“When my husband and I lost our jobs and my father died, I decided to sell his house, which had a lot of old but valuable things. However, then I asked myself – should I be the one to break up that tradition? And I said – No,” says Stanka Čoban, the first heroine of cultural heritage, who received an award at the Yugoslav Cinematheque in the selection organised by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia and Europa Nostra Serbia.
Inheriting her parents’ house full of shocking costumes, old furniture, mother’s and grandmother’s dowries, she deepened her sense and love for heritage, tradition and culture, which was instilled in her childhood in her parents’ house. Therefore, in 2009, Stanka opened the ethnic house “Didina kuća” where she shows visitors the way of life of the Šokac people and other peoples in this part of Vojvodina. In parallel, he organises numerous activities of an educational nature, such as, “Women’s traditional combing and making of headdresses and their application through contemporary trends”, “Smells from grandma’s cookbook”, an international school of playing bagpipes, a school of gold embroidery, while in the old Pišta blacksmith’s school children can learn about the way of life of Bač peasants, which completes the overall picture of life in the past.
The newly established award of Europa Nostra Serbia “Heroes of Heritage” by its very name shows the intention to find and highlight individuals – proven fighters for the preservation of heritage, who do it in a special, heroic way, said actor Dragan Mićanović, a member of the jury for awarding the award, during the reading of the explanation.
“Didina kuća (Grandfather`s House) managed to win the place of a kind of chronicler of the past, the guardian of national treasures, traditions and cultural heritage. The multiple talents of Stanka Čoban, which she inherited and developed not only individually but also with her entire family and friends, neighbours, are an inseparable part and important segment of the revitalisation of Bač. Many collaborators, guests and participants of the European Heritage Day, summer schools of architecture, volunteer camps and the long-term project “Centuries of Bač” gained and took away significant impressions and memories from the ethnological setting, but what is very important, the taste and enjoyment below a “summer house” in Didi’s house,” the jury’s explanation states.
“Personal contributions make a big difference. Stanka Čoban, the first winner of the Hero/Heroine award in Serbia, was actually the inspiration for the creation of this award from Europa Nostra, which we will award every year. The invitation of this exceptional lady symbolises the care of a sustainable heritage and dedication in building connection between different communities. Stanka is a great European, with all the values she promotes and accepts in her work. Her contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage is an important reminder for all of us of the power of individual action, community engagement, for the betterment of our societies. Serbian cultural heritage brings incredible the value of the richness and cultural diversity of our common European heritage – the heritage we share together,” said the EU Ambassador to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret.
“Heritage is the most direct link with our history, our past, and in general – with proven values. The entire civilisation rests on them, our previous knowledge and understanding of life and people. And if there were more enthusiasts like Mrs. Čoban, who with so much love and “If you had preserved the memory of your family and environment with dedication, our knowledge and our lives would have been much richer. That’s why, dear Mrs. Čoban, on behalf of our organisation and on my own behalf, I heartily congratulate you,” says the president of the Europa Nostra Serbia organisation, Irina Subotić.
European Heritage Days 2022 are marked by the theme “Sustainable Heritage” and are taking place across Europe from 10 to 18 September. The European Heritage Days event was established by the Council of Europe in 1985 in France, but since 1999 it has been run as a joint initiative of the European Commission and the Council of Europe. European Heritage Days allow citizens to explore culture through themed events and discover the history of people and places that have contributed to shaping Europe’s culture and heritage.
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Europa Nostra Serbia is a member of a wide pan-European network for the protection of cultural and natural heritage, Europa Nostra, based in The Hague, which consists of 250 non-governmental organisations and 1,500 individuals from more than 50 European countries, with the aim of preserving the heritage of the entire European continent. Europa Nostra – Our Europe, speaks of a common cultural space that knows no borders.
