The opening brought together numerous state officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, as well as prominent figures from the public and cultural life of Kotor and Montenegro, confirming the importance of this event for the regional cultural space.
The festival was officially declared open by its patron, the President of the Municipality of Kotor, Vladimir Jokić, emphasizing the importance of preserving intangible cultural heritage and supporting initiatives that affirm cultural identity. "We are privileged to be participants of the International Lace Festival in Kotor in such a space, atmosphere and organization. As the Mayor of Kotor, I am incredibly proud of the fact that the Kotor Museums present such projects, connecting, as it seemed, the incomparable like the Adriatic and South Korea. I must express my satisfaction with the fact that a skill that requires a lot of patience, knowledge and effort, in the time of instant culture, can be promoted again by a city institution. On behalf of the city, I would like to thank the participants of the lace-making workshops. Also, on behalf of the city and my own name, without phrases and protocol speeches, I would like to say a big thank you to the director of the Museum, Dušica Ivetić, for everything she has done. I would like to thank Nada Radović for her exceptional patience and dedication because, despite all of us, she managed to get to where we have come to tonight. Patience and the path also led to those who knew how to re-introduce Dobrota lace and the city of Kotor to each other, and then to present them to the whole of Europe. I am convinced that "May many more mayors in the years ahead have the privilege of opening this festival. It is a great honor for me to declare the first International Lace Festival in Kotor open," said the Mayor of the Municipality Vladimir Jokić, opening the Festival.
On behalf of the organizers, the Director of the Kotor Museums, Dušica Ivetić, addressed the audience, emphasizing the mission of the Festival and its role in connecting different lace traditions and contemporary interpretations of this art. As she said, a special place at the Festival is held by the participants of the Dobrota lace workshops, which the Kotor museum institution has been organizing for the fifth year under the leadership of Nada Radović. "Their dedication and love have contributed to the continuation of Dobrota lace, and they were a strong incentive for starting this Festival. For this, we express our sincere gratitude. We believe that this Festival will become a permanent event and a meeting place for the guardians of the lace tradition from different parts of the world. From Kotor, we want to send a clear message: that this city, in addition to its numerous historical and cultural features, is also a city of lace - a city that preserves, cherishes and proudly presents its tradition to the world," said Director Ivetić.
On behalf of the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, the partner of the Festival, the Director of the Directorate for Cultural Heritage Dobrila Vlahović spoke. "The festival is of exceptional importance for the preservation and promotion of traditional skills and crafts, among which the skill of making Dobrota lace occupies a special place as a unique and authentic segment of our intangible cultural heritage. Montenegro protected this skill back in 2013 as an intangible cultural asset of national importance. This status is not just a formality, but an obligation - to document, preserve and transmit knowledge through living practice. That is why it is no coincidence that this Festival is held in Kotor, a space of exceptional universal values, where lace belongs to the same system of cultural values and represents an asset that requires attention, knowledge and permanent care. Its complexity of production, beauty and historical value testify to the skill and creativity of the generations that carefully created, preserved and passed it on," said Vlahović and highlighted the Ministry's support for the Festival and gratitude to the "Museums" and their director, whose contribution to the protection of intangible cultural heritage is already recognizable.
The ceremony was graced with speeches by the Ambassador of the Republic of Italy to Montenegro, Andreina Marsela, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, Veselko Grubišić, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and the wealth of lace heritage that connects these areas. "I strongly support this initiative and this Festival, whose importance for the preservation of the ancient art of lace is extremely great. Lacemaking is not a pastime - it is an art that involves skill, patience and memories. For me personally, lace also carries a special emotional value, because it connects me to the time when my grandmother and aunts created it in my family. This Festival is a concrete example of exceptional international cooperation that connects not only neighboring, but also distant countries, with the common goal of strengthening and preserving this old artistic tradition," said Italian Ambassador Marsela tonight.
The Croatian lace tradition has a special place in European heritage, as evidenced by the fact that three of its lace skills are inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage, and of these three, two will be presented at the Kotor Lace Festival – Pag and Primošten. “Croatia has around 200 intangible cultural assets, 19 of which are inscribed on the UNESCO list, which confirms the richness of its heritage. I am particularly pleased that we always find the links that connect us, because in these times it is important to stand by each other, to support each other and to cherish the values that unite us,” said Croatian Ambassador Veselko Grubišić.
In the musical part of the program, the female klapa "Incanto" performed compositions in Montenegrin, Italian and Croatian, which symbolically connected the Mediterranean cultural space, and the composition "Reticella" by Jelena Vukčević, interpreted by Isidora Milivojević, was also performed.
After the opening ceremony, the festival program continued at the Creative Hub, where international and author lace exhibitions were opened, and workshops, lace-making demonstrations, and panel discussions were planned for the next two days.
Comments