A new gallery for Split.
"The VAL Project and the opening of the Vasko Lipovac Gallery are evidence that the leadership of the University of Split sees culture and art as strategically important goals and as a potential driving force for the development of wider community", Branko Matulić, Vice-Rector of the University of Split, said on Saturday evening at the opening of the gallery within the University Library which will host a permanent exhibition of the great Croatian artist. "We see the Gallery as a kind of micro-cultural laboratory which will enable scientific research and historical and artistic valorisation of Lipovac's works, but also as a cultural gathering point in our efforts to be more open to the community, reports Slobodna Dalmacija on December 13, 2015.
Šimun Anđelinović, Rector of the University, stressed that the University, in addition to acquisition of knowledge, offers its students the opportunity to develop their creative potential. Mario Lipovac from the VAL Association, which takes care of the legacy of the favourite Split artist, expressed his hope that Vasko's works will act as an incentive and inspiration for the students.
"This permanent exhibition of works of Vasko Lipovac is a valuable gift to Split, but also to the whole of Croatia", Culture Minister Berislav Šipuš said, adding that arts and culture make people better and more tolerant. "Creative and cultural industries, according to a UNESCO report, create 30 million jobs globally, and I look forward to what the future will bring to this cooperation between the University and the Lipovac family", he said.
Andro Krstulović Opara, who was the representative of Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, said he believed that with this cultural program the University Campus will get closer to the city, and expressed his satisfaction with the public display of Lipovac's works.
Curator Dalibor Prančević presented the exhibition as a small selection filled with diversity, starting from famous Cyclists sculptures which have been created 20 years ago, up to the last of the artist's works made in his hospital room. He also introduced two exhibitions of young artists from Split, Rino Efendić and Danijela Šušak, which accompany Lipovac's exhibition.
