The Kolarac People’s University, or the Kolarac Endowment (Kolarčeva zadužbina), is an immovable cultural property and represents an institution of great cultural and historical significance. In April 2013, the Ministry of Culture and Information declared the Endowment a cultural institution of national importance.
The building of the people’s university was erected during a period of strengthening awareness of Belgrade as the capital of the new state and the needs of a modern environment for a large cultural center. Kolarac University began its work in 1932.
The architect Petar Bajalović began construction with the Concert Hall. In line with the times, the most modern knowledge of acoustics was applied, and to this day, this hall, with a capacity of about 1,200 seats, is considered the most acoustic in Belgrade and one of the best in Europe. Since 1968, the Endowment Board has awarded the Kolarac Endowment Plaques annually for exceptional contributions to the development of the Endowment’s programs, and since 1977, it has also awarded the Gallery’s Annual Award for the best exhibition of the season.
Ilija Milosavljević Kolarac
Ilija Milosavljević was born in 1800 in the village of Kolari near Smederevo. Due to the name of his birthplace, he received the nickname Kolarac. He finished primary school in his hometown and trained as a merchant in Vršac.
He opened his first shop in today’s Dubrovčaka Street. The successful merchant was also a member of the Matica Srpska and paid significant sums of money into education funds. In 1861, Kolarac founded the Literary Fund, through which he published various literature. Supporting numerous magazines and translating world works into the Serbian language were just some of the activities carried out by the fund.
In his will, he left 10,000 ducats to the fund with the aim of helping people who write for national enlightenment but are unable to publish their works independently. Also in his will, he left his property in its entirety to the Serbian people with the idea of spreading science and culture. He died on October 6, 1878.
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Source: Belgrade Beat; Photo: Wikipedia