The Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro is pleased to announce that, by decision of the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, the Josip Broz Tito Gallery of Art from Non-Aligned Countries Collection has been granted the status of a movable cultural asset of national importance.

Following the initiative submitted by colleagues Marina Čelebić, Anita Ćulafić, Nada Baković, and Natalija Vujošević on May 10, 2022, to the Administration for the Protection of Cultural Property, the process of determining cultural value was concluded on September 17, 2024, with the issuance of the Decision granting the status of movable cultural property.

The Josip Broz Tito Gallery of Art from Non-Aligned Countries was established on December 17, 1981, by a decision of the Titograd Municipal Assembly. The initiative for its creation dates back to 1973, and during its decade of active operation, the gallery collected 800 artworks from 56 non-aligned and developing countries.

The collection began forming in 1981 in collaboration with members of the Non-Aligned Movement, and it was officially opened on September 1, 1984, coinciding with the anniversary of the movement’s first session. The gallery was housed in the Petrović Palace within the historical complex at Kruševac, which was adapted for its needs. An artist residency program also operated successfully within the gallery, hosting numerous artists from non-aligned countries between 1984 and 1990.

Although the gallery ceased its operations in 1995 after a decade of success, its collection has been preserved and is now under the care of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro. With the establishment of the Center for Contemporary Art of Montenegro in 1995, which was transformed into the Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro in 2023, the gallery’s collection and archive remain invaluable witnesses to a rich cultural past.

The granting of movable cultural asset status to this collection represents a significant step toward preserving Montenegro’s cultural heritage and enhancing museum operations. This decision confirms the collection’s importance as a cultural treasure and obliges us to continue its protection, promotion, and presentation, both domestically and internationally.

The Museum of Contemporary Art of Montenegro will continue to contribute to the preservation and affirmation of cultural heritage, ensuring that collections like this remain accessible to future generations.