In the second half of the 19th century, photography conquered the world and became a central medium and a constant companion of life. In European cities, squares and villages, more and more professional and amateur photographers worked, which was also the case in the territory of the Habsburg Monarchy, which today's Slovenia was a part of. One of them, Johann Martin Lenz, built a large, three-story house in Celje in 1899 and added a modern glass photography studio next to it. After the end of the First World War, building came under the ownership of photographer Josip Pelikan, the most important Celje photographer of the 20th century, otherwise of Czech descent, who lived and worked here for almost six decades. As a portraitist and a chronicler of his time, he permanently recorded the most important events in the history of the city in his period, and his name became photographical synonym in Celje and its surroundings. He left behind an exceptional legacy, which is now kept by the Museum of Recent History Celje and which stands out not only in Celje and Slovenia, but also in the wider European area. It consists of tens of thousands of photographs, also those on glass plates, cameras and photographic accessories, a rich archive and documentation, and most importantly two studios with a range of photographic and technical equipment. The restored glass studio from the end of the 19th century, the only preserved case of such a glass photographic studio in Slovenia, and one of the rare ones in Europe, has been converted into a museum in 1997. (See attachment)

However, this important heritage story is not done. We are already writing even more extensive chapter. Namely, we designed the Photo house ​​Pelikan project, the goal of which is a comprehensive and meaningful museum-cultural complex based on Pelikan's heritage and its connection with modern photographic production and activity. The already existing museum unit (glass studio) will be extended to the entire house, so that an "electric" photo studio as well as an apartment, basements and attics will be included. In this way, visitors will walk through the history and heritage of photography from the late 19th century to the present day in a completely authentic environment (in situ). The Pelikan Photo House is conceived not only as a museum of cultural and technical heritage, but also as a cultural and artistic centre in which heritage and history go hand in hand with new cultural patterns and artistic practices. Therefore, we will arrange a gallery in its basement and thus a new exhibition space for the promotion of contemporary photographic creativity, both foreign and domestic.

We are convinced that Photo house ​​Pelikan will significantly influence the cultural life of the local community with its content in an extensive accompanying program and enrich the cultural and tourist offer of Celje and Slovenia. At the same time, it will find its place on the map of the common European heritage. Photography and photographic heritage will speak to the visitors with the content that is part of a common European consciousness and historical and collective memory, and their language is not limited by state or national borders.

In the second half of the 19th century, photography conquered the world and became a central medium and a constant companion of life. In European cities, squares and villages, more and more professional and amateur photographers worked, which was also the case in the territory of the Habsburg Monarchy, which today's Slovenia was a part of. One of them, Johann Martin Lenz, built a large, three-story house in Celje in 1899 and added a modern glass photography studio next to it. After the end of the First World War, building came under the ownership of photographer Josip Pelikan, the most important Celje photographer of the 20th century, otherwise of Czech descent, who lived and worked here for almost six decades. As a portraitist and a chronicler of his time, he permanently recorded the most important events in the history of the city in his period, and his name became photographical synonym in Celje and its surroundings. He left behind an exceptional legacy, which is now kept by the Museum of Recent History Celje and which stands out not only in Celje and Slovenia, but also in the wider European area. It consists of tens of thousands of photographs, also those on glass plates, cameras and photographic accessories, a rich archive and documentation, and most importantly two studios with a range of photographic and technical equipment. The restored glass studio from the end of the 19th century, the only preserved case of such a glass photographic studio in Slovenia, and one of the rare ones in Europe, has been converted into a museum in 1997. (See attachment)

However, this important heritage story is not done. We are already writing even more extensive chapter. Namely, we designed the Photo house ​​Pelikan project, the goal of which is a comprehensive and meaningful museum-cultural complex based on Pelikan's heritage and its connection with modern photographic production and activity. The already existing museum unit (glass studio) will be extended to the entire house, so that an "electric" photo studio as well as an apartment, basements and attics will be included. In this way, visitors will walk through the history and heritage of photography from the late 19th century to the present day in a completely authentic environment (in situ). The Pelikan Photo House is conceived not only as a museum of cultural and technical heritage, but also as a cultural and artistic centre in which heritage and history go hand in hand with new cultural patterns and artistic practices. Therefore, we will arrange a gallery in its basement and thus a new exhibition space for the promotion of contemporary photographic creativity, both foreign and domestic.

We are convinced that Photo house ​​Pelikan will significantly influence the cultural life of the local community with its content in an extensive accompanying program and enrich the cultural and tourist offer of Celje and Slovenia. At the same time, it will find its place on the map of the common European heritage. Photography and photographic heritage will speak to the visitors with the content that is part of a common European consciousness and historical and collective memory, and their language is not limited by state or national borders.

In the second half of the 19th century, photography conquered the world and became a central medium and a constant companion of life. In European cities, squares and villages, more and more professional and amateur photographers worked, which was also the case in the territory of the Habsburg Monarchy, which today's Slovenia was a part of. One of them, Johann Martin Lenz, built a large, three-story house in Celje in 1899 and added a modern glass photography studio next to it. After the end of the First World War, building came under the ownership of photographer Josip Pelikan, the most important Celje photographer of the 20th century, otherwise of Czech descent, who lived and worked here for almost six decades. As a portraitist and a chronicler of his time, he permanently recorded the most important events in the history of the city in his period, and his name became photographical synonym in Celje and its surroundings. He left behind an exceptional legacy, which is now kept by the Museum of Recent History Celje and which stands out not only in Celje and Slovenia, but also in the wider European area. It consists of tens of thousands of photographs, also those on glass plates, cameras and photographic accessories, a rich archive and documentation, and most importantly two studios with a range of photographic and technical equipment. The restored glass studio from the end of the 19th century, the only preserved case of such a glass photographic studio in Slovenia, and one of the rare ones in Europe, has been converted into a museum in 1997. (See attachment)

However, this important heritage story is not done. We are already writing even more extensive chapter. Namely, we designed the Photo house ​​Pelikan project, the goal of which is a comprehensive and meaningful museum-cultural complex based on Pelikan's heritage and its connection with modern photographic production and activity. The already existing museum unit (glass studio) will be extended to the entire house, so that an "electric" photo studio as well as an apartment, basements and attics will be included. In this way, visitors will walk through the history and heritage of photography from the late 19th century to the present day in a completely authentic environment (in situ). The Pelikan Photo House is conceived not only as a museum of cultural and technical heritage, but also as a cultural and artistic centre in which heritage and history go hand in hand with new cultural patterns and artistic practices. Therefore, we will arrange a gallery in its basement and thus a new exhibition space for the promotion of contemporary photographic creativity, both foreign and domestic.

We are convinced that Photo house ​​Pelikan will significantly influence the cultural life of the local community with its content in an extensive accompanying program and enrich the cultural and tourist offer of Celje and Slovenia. At the same time, it will find its place on the map of the common European heritage. Photography and photographic heritage will speak to the visitors with the content that is part of a common European consciousness and historical and collective memory, and their language is not limited by state or national borders.