NONA helps secure funding for the future running of the newly opened Old Ironworks in Ravne na Koroškem

Ravne na Koroškem, October 7, 2025

On October 7, 2025, the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem held the ceremonial opening of the renovated Old Ironworks, one of the most iconic industrial monuments in the Koroška region, took place in Ravne na Koroškem. Partners Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem and Iskriva Institute are immensely proud to have worked together on this project, which brings together history, culture, and contemporary creativity.

The restoration, valued at € 1.6 million, has preserved the authenticity and grandeur of this monument, which boasts over four centuries of steelmaking tradition. At the heart of this living history stands the original production hall, complete with authentic machines and tools, testaments to the ingenuity, progress, and labour of countless generations. The ironworks chimney continues to stand as a symbolic reminder of industrialisation and the significance of the past for our present and future. The restoration was co-funded by the Ministry of Culture of Slovenia through the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

An example of a successful funding acquisition within the NONA framework

The renovation of the Old Ironworks is an excellent example of successful additional funding acquisition and sustainable area development within the framework of the NONA project.

NONA promotes investment in the revitalisation of degraded areas through networking and collaboration with investors as well as public and private financial institutions. Since 2024, NONA has supported the process of securing additional funding for the long-term development and operation of the area of the Old Ironworks in Ravne na Koroškem, which has been transformed into a hub for culture, creativity, and innovation.

Within this framework, NONA supported the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem and other local stakeholders in obtaining an additional € 1 million from the Slovenian Cohesion Fund for the upcoming Renovation of the Personnel building, the last of the buildings in the area. Additionally, Interreg Danube projects CAST and  SteelCityZen, and the CLLD-funded KultLab support programme activities and new employments with an additional almost € 250.000.

Throughout the project, tangible results have been achieved, demonstrating how local initiatives can be effectively combined with financial support to foster sustainable development.

Old Iroworks nominated to become a cultural heritage of national importance

At the event, the keynote speaker, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Asta Vrečko, expressed her satisfaction with the renovated complex and emphasised the national importance of the heritage site, which is why she initiated the process to raise the monument's designation from a local to national cultural heritage status. She highlighted the role and significance of the Old Ironworks in the historical development of Ravne na Koroškem and its residents, noting that the museum honours all that has been achieved while also pointing the way forward. The Minister further stated that the restoration aligns with the principles of the New European Bauhaus, an initiative of the European Commission that combines sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion to create more beautiful and sustainable living spaces and lifestyles.

The audience was also addressed by Tadej Pungartnik, Director of the Koroška Regional Museum, Tomaž Rožen, Mayor of the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem, and Karla Oder, ethnologist, history professor, curator, and museum advisor.

Jernej Močnik, Director of SIJ Metal, symbolically presented the museum with a steel-and-wood Slovenian Olympic torch, crafted by SIJ Metal four years ago. 

Additionally, Dr Asta Vrečko and Dr Tomaž Rožen signed an agreement for the continued restoration of another building within the cultural monument area—the former workers’ residences, known as Personnel with the laundry, valued at 1.2 million euros.

Photo: Nika Hölcl