18 miles from the mouth of the Krka River.

Funds for the project “18 miles from the mouth of the Krka” were obtained through the Call for Proposals for NGO Projects from the budget of the Public Institution of Krka NP for 2016. The Public Institution of Krka finances from its budget projects and programs of associations whose activities are aimed at the general welfare and improvement of the quality of life of the community in various fields of activity. “18 miles from the mouth of the Krka” is a project in the field of sustainable development, education and work with children and young people, protection and preservation of (non) material cultural assets, dramatic arts and theatrical amateurism.

The main inspiration for this project is the Colentum archaeological site located on the Gradina peninsula in Murter and is one of the most important archaeological sites in the County of Šibenik-Knin. After a break of almost half a century, in 2010, research was started on this site and since then many projects and research have been carried out in this area that has produced significant results. Colentum is often said to be a “mosaic city” because wherever it is buried, mosaic remains, often tricolour, are found, which, according to experts, is a rarity. Every year, during the summer months, the “Night of the Colentum” is held to show the locals and visitors what the life of the ancient Colentum looked like. For this manifestation and valorisation of the Colentum archaeological site, the Argonauta association, through the projects of the “Archaeological treasure Colentum 3 and 4” of the Ministry of Regional Development and Funds of the European Union, financed the launch of a small theatre school in cooperation with the Virko Theater from Šibenik and the Murterski skoji Primary School. The results of this small theatre school are three plays – “The Little Calafat”, “Pirates Before the Colentum” and “The Hidden Treasure of the Colentum”. The project has been received very well by children and young amateurs and has somehow encouraged the amateurism of the local community. Through the project “18 miles from the mouth of the Krka” we would like to continue promoting the dramatic amateurism and education of the next generation, which in the future could be the bearer of this kind of non-material cultural heritage, and besides, the ancient site Colentum will be connected with the archaeological site through this project Burnum.

Namely, the ancient Colentum mentions in his works the Roman writer Pliny, who accurately determines the position of Colentum – positioning it at “30 miles from Jader (Zadar) and 18 miles from the mouth of the river Titius (Krka)”. This information prompted us to link these two sites to a project named after Pliny’s record “18 miles from the mouth of the Krka”: Murter Island with the Colentum archaeological site and the Krka River and Burnum, a military camp at the Krka Gate from the same period of the past, well known by the manifestation of Burnum goes. The cooperation of these two sites will encourage the networking of various stakeholders at the level of the County of Šibenik-Knin, the development of cultural tourism offer in the County, the education of young people, and contribute to the preservation of material and non-material heritage and the sustainable development of the community.

The involvement of associations, schools and public institutions in this project will also increase the activity of the local population through their direct involvement, and all this will certainly stimulate tourism activity in the area.

In line with the above, this project includes the following activities:
1. Adaptation of the performance of the Pirates in front of Colentum to perform at the Colentum Night event
2. Exchange of experiences and study of good practices of the Krka National Park is organizing the Burnumske ide event
3. Participation of the play “Pirates before Colentum” at the event “Burnumske ide”
4. Organization and holding of the dramatic and stage spectacle “Pirates in front of Colentum” as part of the event “Night of Colentum” with the participation of representatives of “Burnum Ides”
The specific objectives of the project are:
1. Education of talented students of elementary school “Murterski škoji” on the basics of acting and stage performance
and an adaptation of the play “Pirates Before Colentum” at the location of a Roman maritime villa
1. Exchange of experiences of the organizers of Burnum Ides and Colentum Nights to organize the aforementioned events more successfully
2. Performance of the play “Pirates in front of Colentumum” at the Colentum Night event in cooperation with the stakeholders of Burnum Ides
3. Contribution to the Burnumska event goes to the performance of the Pirates in front of the Colentum

GOALS: The overall objective of this project is to contribute to the sustainable development of the local community through the revitalization of the material and non-material cultural and historical heritage of the County of Šibenik-Knin.

USERS: The local population of Murter-Kornati municipality, visitors and tourists manifestations of Colentum Night and Burnum goes.

PARTNERS: JU NP Krka, Šibenik-Knin County, Murter-Kornati Municipality, Murter-Kornati Tourist Board, Murtela Municipal Enterprise.

DONORS: Public Institution of Krka National Park

DURATION: March 2017 - September 2017

BUDGET: 55. 000, 00 Kn, CO-FINANCED AMOUNT OF KRK NP: 7 000, 00 Kn