Gallery 11/07/95 | Sarajevo

Information

Landmark: Gallery 11/07/95
City: Sarajevo
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Continent: Europe

Gallery 11/07/95, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe

Gallery 11/07/95 is a memorial institution located in the center of Sarajevo, situated within an Austro-Hungarian building adjacent to the Sacred Heart Cathedral. It functions as a hybrid museum-gallery space dedicated to preserving the memory of the 8,372 victims of the Srebrenica genocide.

Visual Characteristics

The gallery occupies a 300-square-meter space on the third floor of a historic building, featuring a minimalist interior design with walls painted in dark grey. The permanent exhibition is primarily composed of black-and-white photography, large-scale maps, and multimedia screens. Key structural elements include a 16-meter-long wall inscribed with the names and ages of the victims and a display area containing 640 personal portraits provided by survivors.

Location & Access Logistics

The gallery is located at Trg Fra Grge Martića 2/III. It is approximately 400 meters West of the Baščaršija historical district. Access is via any tram line stopping at the Cathedral station, situated roughly 100 meters from the entrance. The facility is on the third floor and accessed through a standard building entrance; visitors must ascend three flights of stairs or use the elevator. Paid public parking is available at the nearby BBI Center or along the Miljacka riverbanks.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Established on July 12, 2012, the gallery was founded by photographer Tarik Samarah in collaboration with the governments of Sarajevo Canton and the Republic of Turkey. The date was selected to follow the 17th anniversary of the Srebrenica massacre. The institution was created as a permanent home for Samarah’s "Srebrenica – Genocide in the Heart of Europe" project to serve as an artistic and documentary counter-narrative to political statistics.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors follow a guided or self-guided circuit through several rooms containing photographic series, documentary films, and interactive maps. Multimedia stations provide audio testimonies from survivors in multiple languages. A 30-minute documentary film is screened periodically throughout the day. Audio guides are available in 12 languages, including English, German, and Turkish.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Restrooms are available for visitors within the gallery premises. The space is enclosed and protected from external weather, though air conditioning may be limited during peak summer heat. Stable 4G/5G cellular signals are available throughout the gallery. Photography is strictly prohibited within the exhibition spaces, and food, drinks, and backpacks are not permitted inside the galleries.

Best Time to Visit

The gallery is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 (hours may extend to 20:00 in peak season). Morning visits (10:00–12:00) typically offer a quieter environment for viewing the multimedia content. Visitors should allocate a minimum of two hours to complete the audio tour and view the documentary film. Lighting is artificial and consistent throughout the day.

Facts & Legends

The gallery uses a specific black-and-white photographic technique to eliminate the "mediator" between the observer and the subject, aiming to force a direct emotional confrontation with the reality of the events. It is currently ranked as the top-rated museum in Bosnia and Herzegovina on several international travel review platforms.