The City Library "Grigor Prlicev"-Ohrid

The roots of the library activity in Ohrid go as far back as the Ohrid Literary School established by St. Clement of Ohrid. During his life and activity in Ohrid he wrote and translated many books. It is believed that published more than 50 books.

Almost all churches and monasteries had their own library stock. The scholar Cvetan Grozdanov, while working on a research project on the church St. Bogorodica Perivlepta (St. Clement), mentioned that the church complex had a large library.

The poet Grigor Prlicev, in his autobiography, mentions Angel Grupcev, a Ohrid citizen, who set up a reading section in his shop (around 1830). Prlicev refers to him as "the most learned man of the time".

In 1885 the "Association St. Clement" set up their own library in order to educate the citizens.

A more systematic approach in the field of library was recorded in the period from 1912 to 1915 when a national library with a reading room was set-up. This library became the City Library later on. It was also active during the Second World War.

Immediately after the War, in 1945, The Agency For Education, Science and Culture, a department of the City Council set up a library in Ohrid. In the beginning it operated as a department of the Agency, and in 1950 it became an independent cultural institution.

Today the City Library "Grigor Prlicev" has several departments for its various fields of activity: - a general department; - a department for bibliographies, information and book borrowing (section for adults with a reading room and a children's section); - a department for organization and preparation of catalogues and bibliographies; - a department for record-keeping and cultural and educational activities, and a service for maintaining the library stock.

The total stock of the library is around 100,000 books.

On the 5th and 6th February each year, in the honour of the patron, the great poet of Ohrid, Grigor Prlicev, the City Library organizes of the event "Prlicev Orations".

Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and the National Museum

Owing to its exceptional historical and cultural importance, Ohrid has been attracting many learned people for centuries. However, Ohrid was also exposed to the conquering plans of a series of military commanders. During these conquests a large part of its valuable chattels were taken from Ohrid forever and today they are kept in the museums, archives, libraries, or in private collections in many countries.

Therefore, immediately after the end of the Second World War the activity aimed at collecting museum material commenced, and the doors of the National Museum in Ohrid were opened on 1st May 1951. Originally, the Museum consisted of archaeological, ethnological, and historical department. In a short while a specialist library and preparatory workshop were instituted. In 1953 the Gallery of Arts was adjoined to the National Museum. Initially, the Archives of Ohrid operated within the Museum. In 1954 the Archives became an independent institution.

The engagement of the Museum workers contributed to the completion of numerous excavation activities on the 400 registered archaeological sites within the Ohrid region of the time.

In 1962 the necessity of setting up a separate institution that would be responsible for the protection and maintenance of the immovable cultural monuments prevailed, and the Municipal Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments was established. In 1973 the mutual inter-relationship between these two institutes incited their merging into a single body - The Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and the National Museum.

During the consequent period of its activity, the Institute carried out complete reconstruction of the Robevs House. Today the house contains an archaeological display, exhibition of articles from the Robevs household, and artwork of the Ohrid Woodcarving School. Also the Hristo Uzunov House was reconstructed which now serves as the premises of the historical department. Also, the exhibition "National Liberation Movement in the Region of Ohrid" was relocated there. Another reconstructed house is the House of Urania, with an Ethnology Department and a section for the art exhibitions. The permanent display "Slavonic Literacy" is set up in the old building of the school "Kliment Ohridski", whereas in the former gym hall of the school (opposite the church of St. Bogorodica Perivlepta) the Gallery of Icons was opened.

The Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments and the National Museum manages a significant range of icons and art paintings. Its depots give shelter to approximately 800 icons dating from the period between XII and XIX century. The most representative ones were relocated in the Galley of Icons. The collection of art paintings "Mosa Pijade" comprises about 380 artworks by the most important artists from Macedonia and from the former Yugoslav Republics

In the framework of its organizational structure, the Institute incorporates several departments: archaeology, history, ethnology, Slav architecture, history of art, and contemporary arts. It also has its own library, and a photo-preparatory laboratory.

Cultural Centre "Grigor Prlicev"

The Cultural Centre "Grigor Prlicev" was built in 1959 and covers an area of 2,500 m², 412 of which are stage area. There are two concert halls with 800 seats. It is equipped with a light pool and a loudspeaker system. It also has two exhibition rooms that occupy an area of approximately 750 m².

This cultural centre operates throughout the year and its broad programme is well adjusted to the interests and needs of the citizens of Ohrid. It offers music, art, literature, film, folklore, and drama artwork.

The main activity of the Cultural Centre "Grigor Prlicev" is the event "Ohrid Theatre", which has been highly successful in the past ten years. It is possible that very soon the theatre might evolve into a professional organization because it now employs three professional actors, one professional director from Great Britain, and an executive stage director from Bulgaria.

Also, a drama studio for children was set up. At the moment the studio has 100 members within the age group from six to twelve years, lead by a professional actor.

The cinema department works throughout the year featuring approximately 60 films throughout the year.

Art is thriving in the Cultural Centre as well. In the two rooms dedicated for that purpose more than 30 exhibitions are organized each year. The exhibited works represent artists form the fields of sculpture, drawing, graphics, artistic photography, installation, cartoons, and design.

Since 1954 the Cultural Centre is the host of the event dedicated to the poet from Ohrid Grigor Prlicev, one of the greatest literary authors from the period of the Revival. Each year, in partnership with the publishing house "Detska radost" from Skopje, the Cultural Centre organizes a contest and the best poem wins the "Grigor Prlicev" award. The orations takes place each year on the 5th and 6th February.

One should mention that there is also a folk song and dance band called "Biseri". This band, through several generations, has been presenting the Macedonian folklore and folk songs. Also an Orchestra of folk instruments performs in the Cultural Centre.

The Archives of Macedonia - Ohrid Subsidiary

On 29th March 1951, the Peoples' Council of the City of Ohrid passed a decision for establishing the City Archives to collect, protect and research the archive material from the territory of the Municipality of Ohrid and the region of Ohrid of that time.

The City Archives commenced its activities on 1st April 1951 in the premises of the Peoples' Council of the City of Ohrid, with one employee. This structural organization of the Archives did not last long and in the period from 1st May 1951 to 1st September it operated within the National Museum of Ohrid. After that it was separated as an independent institution responsible for archive activities that cover the area of the municipalities of Ohrid, Struga, Resen, Kicevo, and Debar (and of Makedonski Brod until 1965).

In 1990 the Historical Archives were transformed into a District Subsidiary of the central organization of the Archives of Macedonia, without changing the area it covered.

The Archives' main activities are research, collection, and processing of the archive material, and its protection, use, publishing, and presentation to the public.

The record-keeping activity is carried out by the following sectors: - Sector for Supervision and Protection of Archive Material Outside the Organization; - Sector for Systems and for Processing Archive Material; - Sector for Protection and Record-keeping of the Material; - and the Sector for Research, Publication, Information, and Use of Archive Material. The Archives of Macedonia also carry out research in other countries. Partnership agreements have been signed with Turkey, Bulgaria, Hungary, Russian Federation, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania, and with the Research Institute of the Holocaust Memorial Centre from Washington, USA, Italy, and other countries.

The depots of the Ohrid Archives contain archive material of a total of 675 holdings. The archive material of a more distant period, from 1500 to 1941, was written in various languages: Macedonian, Turkish, Greek, French, and Serbian. The majority of the archive material in the Ohrid Archives refers to the period from 1944 till the present day.