Seminar in Sremska Mitrovica

City officials in Sremska Mitrovica hosted a one-day seminar for women-producers of handicrafts that are involved in the project „Improving the production of handicrafts“ that is implemented by Ethno Network in cooperation with the City of Sremska Mitrovica.

Introductory address was given by Marija Vuruna, a city council member that briefly presented the agenda of the seminar. Sofija Arsic, Ethno Network Coordinator, gave a presentation entitled „Roadpath to a good product“. As part of this lecture Sofija acquainted the audience with the work of Ethno Network and pointed out the importance of local government support to producers of handicrafts. Arsic presented women with the opportunities for opening of handicraft shops, and interpreted the decree for old art and crafts. Sofija also presented the items of Ethno Network that were displayed and pointed out that products made ​​in the techniques of traditional crafts primarily need to have practical value. At the end of her lecture, Arsic concluded that in Sremska Mitrovica there is enormous potential for the development of exclusive tourism.

Vladimir Peric, ethnologist from the city museum, presented best practices in blending traditional elements and modern design, and how best to preserve the authenticity and still adapt to the demands of the modern market. Peric said the city is lacking handicrafts with open hand certificate as tourists really value products branded with this label. The presentation ended with the conclusion that the community of Sremska Mitrovica is aware of the fact that the products must be of high quality in order to be sold and competitive in the market.

Dusanka Stankovic from the Institute for Protection of Cultural Monuments of Sremska Mitrovica presented artworks in gold embroidery and weaving techniques that are kept in the holdings of the institution. She said that the collection held by the museum belong to different ethnic groups, and that the motives of the artifacts mixed under different infl