijeće oblikovanja, Muzej Mimara, 2013.
Arčabić, Goran; Beštak, Branko. 2007. Biografije i popis djelatnika Muzeja grada Zagreba: Stoljeće Muzeja grada Zagreba, Muzej grada Zagreba, Zagreb
