11th Annual Meeting of the South-East European Experts Network on Intangible Cultural Heritage “Funding the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage”. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 27-28 June 2017

1. INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE
Republic of Srpska

2. At the beginning I would
like to give a short
introduction about the
institutional framework
of Bosnia and
Herzegovina in the field
of culture, which is
highly decentralized.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
is a country in
Southeastern Europe
located on the Balkan
Peninsula.
Sarajevo is the capital
and largest city.
Institutional framework

3. Bosnia and Herzegovina has two entities, the Republic of Srpska and the
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina ratified the 2003 Convention in February 2009 .
The appointed experts in both entities, in collaboration with the non-
governmental sector, local communities, experts from museums and
academia, made two preliminary lists of intangible cultural heritage, one
for the Republic of Srpska and one for the Federation of Bosnia and
Herzegovina.

4. Consolidated entity preliminary lists of intangible cultural heritage
create the Preliminary List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Bosnia
and Herzegovina.
The list is open for inscription of new elements.
We submitted the first Report on the implementation of the 2003
Convention and on the status of the elements inscribed on the
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
at the end of December last year

5. The map represents the location of the selected elements of
intangible heritage in the Republic of Srpska.

6. One of these elements is inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of
ICH of Humanity - Zmijanje Embroidery, as the first element from BiH
inscribed on the Representative List of ICH of Humanity.
There are also two already nominated elements (The picking of Iva grass
on Ozren mountain and Nevesinje Olympics) and one element in the
preparation phase for the nomination for inscription on the UNESCO’s
Representative List of ICH (Traditional speech from Osetin).

7. Zmijanje embroidery

8. Zmijanje Embroidery is undoubtedly one of the most characteristic
embroidery techniques in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina,
as well as the entire Balkan region.

9. Its uniqueness stems from the abundance of characteristic
ornaments done with a unique, for centuries unaltered technique,
and ornamental harmony in stylistic perfection – all accomplished
with a use of a single dark blue thread.

10. Zmijanje Embroidery showcases the artistic sentiment, creativity, inner
symbolisms of Zmijanje Highland women, in their spirit and temper.
The base material has been transformed over the years, but the
embroidery has kept its authentic features intact.

13. “The picking of Iva grass on Ozren mountain”
The Ozren mountain is located in the northern part of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. There is an old folk belief in the Balkans that this herb
allows mental and physical recuperation after long illnesses, severe
physical and mental exhaustion.

14. Iva grass is one of the most trusted healing herbs. It is highly regarded in
mountainous areas and some people believe it can cure all diseases. There
is an old saying: “Iva grass can raise the dead.”

15. Several local associations, among which the most notable is the Sokol
Club from Boljanic, promote this element by bringing together people on
Gostilj on the day of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.

17. Nevesinje Olympics

18. Nevesinje Olympics began as horse racing in the 18th
century in Bratac, a village near Nevesinje. Over time, it
has grown into a very important event which takes place
annually, always in August. The young and the old from
Nevesinje, but also from different parts of Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia and Croatia, compete
in various traditional regional disciplines, such as pole
climbing, jumping on inflated bag bellows made out of
animal skin, egg-and-spoon racing holding the spoon in
the mouth, tug of war and horse racing. In recent years,
children have started competing at the Olympics, taking
part in a marathon.