Photo Exhibition | Silba - The Past under the Stars

The exhibition is organized by the Society for the Protection of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of Silba (Samotvorac), under the patronage of the City of Zadar and the Zadar County, while the realization of the exhibition was made possible by sponsors Tramak d.o.o., Heavy Duty and Arka - custom furniture.

The exhibition is the result of collecting, researching and processing photographs that document life on Silba from the end of the 19th to the second half of the 20th century. Placed outdoors, in the public space of the town, it takes visitors through a hundred years of the life of the island community - from the time when Silba was a vibrant island with more than a thousand inhabitants, to the period after World War II, marked by emigration and demographic changes.

The photographs bring authentic scenes of the everyday life of the people of Silba – family life, childhood, schooling, seafaring, work, weddings, holidays, carnivals and other important moments that shaped the life of the community. Through family portraits, school photographs, scenes of work and togetherness, the rich cultural heritage of the island is revealed and the way in which customs, values ​​and identity were passed down from generation to generation, while at the same time accepting the influences that its sailors and travelers brought to Silba.

The authors emphasize that the exhibition is not intended only as a historical overview of the development of the island, but above all as a tribute to the people who created its identity with their lives.

"This exhibition is not just a collection of old photographs, but a story about people who shaped Silba with their lives. Photographs represent precious historical sources, but even more than that – they preserve family memories, everyday life and the identity of the island community. Our wish was to preserve these memories from oblivion and share them with all the people of Silba, their descendants and visitors to the island, so that through them they can learn about the rich cultural heritage of Silba."

- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sc. Katica Burić Ćenan, co-author of the exhibition

The exhibition "Silba - The Past Under the Stars" invites visitors to rediscover the life of the island community and the people whose stories are woven into the history of Silba through old photographs. At the same time, it reminds us of the importance of preserving family photographic heritage as a valuable part of the island's cultural memory.

The opening will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 9 p.m., and the exhibition will be available to all visitors in the public space of the town during the summer months.

We invite all interested parties to join us at the opening and walk together through a century of Silba's life - under the same starry sky that has connected the people of Silba for generations.