The Institute for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (IPER) announced on April 9th the realization of the new project “Conservation and development of traditional Montenegrin stitch”, which aims to promote and preserve the Montenegrin stitch as a unique craft of this type, and its popularization by adding an epithet of recognizable Montenegrin brand.
“In the framework of the project, we want to train all interested women to develop goldsmiths through the implementation of the training titled “The skills of embroidering Montenegrin stitch”. We will cooperate with designers in order to design three new products with Montenegrin goldsmiths. We will develop a marketing plan that will include activities such as establishing communication and holding meetings with market actors, tourist and catering facilities, public sector institutions, in order to include products with a traditional Montenegrin bond in their ambience / offer. Although the products of traditional crafts and authentic handicrafts gradually lose a race with factory souvenirs, we believe that authentic and handicraft products can still find their customers.” said Lejla Muratagić from the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development – IPER.
“Starting from the fact that the cultural heritage of the basis of the national identity and identity of the local community, with knowledge of the historical, cultural values and the tradition of Podgorica and Montenegro, we consider the extremely important intent expressed by the project, namely the conservation of these values that are not closed and unchanging identity something that recapitulates again, reconstructs, changes. Montenegrin stitch is a technique applicable in the production of a wide range of handicraft products and therefore we recognize the opportunity for its full valorization in the part of the tourism industry. ” said Ana Lakić from the capital of Porgorica.
“The Regional Local Democracy Program (ReLOaD), under which this project is supported, is funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The aim is to strengthen participatory democracy and EU integration in the Western Balkans through empowering civil society to participate actively in decision making. At the same time, the aim is to improve the incentive legal and financial environment for civil society. This will be achieved by applying a successful model of transparent project financing of non-governmental organizations from the budget of local self-government units. The activities to be carried out in Montenegro refer to the strengthening of the capacities of five local governments (Kotor, Niksic, Pljevlja, Podgorica and Tivat) selected on the basis of the criteria for transparent distribution of public funds of NGOs at the local level “, said Dženana Šćekić from the United the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
“Old crafts and skills are an important segment of the intangible cultural heritage and as such are trademark keepers. The fact is that the old crafts and skills in extinction and that it is time for the state, local self-government and all other donors to pay more attention to the preservation of this segment of our cultural heritage. Not only by mentioning important documents, but by concrete help lines and specially designed call-ups, since many old craftsmen, who are in serious years, will invent and cripple old crafts and skills. This project is important for the NGO NIT, as 10 women will train at the stitch workshops and what will be newly designed objects, which will be decorated with golden embroidery, will work on the promotion of this crafts and objects created using old techniques. We are also looking forward to the growing interest of tourist workers for authentic handmade items, “said Smiljana Radusinović from the Association of Old Crafts and Skills NIT.
The project “Conservation and development of traditional Montenegrin stitch” will be realized in a period of 7 months. The project is implemented by the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development – IPER, in partnership with the Association of Old Crafts and Skills and its Intangible Cultural Heritage NIT, and the project is supported under the Regional Program of Local Democracy (ReLOaD) funded by the European Union and implemented by the Development Program United Nations (UNDP). In Montenegro, the ReLOaD program is implemented in partnership with the Main City of Podgorica and the municipalities of Tivat, Kotor, Niksic and Pljevlja.
Below are photos.
