Overview
On the occasion of the International Day for Monuments and Sites 2026, an event was held at the Kopošići necropolis and the Old Bosnian Town of Dubrovnik. The programme brought together representatives of cultural institutions, project partners and the local community, including ICOMOS Bosnia and Herzegovina and the STECCI Project team led by the University of Sarajevo, which was once again actively involved in marking this occasion.
The programme included a series of presentations and a guided visit of the site, addressing the significance of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, as well as current initiatives in the Ilijaš area, with a focus on the historical development of the Old Bosnian Town of Dubrovnik and the cultural value of stećci.
Within this context, Prof. Dr. Nusret Drešković, as the project coordinator, initiated the involvement of pupils from schools in Ilijaš, inviting them to contribute through artworks inspired by stećci and to take part in the “Stećci Reporters” activities. This approach represents a deliberate step towards strengthening the link between heritage conservation and community-based learning, particularly among younger generations. By engaging students in creative and interpretative processes, the event expanded beyond expert-driven discourse and opened space for inclusive dialogue on the values and future of medieval heritage under contemporary challenges, including climate change.
The 2026 programme thus reaffirmed the Kopošići site as a living laboratory for testing participatory methodologies in heritage management. At the same time, it served as a preparatory and integrative activity within the STECCI Summer Academy 2 (SA2), ensuring continuity between site-based activities, educational work, and the broader objectives of the project.
In the coming period, the focus will be on collecting and presenting pupils’ artworks, as well as continuing their involvement within upcoming project activities.
Further information about the event is available at:
https://icomosubih.ba/2026/04/27/medjunarodni-dan-spomenika-obiljezen-na-starobosanskom-gradu-dubrovniku-i-nekropoli-koposici-ilijas/
