“The Culture of Donation – The Mikula Mollusc Collection” on Display in Šibenik

“The Culture of Donation – The Mikula Mollusc Collection” on Display in Šibenik

The Culture of Donation – The Mikula Mollusc Collection
Šibenik City Museum
21 March 2019, 7:00 PM

Private natural history collections and individual specimens possess significant scientific and cultural value. Recognizing 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 act, the exhibition features the most recently donated collection to the Museum – the mollusc collection of Miroslav Mikula from Zagreb. A retired university professor of electrical engineering, Mikula devoted his free time to collecting mollusc shells (gastropods, bivalves, cephalopods, and other smaller groups) throughout Croatia, as well as in exotic countries such as Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Although not a biologist by profession, Professor Mikula paid great attention not only to collecting molluscs but also to their taxonomy. Accordingly, the collection itself is organized systematically, with all specimens arranged according to their scientific classification. The collection contains several thousand fascinating mollusc shells representing several hundred species. It also includes a number of rare and endemic species, adding further value. In addition to the mollusc collection, the donation includes other natural history specimens (sponges, corals, crustaceans, echinoderms, fish, and fossils) as well as literature related to the donated material.

Through hundreds of remarkable exhibits displayed in the same manner as they were arranged by the donor himself, visitors can explore the diversity and beauty of molluscs and learn about their biology, ecology, and distribution.

Alongside the collection, a special section of the exhibition introduces visitors to the concept of the culture of donation. The aim of the exhibition is to encourage active participation in creating and enriching museum collections. Donations have often served as the foundation for establishing museums in Croatia, and the Croatian Natural History Museum itself acquired a significant portion of its original holdings through donations.

Exhibition Credits – “The Culture of Donation: The Mikula Mollusc Collection”
Concept Authors: Petar Crnčan and Dr. Iva Mihoci
Exhibition Author: Petar Crnčan
Graphic Design: Nikša Martinac
Exhibition Design: Petar Crnčan
Photographer: Nives Borčić
PR and Marketing: Branimir Ivić and Martin Glavinić
Printing: Printgrupa d.o.o.