Within the campaign #CreativeBiH, the EU Info Centre in BiH is supporting numerous festivals, art colonies and workshops to raise awareness of the importance of culture as one of the key policies of the European Union. Aiming to improve cooperation in the sectors of culture and the creative industries, as well as cooperation with numerous European organisations and institutions, together with creative individuals across Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are painting, acting, learning and creating together.
The beautiful nature surrounded village, Pecka, near Mrkonjić grad, home to one of the most positive and fun festivals for children and entire families is being supported for the second year in a row. Striving to preserve and strengthen connection with nature, Pecka Outdoor Festival offered an entertaining and interesting weekend in nature, with creative workshops, theatre plays and scientific activities. Over a hundred of the youngest from the region and over a thousand visitors had an opportunity to have fun through these numerous activities.
Asmir Turčinhodžić, a member of the Banja Luka band Afrodizijak, held a music workshop for children and is strongly believes that they are interested and want to engage in musical activities, “I think that people are aware that we share a common cultural heritage with Europe. More than ever before, we have become aware of what we have and what we can offer, we just need to open doors, cross borders and showcase our talents,” said Turčinhodžić.
For the fourth year in a row, in the protected natural habitat of Zlača on Mount Konjuh, the Summer Guitar School “PrST” was held. Mentored by renowned BiH and European guitarists, who have won hundreds of awards at world competitions, the students had an opportunity to enjoy a unique summer holiday in nature and spend quality time with their peers from BiH and the region. Boris Tesić, the Summer School organiser, noted that it is always an honour to motivate young people, “We are here to try to motivate them, to transfer knowledge and to strengthen their desire for creativity and music.”
The 55th International art colony in Počitelj gathered local and world artists in the remarkable and historic town of Počitelj in order to experience the unique cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina and be inspired by it. Art, creativity and fun marked this year’s edition of the art festival Javorwood, home of creativity in nature on the Olympic mountain of Bjelašnica. Javorwood is a place of freedom of expression of artists from the country and region and offers numerous workshops, theatre plays, performances and concerts for all generations.
Showcasing that museums are living homes of culture and cultural heritage, the Historical and Natural History Museums in Sarajevo and Museum of Konjic hosted the youngest curators, offering them an opportunity to explored their rich exhibits and engage in creative workshops, inspired by the cultural heritage housed in the museums. By incorporating nature and art, BiH artists and creative individuals succeeded in initiating numerous positive festivals and activities across Bosnia and Herzegovina in order to contribute to preservation of common cultural heritage and promote new, creative and positive ideas for a European future for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
