Within the framework of Serbia’s presidency of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in 2025, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia has invited member states to contribute to a digital exhibition dedicated to the connection between intangible cultural heritage and industrial design.

The exhibition showcases traditional cultural elements brought to life on utilitarian objects and demonstrates the richness of living traditions in the region. Thirteen countries are participating: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Serbia.

The Bulgarian participation has been prepared by a team from the Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at BAS (IEFSEM-BAS) and includes two elements related to traditions and skills in the field of textile work:

The tradition of carpet weaving in Chiprovtsi — inscribed in 2014 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its contemporary interpretation is presented through a fashion show with motifs from Chiprovtsi carpets, created by students from the National Academy of Art, Department of Textile, under the academic guidance of Assoc. Prof. Anna Avramova. The fashion show was organized by the Chiprovtsi History Museum on the occasion of the Chiprovtsi Carpet Festival (2018).

Making traditional Bulgarian folk costumes from the Kyustendil region — added in 2021 to Bulgaria’s National Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, as suggested by the “Gradishte – 1907” Community Center in Svoge. The bearer of the tradition is Madlena Bozhilova Amin, a master craftswoman who preserves and teaches weaving, knitting, and gold filigree techniques. Her work combines research, reconstruction, and training of young people, proving that traditional skills can also have contemporary applications in design, and arts and crafts.

The materials for Bulgaria’s participation have been prepared by corresponding member Prof. Mila Santova, DSc, sen. asst. Dr. Milena Lyubenova, and architect Dr. Mirella Kafkova.

This digital exhibition aims to highlight the continuity and vitality of traditions in the CEI region and show how intangible heritage inspires new forms of artistic and industrial expression.

More information can be found here:

Intangible Cultural Heritage | Етнографски музеј у Београду

https://etnografskimuzej.rs/en/intangible-cultural-heritage/