As part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Croatian Heritage Foundation signed an Agreement on Cooperation with the Society for the Digitization of Traditional Cultural Heritage from Široki Brijeg.
Director of Croatian Heritage Foundation Zdeslav Milas and President of the Society for Digitization of Traditional Cultural Heritage Toni Marić signed a Cooperation Agreement aimed at the digitization, protection and promotion of the cultural and historical identity of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The cooperation focuses on the exchange of knowledge, the implementation of joint scientific-professional projects, the protection, preservation and digitization of the cultural and intangible heritage of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the strengthening of cross-border cultural and scientific cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and BiH.
The Society for the Digitization of Traditional Cultural Heritage (DTKB) was founded in 2008 with its headquarters in Dobrič (Široki Brijeg). The Society was founded on the initiative of members of the Association of Croatian Amateur Cultural and Artistic Societies in BiH with the aim of systematically digitalizing, processing and promoting the traditional cultural heritage of Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Special emphasis is placed on: the development of computer systems for data processing and storage; field collection and professional processing of materials; scientific and professional work and participation in conferences; cooperation with associations, institutions and universities in BiH, Croatia and countries of the region. In cooperation with UHAKUD in BiH, it launched the website diple.org, intended for the collection, processing and promotion of data on the traditional heritage of Croats in BiH. The society is primarily responsible for the development of the computer system and data processing, while UHAKUD focuses on the field collection of material. In cooperation with CIOFF BiH, it also launched the website tkanica.org, dedicated to documenting the elements of cultural heritage presented at folklore festivals and of the heritage holders themselves. The society has published several scientific and professional papers in the field of digitization, field research and designing of computer systems and has participated in numerous scientific and professional conferences. The board of experts consists of prominent scholars and experts of various profiles, and a special contribution to the work so far has been made by the well-known folklorists Miroslav Šilić, Vlado Marić and the late Ilija Brkić. Today, the society provides DTKB with important professional and technical support for projects of preservation, digitization and promotion of the cultural and historical heritage of the Croatian people in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Author of text and photo: CHF
