International Summer School "Youth and Heritage" Ćuprija - Stolac

International Summer School "Youth and Heritage" Ćuprija - Stolac Building bridges between young people through engagement in community service, intercultural dialogue, and revival of traditional crafts.

The International Summer School „Youth and Heritage“ Ćuprija in Stolac is a practical development of many years of research on tolerance and draws on an extensive network of partners, both individuals and organizations, committed to social and cultural reconstruction, reconciliation, and respect for diversity. The aim of School is to assist young people to reach a greater understanding and appreciation of the diversity and plurality in world cultures, particularly those that contribute to European diversity. Only in this way can the unity in diversity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as a model of an open society, be recognised, conserved, and developed. Through an integrated two-week programme of seminars, fieldwork, practical activities, and recreational evenings, participants are provided expert introduction to and hands-on experience of traditional crafts and bodies of knowledge, architectural heritage, sustainable ways of life, and environmental practice. They are also encouraged to think about how socially cohesive, but fundamentally open communities can be developed and maintained, as well as the importance of combining diversity with strong roots in local heritage. The School brings together young people from across the globe, providing an opportunity to contribute to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of a plural community devastated by war and by ideological images of irreconcilable difference. Participants at School are expected to build long-lasting friendships, which it is hoped will be continue to grow in the future, as participants become involved in similar enterprises across the world. The organisers believe that the entire programme can be expanded and developed as an important contribution to developing new approaches, building tolerance, and increasing understanding between people from different cultures and religions.

The historic core of Sarajevo became the setting for an on-site lecture led by dr. Boris Trapara, offering participants ...
16/08/2026

The historic core of Sarajevo became the setting for an on-site lecture led by dr. Boris Trapara, offering participants a closer look at the city’s physical structure, urban morphology, and the layers of cultural heritage that have shaped Sarajevo over centuries.

Beginning in front of the Spite House with an introduction to the origins and development of the city, the walk continued through Baščaršija and brought participants to some of Sarajevo’s most important monuments and historic sites, including the Gazi Husrev Bey Mosque, the Old Church, the Jewish Museum, Despić House, and the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Moving through these different spaces, participants explored the architectural typologies, historical styles, and ways of life associated with Sarajevo’s different historical periods. Particular attention was given to the contrasting ways urban space was shaped during the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods, revealing the multi-layered character of Sarajevo’s historic core.

Through the combination of site visits and on-site discussion, the lecture connected individual monuments with the wider urban fabric of the city and its cultural and historical values.

ISSYH21 at the War Childhood MuseumAs part of ISSYH21 – International Summer School Youth and Heritage 2026, participant...
15/08/2026

ISSYH21 at the War Childhood Museum

As part of ISSYH21 – International Summer School Youth and Heritage 2026, participants visited the War Childhood Museum in Sarajevo, exploring how personal memories and everyday objects can become part of collective memory.

The visit was guided by Ajna Tucak, one of this year’s ISSYH21 participants, who introduced the Museum’s journey from the book War Childhood to an international institution dedicated to documenting experiences of growing up during war. Today, its Global Collection includes around 7,000 objects and stories from 21 armed conflicts.

Participants first took part in an interactive activity designed to reconnect them with childhood memories, before exploring the exhibition and encountering stories from Palestine, Ukraine, and different parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The visit reflected a central theme of ISSYH21: understanding heritage not only through places and monuments, but also through the personal stories and memories that shape our communities.

📷 A special thank you to our participants Alina Vlasova and Bara Bawatneh for the wonderful photo material.

As part of ISSYH21, Prof. Amra Hadžimuhamedović led participants through Stolac, introducing them to the town’s remarkab...
14/08/2026

As part of ISSYH21, Prof. Amra Hadžimuhamedović led participants through Stolac, introducing them to the town’s remarkable cultural and historical landscape.

From its ancient and Illyrian roots to the medieval, Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian periods, Stolac preserves a remarkable continuity of heritage within a single landscape. Along the way, participants explored important sites and monuments, learning how architecture, archaeology, religion, nature and everyday life have shaped the identity of this unique town.

The lecture offered an opportunity to experience Stolac as a living cultural landscape where different historical layers and traditions come together.

Hosted under the starry skies of Stolac, the Bosnian Cultural Mosaic Night celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Bosn...
07/08/2026

Hosted under the starry skies of Stolac, the Bosnian Cultural Mosaic Night celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina through traditional Bosnian cuisine, traditional attire, songs, and sevdalinka, creating a welcoming atmosphere of cultural exchange, dialogue, and hospitality. The evening is led by the Bosnian participants of ISSYH21—Lamija Bašarić, Zulejha Omerbašić, and Ajna Tucak—together with Bosnian members of the ISSYH Coordination Team, who proudly share their country's customs, traditions, and living heritage with participants from around the world.

This year, Visit Sarajevo further enriched the ISSYH programme by presenting its Visit Sarajevo destination concept at the HIDR – House of International Dialogue and Research in Stolac during the Bosnian Cultural Mosaic Night. ISSYH participants, ICCROM representatives, lecturers, and international experts were introduced to Sarajevo's strategic approach to heritage-based destination management, sustainable cultural tourism, and the integration of cultural heritage into contemporary urban development. By sharing successful practices and experiences, Visit Sarajevo strengthened the connection between Sarajevo and Stolac while promoting Sarajevo internationally as a heritage destination.

