They worked with students to develop the content of the Arcade Bernardin outdoor photo gallery project for a new photography exhibition in 2024. Under the mentorship of photographer Ubald Trnkoczy, who has shot more than 120 documentary and feature films, dramas and TV series in his 40-year career and signed his name to high-profile photography exhibitions, and who has successfully passed on his knowledge to younger colleagues, the students worked in a team to visualise a series of 11 photographs on the theme of the sea as the most important attribute of a place's tourist identity.
The second group, under the mentorship of Natalia Planinc, who is committed to preserving the traditions and cultural heritage of the city of Piran and encourages people to connect, to create together, to connect across generations and to pass on the traditions to the younger generations, prepared the opening concept of the event, which brings together the various stakeholders in the destination.
The third group, under the mentorship of assist. prof. Petra Zabukovec Baruca, prepared the concept for the marketing brand of the Outdoor Gallery through values, philosophy, identity, emotional benefits and visualisation.
The photo gallery brings together a timeless concept, presenting through the lens everything from the traditions of people's lives influenced by the Venetian culture, to the natural resources offered by this little corner of the Mediterranean, to the modern urban environments that have flourished today. With its unique location by the sea, the photographs taken among the arcades of the medieval monastery are an important addition to the offer for visitors, tourists and guests, as well as locals strolling along the promenade between Portorož and Piran. The students illustrated it with the positioning slogan "Discovering Istria, one step at a time". With each step, a new picture opens up. When we stop to look at it, we can feel the heartbeat of Istria, its traditions and the sound of the sea accompanying us throughout the open-air gallery. The Master's students impressed with their solutions. While tackling the challenges, they learned about the culture of Istria, the necessary integration at the destination level and marketing concepts in practice.
