Next Wednesday, July 30 at 8:30 PM, we are opening a retrospective exhibition dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Ćiro Shipyard, founded in 1964 by one of the most renowned shipbuilders from Betina, Čedomir Burtina Ćiro.
The Ćiro Shipyard was founded in 1964 by shipbuilder Čedomir Burtina Ćiro. By building a shed on a piece of land he had created and prepared himself, he laid the foundations for an important and enduring shipyard. In that workshop, he launched his first boat, marking the beginning of a life devoted to wood, boats, and craftsmanship.
Over the decades, Ćiro left behind a legacy of exceptionally crafted wooden boats of various types and designs. Each boat bore the distinctive signature of a master craftsman while being tailored to the needs of its client.
The exhibition offers an overview of Ćiro’s work through archival photographs, blueprints, shipbuilding tools, personal belongings, and testimonies from collaborators, locals, and family members. Special emphasis is placed on his technical skill, the innovations he introduced in boat construction and outfitting, and his role in the local community – as a craftsman, friend, and mentor.
This exhibition tells the story of the shipyard from its beginnings to the present day, tracing the development of the wooden boatbuilding tradition through decades and generations. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore various types of boats built at Ćiro’s shipyard over the years – from the early pasaras and gajetas, through modern leuts and trawlers, to the era when, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the restoration of traditional boats and latinsko idro regattas became symbols of a renewed Croatian maritime identity.
The exhibition also shares the story of Ćiro himself – his life and work – who learned the craft in his youth and spent his life developing and refining it, shaping what became a distinctive style of Betina boatbuilding. After Ćiro’s passing in 2014, the shipyard was taken over by his son-in-law Nikola Papeša and grandson Krešimir Papeša, who continue to carry forward his knowledge, values, and vision to new generations. Their work demonstrates how it is possible to preserve and evolve a traditional craft in modern times, adapting to new demands while staying true to its original principles.
Ten years after Ćiro’s passing, his name remains firmly etched in the collective memory of both the local community and the shipbuilding trade. The Ćiro Shipyard still stands as a symbol of perseverance, craftsmanship, and the deep bond between man and wooden boat.
This exhibition is therefore not only a tribute to a master craftsman, but also a reminder of the values worth preserving – for future generations of shipbuilders, seafarers, and lovers of the sea.
The exhibition places special emphasis on the continuity of the family workshop and its role in the local community. It is accompanied by a special bilingual catalogue which, over 80 pages, presents multiple stories about the origins of the shipyard, the family, and the boats.
