The Authentic Souvenir Regional Competition

Representatives of 5 groups of craft producers from Eastern Serbia (Negotin, Golubac, Kucevo, Kladovo and Veliko Gradiste) attended a regional competition within Ethno Network for the most authentic souvenir, that was held on Easter Monday, April 9, 2007 in Veliko Gradiste. The event was organized with the direct support by Snezana Jovanovic and the Community Development Association of Veliko Gradiste and had a promotional role prior to the opening of the just recently reconstructed crafts center in the attic of the Association\'s premises.

The competition officially began on a beautiful sunny morning at 10a.m. and went on until late in the afternoon. The groups exhibited the most genuinely crafted souvenirs and arranged their stands very delicately but in the most presentable manner, in an effort to capture the true beauty of traditional Serbian crafts and move away from poorly organized ethno fairs throughout Serbia. The jury, composed of renowned Serbian professionals in ethno art carefully selected the three most genuine souvenirs, giving well-deserved top ranking to Negotin craft producers, whereas the weavers from Veliko Gradiste ranked as second best, and Kladovo pottery group won the third prize.

The event ended on a very positive note, with groups sharing lessons learned, contacts and broad smiles provoked by tasteful home-made wine from Timok region and breath-taking ethno Vlach music in a live performance by a renowned painter, musician and writer from Negotin, by his close friends, humbly named Joe.

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