Southern rugs heading north

The opening ceremony of the exhibition 'Southern rugs heading north' was held in the city museum in Sombor to present the most beautiful samples of Stapar and Pirot rugs. The exhibition is realized in cooperation of the city of Sombor, Pirot municipality and Ethno network with the support of the Museum of Sombor, NALED and the Australian Embassy in Serbia and will be open to all interested parties by 18 July 2015.

The exhibition was organized as part of activities to link women from Pirot and Sombor end to preserve traditional rug making and exchange of experiences in hand weaving. One result of this collaboration is the launch of an initiative to save Stapar rugs from oblivion and have them join Pirot rugs on the national list of intangible cultural heritage.

At today's opening of the exhibition the organizers announced a weaving colony in Stapar in late August and the plan for a similar event in spring when a weavers’ colony should be organized in Stara Planina.

The exhibition served as a platform to launch the initiative to direct part of the funds that local governments allocate for development of sports, to the fund for women guardians tradition, which should provide the necessary funds to employ women at the local level that serve an important public function and transmit traditional knowledge to children and youth.