A valued and long-standing supporter of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage (ISSYH), Visit Sarajevo welcomes participants as they begin their ISSYH journey in Sarajevo—a city whose centuries of cultural diversity, living heritage, and coexistence reflect the very values of the School. Together, HIDR, Međunarodni Forum Bosna , ICCROM - conserving culture, promoting diversity , and Visit Sarajevo continue to demonstrate that heritage is preserved not only through conservation, but also through education, community engagement, responsible tourism, and meaningful cultural experiences that celebrate the diversity and identity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The International Summer School Youth and Heritage is proud to continue its partnership with the Memorial Center Sarajev...
06/08/2026

The International Summer School Youth and Heritage is proud to continue its partnership with the Memorial Center Sarajevo, where, for the second consecutive year, the School was officially opened. This collaboration reflects our shared values and a common understanding of the importance of preserving cultural memory as a foundation for a more inclusive and resilient future.

United by the goal of safeguarding and promoting the pluralism that has shaped the society of Bosnia and Herzegovina, we are grateful for the support and engagement of Dr. Ahmed Kulanić, Director of the Memorijalni centar Sarajevo (Memorial Center Sarajevo), and the entire MCS team.
Their contribution was invaluable to the organization of the 21st International Conference Unity and Plurality in Europe in memory of the legacy of prof. Rusmir Mahmutćehajić, as well as to celebrating the world's cultural diversity through our Cultural Mosaic Evenings held at the HIDR – House of International Dialogue and Research in Stolac.
Together, we continue building spaces for dialogue, understanding, and the preservation of our heritage.

Međunarodni Forum Bosna

On 25 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage 2026 attended a master class led by Aida ...
05/08/2026

On 25 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage 2026 attended a master class led by Aida Bičakčić, art historian and curator at the City Museums of Sarajevo.

The session explored the role of contemporary visual art in responding to the need for meaningful memorialization of traumatic events, including war, sieges, occupations, and acts of terrorism. Through examples from Bosnia and Herzegovina, participants examined how artists use personal experiences and creative expression to document collective and individual memories, often beyond official remembrance policies.

Combining a lecture, discussion, and collaborative analysis of selected artworks, the master class encouraged participants to approach contemporary artistic practices from their own professional and academic perspectives. The interactive exchange fostered critical reflection on memorialization, strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration, and highlighted the role of art in addressing today's global challenges.

On 24 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage visited the Zanat Showroom in Sarajevo fo...
04/08/2026

On 24 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage visited the Zanat Showroom in Sarajevo for the master class Woodcarving Heritage Expression in the Work of Zanat, led by Zanat CEO and co-owner, mr. Orhan Nikšić.

Celebrating a craft inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the session highlighted Bosnia and Herzegovina's centuries-old woodcarving tradition and its successful integration into contemporary design through the work of Zanat.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Zanat for their valuable cooperation, as well as to our students, Alina Vlasova and Bara Bawatneh, for capturing these photographs.

On 23 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage attended the Master Class: Culture-based ...
03/08/2026

On 23 July, participants of the International Summer School Youth and Heritage attended the Master Class: Culture-based Urban Resilience II, led by Elma Hašimbegović, Director of the History Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Through the Museum's collections and stories, participants explored how heritage preserves the memory of survival and builds resilience. The session reflected on everyday life during the siege of Sarajevo that continued despite the hardships of war. It also highlighted the Museum's vital role in safeguarding these stories and inspiring future generations.

Sarajevo

Official opening of the ISSYH21 | “Unity and plurality in Europe and the 21 years of the ISSYH: Professor Rusmir Mahmutć...
27/07/2026

Official opening of the ISSYH21 | “Unity and plurality in Europe and the 21 years of the ISSYH: Professor Rusmir Mahmutćehajić’s vision of a common future based on a shared past."

Last night, scholars, practitioners, former participants, and friends gathered at the Sarajevo Memorial Centre to celebrate over two decades of dialogue, learning, cultural heritage, and peacebuilding, shaped by and left into legacy by Professor Rusmir Mahmutćehajić. Through discussions on education, interreligious dialogue, youth engagement, and cultural heritage, speakers highlighted the importance of building trust, understanding, and a just peace in increasingly divided societies, and the important role our network of alumni (1,000+) have in strengthening movements for peace and social justice worldwide.

With this, the 21st International Summer School Youth and Heritage (ISSYH21), organized by HIDR - Centre for Peace and Heritage and International Forum Bosnia in partnership with ICCROM, officially opened, welcoming a new generation of young people committed to learning from heritage and contributing to a more inclusive future.

Together, we continue the mission of connecting people across differences and nurturing the values of unity in plurality. 🕊️🌍

At the heart of the school - our participants.🌍 This year's school brings together 18 participants from 13 countries and...
27/07/2026

At the heart of the school - our participants.

🌍 This year's school brings together 18 participants from 13 countries and 4 continents, with different backgrounds and disciplines, united by a shared curiosity about how heritage shapes identity, and how that knowledge can be put to work across fields.

Follow along as we dig into heritage documentation, restoration, the interdisciplinary application of heritage knowledge, and the meaning of cultural identity, through hands-on fieldwork across Sarajevo, Mostar, Blagaj, Žitomislići, Počitelj, and Stolac.

📸 Certain photos were taken by our participant, Alina Vlasova

Address

Stolac

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when International Summer School "Youth and Heritage" Ćuprija - Stolac posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to International Summer School "Youth and Heritage" Ćuprija - Stolac:

Shortcuts

Share

Category