On September 21, 2026, the workshop “The Beauty of Dust” was held at the Arts Academy in Split. The workshop was initiated by the Department of Sculpture as part of the institutional research project “ART – WITNESS TO TIME: Preserving Skills and Revitalizing Traditional Sculptural and Conservation-Restoration Material Processing Techniques through a Contemporary Curriculum – UMAS-USV, IP-UNIST-59.” The workshop was led by Assistant Professor Tomislav Šalov and Associate Professor Đani Martinić, with the participation of students and teaching staff from the Department of Fine Arts at UMAS. 

The practical work was preceded by a series of lectures. Associate Professor Vinka Marinković, PhD, delivered an introductory lecture in which she presented the project and the workshop, highlighting the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration through joint work. Assistant Professor Tomislav Šalov gave a lecture on the formation of rocks, different types of stone, and the possibilities of working with them, providing participants with a theoretical framework for the practical part of the workshop. 

During the practical session, participants became familiar with the characteristics of stone, the fundamentals of stoneworking, and the use of traditional forged hand tools. The workshop brought together sculptural practice, traditional craft knowledge, and a conservation-restoration approach, providing participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences and develop practical skills relevant to their future professional careers and preparation for the labour market.