Certificate award for weavers in Sombor

At the end of the first phase of the project to preserve Stapar rug-making, a meeting was held in Stapar with the members of the local association \'Staparke\'. In an interview with the members of the association, Snezana Aperlic and Ljiljana Boskov as well as Stojko Tomic (textile engineer and teacher in a primary school in Stapar) additional data was collected aiming to nominate stapar rugs as an element of national list of intangible cultural heritage. Ethno Network president discussed with members of the association next steps in the active preservation of stapar rugs including concrete activities that the association can take to animate the local community and young people to get involved in the protection and conservation of this precious local brand.

Later in the day, in the city hall in Sombor, there was a meeting with members of the association \'Zlatne ruke Somborke\' from Sombor and the association \'Lenka\' from Odzaci whose participants attended the weaving training. Participants were presented with certificates of completion of weaving training during which they learned how to do patterns from Stapar rugs. Additionally, a senior member of the local community in Stapar, Smiljka Stajsic was given a special award for an active contribution to the preservation of Stapar rugs through the education of women and youth.

The ceremony was attended by the leaders of the city administration who have announced their readiness to support the next phase of the project which is planned to include public works and designing a product line with a motive from Stapar rugs, as well as a weaving colony in Stapar during the summer festival in Sombor.

The next activity is a joint exhibition of Stapar and Pirot rugs and Aboriginal art at the gallery in Pirot to be opened on March 5, 2015, that will be attended by the officials of the City of Sombor and city museum, as well as representatives of the local associations from Stapar, Sombor and Odzaci participating in this project.