A focus group study was held yesterday at the "Museum and Gallery" Public Institution in Tivat, conducted by Professor Dr. Miloš Milenković—an ethnologist-anthropologist from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Belgrade—in collaboration with the Institute of Social Sciences in Belgrade and the Institute of Ethnography of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SANU) in Belgrade.
The interview gathered insights and opinions from various stakeholders in Montenegro regarding the inclusive and participatory safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage. The discussion explored perceptions, challenges, and opportunities in the management of intangible cultural heritage within a multicultural and multi-ethnic context, focusing on fostering reconciliation and coexistence.
The project addresses the tensions arising between the ethnic attribution—or ethnic appropriation—of intangible cultural heritage and state systems for safeguarding such heritage in the Western Balkans. It also explores whether these initial disputes have the potential to become bridges for cooperation and trust-building, whereby key stakeholders engage in joint discussion and debate within institutional mechanisms provided by international institutions, led by UNESCO.
The first part focused on focus-group research involving Sunčica Radović (representative of the Tivat Municipality Secretariat for Social Activities), Igor Lazarević (curator of the ethnographic collection), Dušica Kovačević (conservator), Zoran Kruta (museum educator), Mirela Slovnikar (museum technician), Dražen Jovanović (historian), Pavle Pajić (Parish Priest of Tivat), Ljerka Sindik (President of the NGO "Gjurgjevo brdo"), Ivana Brkan (French language teacher), Prof. Dr. Miloš Milenković, and representatives of the Ethnographic Institute—ethnologist-anthropologist Dr. Branko Banović and ethnologist-anthropologist Danijela Đukić.
U drugom dijelu učestvovali su prof dr Ilija Lalošević, predsjednik UO Bokeljske mornarice Kotor – podružnice Tivat Marjan Ribica, kapiten bk „Brđanin“ Mato Krstović, profesor književnosti Neven Staničić, istoričar Dražen Jovanović, polaznica obuke za popisivanje nematerijalne kulturne baštine Tivta Sandra Sindik i sekretarka HNV Ana Vuksanović, kustos etnografske zbirke Igor Lazarević, konzervatorka Dušica Kovačević, muzejski pedagog Zoran Kruta, muzejska tehničarka Mirela Slovnikar i etnološkinja-
antropološkinja Danijela Đukić, direktorica Ustanove.
