Non-governmental organizations the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) and the Antifascists of Cetinje today submitted an initiative to the Capital of Cetinje to renovate the cinema hall of the Local Community in Rijeka Crnojevića.
The hall is located in a building constructed in 1957, and the first film screening, they recall, was held a year later.
“For decades, it was the cultural center of the community, with one to two screenings per month, until the late 1980s when the cinema was closed. The building itself is located within the territory of the national park around Lake Skadar. According to an earlier plan of the Local Community of Rijeka Crnojevića, the renovation of the cinema was envisaged, with indications of support from the Capital of Cetinje as well, but to this day no concrete actions have been taken,” the statement reads.
According to the results of the 2023 census, 84 people live in Rijeka Crnojevića, but more than 10,000 tourists visit the area annually, the NGOs emphasize.
“Rijeka Crnojevića is recognized as an attractive tourist destination due to its landscape, Lake Skadar, and its significance in the medieval history of Montenegro. The most popular tourist activities are boat and kayak rides, as well as tasting traditional food and beverages. Due to its proximity to Cetinje and Podgorica, Rijeka Crnojevića is also ideal for day trips, so new facilities such as a cinema would enrich the tourist offer and extend the season for both foreign and Montenegrin tourists. This would lead to positive economic effects for hospitality and accommodation facilities in Rijeka Crnojevića. At the same time, renovation would prevent the accelerated deterioration of the cinema hall building and restore the function of a space that marked the cultural life of the community in the 20th century,” they add.
Renovating the hall would also allow it to be used for other cultural events, such as lectures, performances, panel discussions, and exhibitions, say CCE and the Antifascists of Cetinje. Shared spaces, they note, can also strengthen social cohesion by bringing together different generations and creating opportunities for youth dialogue and activities.
CCE and the Antifascists of Cetinje believe that, due to the cultural and historical significance of Rijeka Crnojevića—where the first state printing house in the world was located in Obod—the renovation of the cinema hall should be included on the list of priority projects of the Capital.
“Recently published photographs of this hall attracted public attention and once again highlighted the need to preserve important facilities. Improving the tourist offer should be a priority for all local and national authorities, as tourism is the most important sector of Montenegro’s economy. This year marks 20 years since the restoration of independence, and Rijeka Crnojevića has an undeniably important role in the history of Montenegro. Rijeka Crnojevića has been unfairly neglected when it comes to tourism promotion, and the renovation of the cinema hall could be the first step toward improving the tourist offer. We call on the Capital of Cetinje to act upon our initiative and to renovate the cinema hall in Rijeka Crnojevića as soon as possible,” the statement concludes.
Source: Vijesti
