The festival was officially opened by its patron, Tamara Vučić, who emphasized that preserving cultural heritage is not only about our relationship with the past, but also about the future and identity.
“Culture does not live only in books, museum collections and archives. It is not a static category, but a treasure that is constantly evolving and shaping our everyday lives,” Vučić said.
Speaking about traditional crafts, she particularly highlighted the importance of women who, across generations, have preserved and passed on knowledge of embroidery, weaving, tailoring and other traditional skills.
“We do not have to give up what is ours in order to be modern, nor do we have to become like everyone else in order to be part of the world. On the contrary, we can offer the world what is authentic and uniquely our own,” Tamara Vučić said.
The official opening of the festival was symbolically marked by festival organizer and author Goga Grubješić and Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia Bolat Imanbayev, who cut the ceremonial ribbon.
As part of the opening programme, the “Craft Collective Summer–Winter ’27” fashion show was held, dedicated to traditional crafts. The collection was handmade by more than 20 women from different parts of Serbia, bringing together traditional techniques and contemporary design.
This year’s festival places particular emphasis on Serbian cultural heritage, traditional crafts and the women who have preserved and passed on traditional knowledge through generations, while also highlighting opportunities to connect this heritage with contemporary creative practices.
The second evening of the jubilee 10th Ethnology Festival was dedicated to the traditions and contemporary expressions of Kazakh culture, with the attendance of the festival patron, members of the diplomatic corps, and numerous guests from the cultural and public sphere.
The evening opened with a musical performance by Kazakh artist Akerke Tazhibayeva, who presented the traditional national instrument kylkobyz. Visitors also had the opportunity to see a contemporary collection by Kazakh designer Aidarkhan Kaliyev, inspired by the traditions and rich cultural heritage of his country.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Serbia Bolat Imanbayev addressed the guests, highlighting the importance of the Ethnology Festival as a platform for preserving cultural heritage and fostering international cultural exchange. He expressed his gratitude for Kazakhstan being selected as the country in focus this year and recalled the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Serbia and Kazakhstan, as well as the 35th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence.
Director of the Ethnographic Museum Marko Krstić emphasized the importance of preserving traditions and traditional crafts, noting the Museum’s commitment to their preservation and promotion. He particularly highlighted the significance of Pirot kilim weaving and its upcoming inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The 10th Ethnology Festival once again demonstrated that traditional knowledge and skills can serve as a space for encounters between different cultures and generations, as well as contemporary forms of creativity, connecting local cultural heritage with international cultural exchange.
