Night of Museums – Hidden Waters of the Karst Underground

The Azimut Independent Cultural Center, in collaboration with the St. Michael Mountaineering Club – Speleology Section, Krka National Park, and the Ruđer Bošković Institute, presents the program The Aquatic Treasures of the Karst Underground as part of Night of Museums 2026.

Through a photography exhibition, film screening, lecture, and children’s workshop, the program explores the hidden world of the karst underground and water as its most vital resource. The program is intended for children and adults, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in how underground waters are formed, how they function, and why they are exceptionally sensitive.

Step beneath the surface of a familiar space and discover water as a value that must be understood, preserved, and protected.

Program

18:00 – Workshop: Underground Waters

Dr. Neven Cukrov, Ruđer Bošković Institute

Through two hands-on activities, children explore how karst landscapes are formed and how water behaves in different underground environments. In the first activity, the dissolution of limestone using a mild acid demonstrates the formation of karst and the specific characteristics of karst underground systems.
In the second activity, models of karst and alluvial aquifers made from PET bottles are used to compare water infiltration and filtration. By passing “polluted” water through the models, children clearly observe why karst waters are more vulnerable to contamination. The workshop concludes with a discussion and the creation of a small rulebook for the protection of karst waters.

20:00 – Lecture: The Wealth of Underground Waters in the Caves and Pits of Šibenik-Knin County

Teo Barišić, Speleology Section, St. Michael Mountaineering Club

Although we live in an area rich in water, most of this wealth remains hidden from view. Beneath our feet, complex underground water flows pass through caves, pits, and karst fissures, feeding springs, rivers, and wells. This hidden water is the foundation of life in Šibenik-Knin County, yet it is extremely vulnerable to pollution.
Through examples of local speleological research, the lecture illustrates the connection between surface and underground waters and highlights the fragility of these systems and the need for their long-term protection.

21:00 – Photography Exhibition: The Aquatic Treasures of the Karst Underground

St. Michael Mountaineering Club – Speleology Section

The exhibition presents photographs taken by members of the Speleology Section of HPK St. Michael during demanding expeditions and explorations of the local karst underground. Dramatic scenes of caves, pits, siphons, springs, and underground rivers reveal a world hidden beneath the surface—its beauty and complexity, as well as the vulnerability of underground waters that sustain life in this region and the importance of their preservation.

21:30 – Short Film Screening: In Search of the Dragon

Krka National Park

In Search of the Dragon is a short educational documentary by Petra Kovač Konrad (member of the Speleology Section of HPK St. Michael) and Florian Launette, filmed during speleological research of the Miljacka II cave in Krka National Park.
The film takes viewers into the hidden world of the karst underground and follows the search for the olm (Proteus anguinus), connecting scientific research, natural heritage, and local legends through demanding cave-diving filming techniques.

22:00 – Music Program: Ante Prgin

This year’s Night of Museums program concludes with a performance by Šibenik-based musician Ante Prgin, widely known for his musical projects L Kok, Fali 5, and El Gato. Ante is also a long-time mountaineer, nature enthusiast, and member of HPK St. Michael.

Project Presentations: Kad odraSTEM and Digital Horizons

Kolektiv 4B & Azimut Independent Cultural Center

In the introductory part of the program, Kolektiv 4B and Azimut Independent Cultural Center will present projects focused on the development of digital and creative capacities.
The Kad odraSTEM project is aimed at primary and secondary school students and fosters skills in multimedia, audiovisual production, and artificial intelligence through hands-on work.
The Digital Horizons project focuses on the digital transformation of the Azimut Independent Cultural Center and the introduction of contemporary presentation technology, which will be presented to the Šibenik public for the first time at this year’s Night of Museums.