Most of the works on renovation of the National Museum, whose goal is to preserve and protect over three million artifacts and museum collections, is in the final phase. Activities aimed to protect the invaluable heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina are taking place within the project "Preventive conservation of the collections of the National Museum". The project is being implemented by the Commission to Preserve National Monuments, with funds from the Special Fund of American Ambassadors for Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

The goal of the Project, which is being implemented in accordance with the recommendations of experts from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, one of the most famous research centers that includes 19 museums administered by the US Government, is to improve the resilience of all four museum buildings to fire, flood and environmental risks.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, activities in this phase, which started at the beginning of the year, are unfolding according to previously defined deadlines. The restoration of the roof above the pavilion for Archeology and restoration of the depot for storing museum findings in the basement of the pavilion for Natural Sciences have been completed.

The technical testing and preparation of the project for replacement of water supply and sewerage installations have been completed, the realization of which will follow in the next year. These are interventions that should solve the long-standing problem of flooding in the museum's basements during heavy rains. The electrical installation project for all four museum pavilions has been completed, and its realization planned for the next year should eliminate the possibility of a fire outbreak.

The assessment of the condition of windows and doors in the Department of Natural Sciences, which are 107 years old as well as the Museum buildings, and the project of their restoration, have been completed. Given that this is a historic building declared a national monument of BiH, all the works are carried out with a strong advocacy of conservation principles, and in order to create conditions for preservation of museum collections and achieving the energy efficiency of the building.

We would like to remind of the fact that in the first phase, which ended at the end of 2019, the level of protection of collections has been harmonized with internationally prescribed standards through project activities. In that sense, the works on the installation of the fire alarm system in the buildings of Archeology and Natural Sciences, as well as a video surveillance in the entire complex of the National Museum of BiH with a total of 104 external and internal cameras have been completed. Anti-burglary sensors significantly improved security against theft and vandalism, as well as the restoration of balustrade fences on museum terraces, which, in addition to its functionality, also contribute to the aesthetic value of the whole ambient. The restoration of the wall and ceiling paintings in the hall of the Department of Prehistory, which is decorated with paintings of floral and zoomorphic motifs with idealized faces of muses and nymphs, has also been completed. Thirteen modern devices were procured for the needs of carrying out the procedures of preventive conservation of collections.

The overall goal of the project is to support the renovation of the National Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo through restoration and preventive conservation, which should prevent further deterioration of museum material by introducing high standards of protection and creating optimal conditions for its preservation.

Although the US Government has invested heavily in the restoration of the museum through this project, it is extremely important to continue activities to preserve cultural treasures, and that other donors and BiH institutions recognize the importance of this unique museum and support its uninterrupted work in museological and scientific terms.

The project "Preventive conservation of the collections of the National Museum of BiH" has been implemented since 2015, with funds from the Special Fund of American Ambassadors for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage, ie the U.S. Department of State, totaling more than $ 1 million.