Town Museum Vrbas

Museum’s task is to collect, record, preserve and present cultural heritage of municipality of Vrbas as well as promoting it through educational and entertaining activities. Basic direction of future activities of the museum is to become a leading institution in preservation and presentation of cultural heritage of Vrbas, as well as a recognised and favourite destination for locals and tourists alike.

As a complex type museum it houses collections of archaeology, history, ethnology and history of art. Artefacts attributed to the Archaeology Collection are registered in with both Museum of Vojvodina and Town museum, due to the fact that excavations  were conducted by Museum of Vojvodina first and only in recent years by Town museum.

Excavated archaeological material comes from various archaeological sites found in municipality of Vrbas which cover various periods of history: „Čarnok“ (from Copper age to Late Iron Age), „Kaseta 5“ (from Bronze Age to Late Iron Age), „Ciglana Polet“ ( Early Middle Ages), „Šuvakov salaš – Klisa“ (from Neolith to Late Middle Ages). Town museum’s History Collection covers the period from the emergence of Old Vrbas till mid- 20th century.

The oldest artefacts come from the period of German colonization’s and founding of New Vrbas in 1784. A special place in the Collection also have items donated by Volunteer Fire department, the collections of personal items of Ilija Milovančev, Flora Schiffler, Eva Šari Tepavčević, Nada Milovančev Radan, Peter Eisenlöffel, Joszef Pechan, as well as artefacts displayed in Partisan’s Base „Center“ and furniture from Old Sugar factory.

The Collection’s focus is on the development of Vrbas through time: from its emergence at the location of today’s Old Vrbas, throughout German colonization’s and founding of New Vrbas, until the beginning of the Second World War. The artefacts displayed at the permanent exhibition relate to migrations, religion, education, crafts and industrialization as well as the bourgeoisie lifestyle during the Interwar period.

The permanent exhibit takes visitors through eight millennium long journey. This long period, during which various peoples populated and migrated thought this region, is presented by artefacts from Collections of Archaeology and History.

The goal of the exhibit is to transfer hidden messages of cultural heritage into people’s lives and in doing so make them aware of the values that exhibited artefacts carry within, linked together by multi ethnicity, multicultural and multi confessional values amongst others.

The goal was to bring to life and depict an image of Vrbas and his surrounding area or rather to depict man’s life and his achievements from first Neolithic communities until the arrival of the Ottomans – from 4th millennium BC, through 16th century AD till today. The permanent exhibit is based on scientific research and interdisciplinary approach as well as interpretation and analyses of accumulated archaeological and historical artefacts.

Part of The Ethnology Collection is exhibited at Ethno Corner. Used for both exhibitions and workshops, Ethno Corner serves to promote old crafts, particularly weaving.

The displayed artefacts demonstrate the whole process of textile production, from processing raw materials to the creation of the final product. Ethnology Collection consists of items once used in production of textiles, everyday rural household items and agricultural tools. 

The Art Collection is dedicated to the preservation of the paintings and personal items that belonged to Joszef Pechan - a versatile and remarkable eccentric artist who left a mark on town’s history at the turn of the 20th century.

Basis of History of Art Collection consists of artworks of Joszef Pechan and his son Engelbert Bela Pechan, Ferec Medješi, and alongside them the artworks of contemporary local artists who continuously complement the Collection.