European Heritage Days in Jablanica and Konjic

With the traditional awarding of plaques for contributions to the preservation and restoration of Bosnia and Herzegovina's cultural and historical heritage, the European Heritage Days event was opened in Jablanica, traditionally organized by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport, reports the BH News Agency Patria.

The blacksmith shop “Jozeljić” (Očevije), the Mayor of Jablanica Municipality Salem Dedić, the Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, the UNESCO Office in Sarajevo, and the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage in Bihać are this year’s laureates. At a ceremony held at the Youth Club “Under the Same Sun”, the plaques were presented to the recipients by the Federal Minister of Culture and Sport Salmir Kaplan.

Minister Kaplan expressed his satisfaction that Jablanica and Konjic are this year’s host cities for the European Heritage Days, noting that they can boast rich cultural and historical heritage and selfless care for its preservation.

An exhibition on stećci (medieval tombstones), prepared as a promotional activity for the joint nomination of stećci for the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List, was also opened at the Youth Club “Under the Same Sun” in the presence of numerous guests.

As part of the European Heritage Days, a professional conference titled “Cultural and Historical Heritage and Local Community Development” was organized today, featuring experts in the fields of protection and revitalization of cultural and historical heritage, museology, marketing, and management.

The attendees were addressed by the Mayor of Jablanica Municipality Salem Dedić, Director of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments Lidija Mićić, experts from the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport Mirela Šečić and Nusret Čolo, and the head of the UNESCO Office in Sarajevo, Siniša Šešum. Experts exchanged views on the impact of protecting and promoting cultural and historical heritage on the economic and social development, primarily of the local community.

Guests at the conference also had the opportunity to watch a promotional film about Konjic wood carving, produced by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport for the purpose of nominating Konjic wood carving for the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

On this occasion, the annual publication of the Institute for the Protection of Monuments, “Naše starine” (Our Antiquities), which presents the Institute’s work on monument protection and the restoration of cultural and historical heritage in the post-war period, and the Collection of Works “European Heritage Days 2012/2013” were promoted.

Within the framework of the European Heritage Days, the program “Youth and Heritage” is traditionally organized, involving primary and secondary schools from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

An exhibition of the most successful student works on the theme “Decorative Art in Bosnia and Herzegovina” will be displayed today at the premises of the Youth Club “Under the Same Sun” in Jablanica, and diplomas will be awarded to students and certificates to teachers.

The European Heritage Days program will continue tomorrow in Konjic.