Two jubilee exhibitions, Threads of Continuity and The Museum Through Time, organized by the National Museum of Montenegro to commemorate the 130th anniversary of its founding and the 100th anniversary of the restoration of its work, were officially opened last night in Cetinje.
The exhibition Threads of Continuity is presented across all four floors of the “Miodrag Dado Đurić” Art Gallery of Montenegro and features contributions from all museum units of the National Museum. Meanwhile, The Museum Through Time, opened in Njegoš’s Billiarda, presents the history of the institution itself – from Njegoš’s first collections in the 19th century to the contemporary National Museum of Montenegro.
“While marking this remarkable anniversary, we should not forget that we are part of an impressive mosaic built upon the greatest civilizational values of our planet and that the National Museum of Montenegro is worthily integrated into the cultural map of the world,” said art historian Ljiljana Zeković while opening the exhibitions.
She emphasized that the National Museum of Montenegro should be regarded as a mirror reflecting the passage of time – a witness to events in these lands from the past to the present, always active and ready for new advances in the fields of knowledge and learning.
“It is a beacon of spirituality that preserves and nurtures our distinctive identity and our relationship with the world. Through its authentic collections of objects and archival material, it prevents us from forgetting and confronts us with ourselves. It also reminds us that nothing should be surrendered to oblivion, for that would mean the end of our existence and continuity in this region. In fact, the Museum, like history itself, is a teacher of life, a witness of time, a light of truth, the life of memory, a messenger of antiquity, and a rainbow of life illuminating our spiritual path, founded upon collective memory as a prerequisite for the humanistic values of every civilized society,” said Zeković.
Dobrila Vlahović, Director General of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage at the Ministry of Culture of Montenegro, stated that in this year of anniversaries, which testifies to the depth of our roots and the enduring strength of our contemporary existence, 2026 unites us in celebrating both centuries of continuity and modern renewal.
“While proudly marking two decades since the restoration of Montenegro’s independence—a jubilee symbolizing our contemporary statehood and European path—we are also paying tribute to our National Museum, the central institution that preserves the very essence of that identity. The connection is inseparable: if the twentieth anniversary of independence represents the crown of our modern aspirations, then nearly a century and a half of museum work is the root that keeps that crown firmly connected to the ground,” said Vlahović.
She stressed that museums were not created merely out of a need to display objects, but from a need to preserve the continuity of a society and a people. She invited visitors to look beyond history itself and find in these exhibitions their own reflection, as well as the strength that has brought us to this moment and the vision that will guide us forward.
The Director of the National Museum of Montenegro, Jakša Ćalasan, noted that 130 years since the Museum’s founding and 100 years since the restoration of its work are not merely numbers, but an opportunity to reflect on the importance of museums as institutions that endure, preserve collective memory, and show us where we came from, where we are today, and where we can go in the future.
“The National Museum gathers and preserves everything that this country and its people have created, collected, and left behind through the centuries as testimony to our continuity, identity, and culture. What we inherit today did not emerge on its own. It has been preserved thanks to generations of people who dedicated their knowledge, time, and life’s work to this institution,” said Ćalasan, thanking all former and current colleagues whose work, effort, and dedication have become part of the Museum’s growth and enduring legacy.
The exhibition Threads of Continuity will remain open until 11 October, while The Museum Through Time will be on display in the gallery space of Njegoš’s Billiarda throughout this year and the next.
During the exhibitions, visitors will have the opportunity to attend guided tours, lectures on the history of the Museum, its collections and key artists, creative workshops for children and young people, as well as thematic workshops dedicated to cultural heritage preservation, restoration, and museum work.
To mark the jubilees and the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of Montenegro’s independence, admission to the National Museum will be free of charge for Montenegrin citizens from 11 to 23 May.