One hundred years of Pokuplje expedition

19th – 23rd July 2023

Exactly one hundred years have passed since the ethnographic expedition in Croatian historical region of Pokuplje. A small group of enthusiasts and adventurers, employees and associates of the Ethnographic Museum in Zagreb, went on a tour of Pokuplje in an unusual way – sailing in kayaks on the Kupa river, on the route from the city of Karlovac to the city of Sisak. Expedition consisted of the colorful company – two museum curators: Vladimir Tkalčić and Milovan Gavazzi, two painters: Srećko Sabljak and Maksimilijan Vanka, and of five more friends of theirs: Marija Bohaček b. Verlič, Anka Filjak, born Bohaček, Maksimilian Bohaček, Matija and Marijan Filjak.

In four weeks, they sailed a distance of about one hundred kilometers and visited 34 villages on both banks of the Kupa river. They researched the inhabitants of Pokuplje during their everyday life and during festivities, thus recording their everyday and festive clothes in photographs. Also, traditionally built houses and outbuildings were photographed. Collected information was later translated into professional and scientific works, and the experiences and encounters into works of art.

The program of the 57th International Folklore Festival Zagreb will mark this great anniversary of an interesting field venture, and the main concert program will feature folklore groups from the Pokuplje area.

MORE ABOUT US

We are happy to announce that the Croatian Ministry of Culture and the City of Zagreb in 2014 have declared the International Folklore Festival in Zagreb an event of national significance, since it valorizes specific aspects of national culture, as well as regional dances, music, languages, and customs, but also the cultural heritage from around the world.

The International Folklore Festival is one of the top events of folklore expressions in Croatia, namely an event representing amateur folklore groups dedicated to preserving and presenting local heritage. The event has been taking place in Zagreb since 1966, continuing the tradition of the Festival of Croatian Village Culture that was organized in the 1930s. The International Folklore Festival aims to present and promote traditional values of all nations and cultures, contributing to the efforts of preserving cultural diversities in the globalized world.

The program is drawn up by experts, ethnologists and folklorists who also collaborate with the Ministry of Culture on recognizing and documenting intangible cultural heritage phenomena. Ethnologists and folklorists are in constant contact with contemporary life of the phenomena and their bearers, trying to safeguard Croatian traditional culture as heritage.

KULTURNI CENTAR TRAVNO is the organizer of International Folklore Festival in Zagreb.

MSF / IFF office +3851 4501 194 | Public relations +3851 4501 209

Ministry of Culture Republic of Croatia http://www.min-kulture.hr
City of Zagreb, City Office of Education, Culture and Sports http://www.zagreb.hr
Zagreb Tourist Board http://www.zagreb-touristinfo.hr
Croatian Tourist Board http://www.htz.hr
HDS – ZAMP http://www.hds.hr