National Museum in Leskovac
The National Museum in Leskovac is a regional non-profit cultural institution in the service of society, which takes care of the cultural and historical heritage of the Leskovac region, collects, preserves, documents, studies and presents collections of archaeological, ethnological, historical and artistic character; researches and interprets historical processes in the area it covers, striving to reach the highest standards in museological practice. As a guardian, protector and interpreter of cultural heritage, it is an indispensable actor of modern social movements in the south of Serbia, which takes care of the improvement of museum activities, as well as the spread of general cultural values and fulfillment of educational tasks. It was founded on May 2, 1948 by the city of Leskovac, and in accordance with legal regulations, it performs its activities directly and through its museum departments and facilities on the territory of the surrounding municipalities - Bojnik, Lebane and Medvedja. Until May 10, 1974, it was housed in the adapted House of Bora Dimitrijević Pixel, when it was moved to a new building, purpose-built, in which a new permanent exhibition was opened.
The National Museum in Leskovac is one of the museums of a complex type, which has departments for archeology, ethnology, history, art history and fine arts, as well as departments for conservation and restoration work, documentation, professional work with the public and a professional library. Within the museum building, in addition to the space with a permanent exhibition, there are two galleries, a hall for scientific gatherings and a library. As part of its publishing activities, the Museum publishes the annual magazine "Leskovačkizbornik" and has a library of special editions within which works important for the preservation of cultural and historical heritage, tangible and intangible, of the Leskovac region are printed. The Museum occasionally organizes professional and scientific gatherings, various lectures and forums and workshops. Since 1988, the scientific conference "Cultural and Historical Heritage of Southern Serbia" has been held in biennial continuity. Since its founding until today, the National Museum in Leskovac has won over 150 awards and recognitions. In 1998, the National Museum in Leskovac received the Vuk Award, one of the most significant awards given to institutions and individuals in culture. The exhibition Golden Age of Leskovac, whose authors were awarded the IKOM award and named Curators of the Year in 2015, attracted a lot of public attention. The "MihailoValtrović" award given by the Museum Society of Serbia to museum workers and institutions was given to the Museum four times, the first time in 1986, the second time in 2015 for the new permanent exhibition Time Machine of the Leskovac Region and the exhibition South of Serbia in the Great War for exceptional results in professional work achieved during the period January-December 2018, which in terms of professional and scientific significance represent a prominent contribution to the development of Serbian culture. Archaeologists of the National Museum in Leskovac, the authors of the project Secrets of Archaeological Depots, are the winners of the "MihailoValtrović" award, in the category of author team for exceptional results in 2017. The National Museum in Leskovac is the winner of three October awards of the City of Leskovac: in 1970 it was awarded to the magazine Leskovačkizbornik, in 2016 to the curators of the museum and in 2017 on the occasion of 70 years of existence and successful work. The National Museum is also the winner of the "Cultural Pattern" award, which in 2019 was awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic to individuals and institutions whose work and constant effort exceeded the standards of the profession and the average standards of Serbian society. The National Museum of Leskovac received recognition for the realization of the projects: Touch the Past, Increasing Accessibility to the Museum, and the Multimedia Guide through the Empress' City. On February 2020, on Statehood Day (February 15, 2020), the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. AleksandarVučić, awarded the National Museum in Leskovac the Sretenje Order of the III degree for exceptional merits for the Republic of Serbia and its citizens in the field of culture and museum activities. The National Museum in Leskovac will continue to justify the recognitions awarded to it with its work, as well as to provide its fellow citizens and all lovers of cultural and historical heritage with the most diverse and rich program possible.
The National Museum in Leskovac is one of the museums of a complex type, which has departments for archeology, ethnology, history, art history and fine arts, as well as departments for conservation and restoration work, documentation, professional work with the public and a professional library. Within the museum building, in addition to the space with a permanent exhibition, there are two galleries, a hall for scientific gatherings and a library. As part of its publishing activities, the Museum publishes the annual magazine "Leskovačkizbornik" and has a library of special editions within which works important for the preservation of cultural and historical heritage, tangible and intangible, of the Leskovac region are printed. The Museum occasionally organizes professional and scientific gatherings, various lectures and forums and workshops. Since 1988, the scientific conference "Cultural and Historical Heritage of Southern Serbia" has been held in biennial continuity. Since its founding until today, the National Museum in Leskovac has won over 150 awards and recognitions. In 1998, the National Museum in Leskovac received the Vuk Award, one of the most significant awards given to institutions and individuals in culture. The exhibition Golden Age of Leskovac, whose authors were awarded the IKOM award and named Curators of the Year in 2015, attracted a lot of public attention. The "MihailoValtrović" award given by the Museum Society of Serbia to museum workers and institutions was given to the Museum four times, the first time in 1986, the second time in 2015 for the new permanent exhibition Time Machine of the Leskovac Region and the exhibition South of Serbia in the Great War for exceptional results in professional work achieved during the period January-December 2018, which in terms of professional and scientific significance represent a prominent contribution to the development of Serbian culture. Archaeologists of the National Museum in Leskovac, the authors of the project Secrets of Archaeological Depots, are the winners of the "MihailoValtrović" award, in the category of author team for exceptional results in 2017. The National Museum in Leskovac is the winner of three October awards of the City of Leskovac: in 1970 it was awarded to the magazine Leskovačkizbornik, in 2016 to the curators of the museum and in 2017 on the occasion of 70 years of existence and successful work. The National Museum is also the winner of the "Cultural Pattern" award, which in 2019 was awarded by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic to individuals and institutions whose work and constant effort exceeded the standards of the profession and the average standards of Serbian society. The National Museum of Leskovac received recognition for the realization of the projects: Touch the Past, Increasing Accessibility to the Museum, and the Multimedia Guide through the Empress' City. On February 2020, on Statehood Day (February 15, 2020), the President of the Republic of Serbia, Mr. AleksandarVučić, awarded the National Museum in Leskovac the Sretenje Order of the III degree for exceptional merits for the Republic of Serbia and its citizens in the field of culture and museum activities. The National Museum in Leskovac will continue to justify the recognitions awarded to it with its work, as well as to provide its fellow citizens and all lovers of cultural and historical heritage with the most diverse and rich program possible.