The Students’ Cultural Centre Opened

The Students’ Cultural Centre of the University of Banja Luka was officialy opened on 26 June 2024.

President of the Republic of Srpska Milorad Dodik says that the construction and equipping of capital facilities, such as the Students’ Cultural Centre, are important not only for students and professors, but also for the cultural life of Banja Luka and beyond.

"We are doing our best for the Republic of Srpska to progress in this sense and to follow its development path in the best possible way, as culture is something that identifies and represents a nation, as it identifies and represents the Republic of Srpska. That is why we need to invest in all of this much more than before. This is not the end of investments in this area", the president said.

Rector of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Radoslav Gajanin, PhD, said that the University lacked such a cultural centre, which is one of the most significant capital investments successfully implemented with the help of the President of the Republic of Srpska and the Government.

As the rector pointed out, the construction and equipping of the University of Banja Luka Students’ Cultural Centre is valued at BAM 2,650,000.

"The centre, with all its equipment etc., is now one of the most modern theatre stages in the Republic of Srpska and the region. This will be the venue for important cultural events. Therefore, our professors, teaching assistants and students will gain new skills and knowledge there, and will be able to organize various cultural events", Gajanin said.

He said that people will be able to see exhibitions, theatre plays and films, concerts and similar cultural events in the Centre.
Minister for Science and Technology Development and Higher Education of the Republic of Srpska Asst. Prof. Željko Budimir, PhD, said that investments in higher education will be continued and implemented, as indicated by the openedcapital facility of the Students’ Cultural Centre.

"I think that with this facility we got the best stage, and with that we are raising the cultural life in the University Campus." This place will be a point where people will prepare for their professional career, especially in the field of acting, but also other stage skills. Here we also got an exhibition space, and above all an institution that will improve the work of the University in the fields of science and art" Budimir said.

Dean of the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka Prof. Dragana Purković Macan, PhD, said that this cultural centre will have a positive impact on the cultural and academic life of students and citizens of Banja Luka.

"With this space, the University of Banja Luka has become a city within a city because with the students’ cultural centre it now has everything a city should have," Prof. Purković Macan said A speech was also given by Minister of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of Serbia Jelena Begović, PhD, who did not hide her enthusiasm for the Students’ Cultural Centre.

The official opening of the Students’ Cultural Centre of the University of Banja Luka, which is located in the fourth pavilion of the "Nikola Tesla" Student Centre in the University Campus, was attended by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska Željka Stojičić, Consul General of the Republic of Serbia in Banja Luka Miloš Vujić, Assistant Minister of Culture Tanja Đaković, President of the Steering Board of the University of Banja Luka Prof.
Biljana Antunović, PhD, the vice-rectors Prof. Dalibor Kesić, PhD, Prof. Milica Balaban, PhD, and Prof. Aleksandar Ostojić, PhD, deans and vice-deans of the faculty, students and professors of our university, as well as numerous guests from the cultural life of Banja Luka.

Photo: D. Desnica