“Generalstab Ensemble” an example of how youth preserve European values, cultural heritage

The initiative was launched by students of the University of Belgrade and the University of Arts to draw attention to underrecognized and endangered examples of architectural heritage, such as the General Staff Complex and the Fairgrounds.

The “Generalstab Ensemble” was honored for its exceptional contribution to promoting, protecting, and offering contemporary interpretations of Serbia’s modernist architectural heritage.

Through their engagement, creativity, and public advocacy, the students demonstrated how young people, through collective work and solidarity, can become powerful guardians of European values and our shared cultural legacy, the jury said.

The award was presented at a ceremony held at the Europe House. It was established to recognize outstanding individual or collective contributions to the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage in Serbia.

The award was handed over by EU Ambassador to Serbia Andreas von Beckerath, who said that without preserving cultural heritage, it is impossible to “navigate” the future.

He emphasized that Serbia has cultural heritage worth preserving, and expressed gratitude to the students, the award recipients, for their struggle and for promoting the rule of law.

With the message “One World, One Struggle,” students Valentina Moravcevic, Nikolina Djordjevic, and Ognjen Markovic expressed special gratitude to the employees of the Republic Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments and said they would continue their fight.

They highlighted the importance of the connections they have forged while fighting for the General Staff Complex and the preservation of cultural heritage in general.