Six Years After the Earthquake, Petrinja Regains Its Krsto Hegedušić Gallery
Culture Minister and Mayor Say the Ceremonial Opening Restored Not Only an Artistic Space but Also a Part of the City's Identity.
Culture Minister and Mayor Say the Ceremonial Opening Restored Not Only an Artistic Space but Also a Part of the City's Identity.
On Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Petrinja once again received its Krsto Hegedušić Gallery. The ceremonial opening of the renovated building, which had been closed for nearly six years following the devastating earthquake of December 2020, brought together numerous guests. Among them were the Minister of Culture and Media, Nina Obuljen Koržinek, and the Mayor of Petrinja, Magdalena Komes, and visitors were able to view an exhibition dedicated to the life and work of the great Croatian painter.
As reported by Jutarnji list and Index, the Ministry of Culture and Media led the project for the structural and comprehensive renovation of the gallery. A total of €1.9 million was secured for the works, with three-quarters coming from the state budget and the remainder from the European Union Solidarity Fund. The Minister reminded that the Ministry is also responsible for the renovation of the entire cultural and historical complex of Petrinja, which includes 26 buildings.
The Krsto Hegedušić Gallery was founded in 1987 as a memorial space dedicated to the painter born in 1901 in Petrinja. Its collection originally consisted of works by collaborators of Hegedušić's Master Workshop, which operated from 1950 to 1975. After part of the collection was damaged during the Homeland War, the fund was restored thanks to a donation of 37 works related to Hegedušić's oeuvre. At the opening exhibition, visitors can view a selection of Hegedušić's works from the collection, works by other artists, and artworks from the private collection of the Bernić family.
Minister Nina Obuljen Koržinek revealed how personally important this gallery is to her:
"The Ministry has taken responsibility for the renovation of the entire cultural and historical complex of Petrinja, that is, 26 buildings. We have a special emotional connection to the Krsto Hegedušić Gallery because a few days after the earthquake, we were here and evacuated the artworks. We did that in silence, but we knew that culture would preserve our identity. Now we return here so that Petrinja can have another cultural space for all its citizens."
The Mayor of Petrinja, Magdalena Komes, said that the city has regained its "cultural beacon" and its "soul and identity."
The reopening of the Krsto Hegedušić Gallery, as both media outlets conclude, represents an important step in the restoration of Petrinja's cultural heritage and the return of a place that has shaped the artistic and social life of the city for decades.
