The presentation of publications from the edition “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia”, initiated by the Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, took place on October 26th 2022 at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade. Publications by Biljana Đorđević PhD “Zlakusa Pottery - the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” and “Making of bread baking pans (crepulja) in Rujište near Ražanj” were prepared after many years of author’s research and cooperation with local communities in order to identify, register, document and safeguard the knowledge and skills related to these traditional crafts.
The aim of these publications was to introduce the public to these elements of “living heritage” included in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This was also an occasion to discuss the role of local communities in safeguarding their own intangible cultural heritage. Participants of the discussion included Bora Dimitrijević, the President of the National Committee for ICH, Dobrica Stojković, President of Municipality of Ražanj, Darko Tešić, President of Potters’ Association “Zlakusa”, PhD Ljiljana Gavrilović, reviewer, PhD Biljana Đorđević, author of publications and Museum Advisor at the National Museum of Serbia, and Danijela Filipović, Coordinator of the Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage. The discussion was aimed at pointing out the importance of various stakeholders, primarily local communities and experts, in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage. Recognizing the significance of intangible cultural heritage in the local community was highlighted as well as the role of the community in safeguarding their own heritage. This role is visible in all phases of safeguarding of “living heritage”, from recognition to active work in ensuring proper conditions for its transmission to new generations. The example of the Municipality of Ražanj was recognized as a good model for a local community’s active approach to safeguarding their intangible cultural heritage. In this case, the local self-government, working together with heritage bearers, associations and the Tourist Organization, recognized making of crepulja bread pans as an important element of local heritage and then contacted the experts for cooperation in safeguarding this element, resulting not only in inclusion in the National Registry but also in increase of interest for this traditional craft within the community. Another important topic was necessity of constant monitoring of “living heritage”, its alterations and threats to its existence. Necessity of cooperation among all participants – heritage bearers, experts, cultural and educational institutions etc. was pointed out at the example of Zlakusa pottery, which is threatened by suppression of traditional techniques of using hand wheel.
As part of the program, Danijela Petrović, a potter from Ražanj, and Mileta Lazić, a potter from Zlakusa, demonstrated the techniques of making pottery from Rujište and Zlakusa.
The program was implemented as part of the activities organized by the Center for the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Serbia at the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, as a professional body responsible for safeguarding of the intangible cultural heritage, within the framework of marking its 10th anniversary of activities, with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of continuous work in this field and the importance of safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage for the wider community and the society as a whole.
Photographs by: Ivana Masniković Antić
