“Culture of Donation – Mikula Mollusc Collection” at the Natural History Museum Metković

“Culture of Donation – Mikula Mollusc Collection” at the Natural History Museum Metković

Natural History Museum Metković
Opened 17 July 2018 at 11:00 AM

Private natural history collections and individual specimens have great scientific and cultural value. Taking into account the importance of their protection and preservation, the Croatian Natural History Museum presents an exhibition dedicated to the culture of donation.

To promote this noble gesture, the most recently donated collection to our museum was selected: the donation of the mollusc collection by Miroslav Mikula from Zagreb. This retired university professor of electrical engineering spent his free time collecting shells of molluscs (snails, bivalves, cephalopods, and other smaller groups) in Croatia as well as in some exotic countries such as Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Although not a biologist by profession, Professor Mikula paid great attention to the systematics of molluscs, and accordingly the collection is organized so that all material is arranged according to systematic classification. The collection contains several thousand interesting shell specimens distributed across several hundred species. It also includes some rare and endemic species, which adds additional value. The donated collection is accompanied by other natural history specimens (sponges, corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, fish, and fossils) as well as literature related to the donated material.

Through several hundred interesting exhibits arranged in the same way as in the donor’s private collection, visitors are introduced to the diversity and beauty of molluscs, along with insights into their biology, ecology, and distribution.

In addition to the exhibited collection, a special part of the exhibition is dedicated to introducing visitors to the concept of the culture of donation. The aim of the exhibition is to encourage active participation in the creation and enrichment of museum collections. Donations have in many cases played a key role in the establishment of museums in Croatia, and the Croatian Natural History Museum in Zagreb itself acquired a significant part of its initial holdings through donations.

Concept: Petar Crnčan and PhD Iva Mihoci
Exhibition author: Petar Crnčan
Graphic design: Nikša Martinac
Spatial design: Petar Crnčan
Photography: Nives Borčić
Technical realization: Petar Crnčan, Krešimir Novak, Mario Galov, Denis Bućan
PR and marketing: Branimir Ivić and Martin Glavinić
Print: Printgrupa d.o.o.