Earthquake consequences, solidarity volunteering and new perspectives of the Glyptotheque of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Purpose. The aim of the paper is to present the activities that the Glyptotheque CASA (Gliptoteka HAZU) undertook after the earthquakes in 2020 to preserve sculptural heritage in times of crisis. The intention is also to describe the experience of solidarity and cooperation with different partners and volunteers. The aim is also revaluation and presentation of plans for the overall renovation of the buildings and new displays. Approach/methodology. The paper shows the degree of damage to the buildings and the museum fund through a case study. The basic data on the damage and how evacuation was approached, the methodology of listing damage, and the organization of work in conditions of a pandemic and limited social contact are presented. Findings. The paper presents the activities in which professional staff of the Glyptotheque was involved, as well as volunteers – professional restorers, who kindly helped to make detailed documentation of the current condition of the damaged sculptures. The response to this earthquake showed that solidarity and care for heritage go together. Therefore, a complete renovation and reconstruction of the museum complex are being planned, and a new permanent exhibition. Value. The paper presents a valuable experience of a sculpture museum after the earthquake with the aim of raising awareness of endangered cultural heritage and the importance of its preventive protection, as well as the necessity of revaluation of museum activities in terms of protection and placement of museum objects. The paper describes the events and methods of working in crisis situations, such as the earthquake that hit the museum, and the pandemic that affected the overall work of the museum and professional staff. This unfortunate, unique experience was a generator of changes. Therefore, the creation of plans for the future renovation and the overall renovation of the museum complex, as well as plans for new modernized permanent exhibits, has begun.