Innovative and Inclusive Eco-Creative Woodcarving Workshop Organized by SERDA

As part of the implementation of the Danube Wood(s) Route project and Activity A 2.2 Innovation Toolbox – development of specific tools to foster sustainable regional development, an innovative and inclusive eco-creative woodcarving workshop was successfully held on March 31, 2026. The workshop was organized by the Sarajevo Regional Development Agency SERDA, one of the project partners, in cooperation with Rukotvorine ZANAT (Home of Zanat), and took place at their premises within the Art Gallery of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including students from the Academy of Fine Arts, University of Sarajevo, representatives of public institutions and organizations in the fields of nature protection, culture and tourism, as well as members of the SERDA project team and representatives of the Institute of Economics. Participants also included representatives of the Cantonal Public Institution for Protected Natural Areas, the Public Institution Museum of Sarajevo, and the Tourist Guides Association “Vučko”. This ensured strong cross-sectoral representation and enabled meaningful interdisciplinary exchange of knowledge and experience.

At the beginning of the workshop, participants were introduced to the Danube Wood(s) Route project and its importance for the valorisation of natural and cultural-historical heritage. In the introductory session, representatives of ZANAT introduced participants to the tradition of woodcarving originating from Konjic, one of the most important centres of this craft, which their family has preserved for more than 100 years and which is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It was emphasized that this tradition is successfully combined with contemporary design, which has positioned ZANAT as an internationally recognized brand. Through a storytelling approach, authentic products and the significance of this craft in the local context were presented.

The central part of the workshop was dedicated to hands-on work, where participants, under the expert guidance of a master woodcarver from Konjic, learned basic woodcarving techniques, engaged in the creative process, and explored their own artistic expression through manual work. Participants also had the opportunity to create their own wooden souvenirs. This segment enabled direct skills acquisition and a deeper understanding of the value of traditional crafts in a contemporary context.

During the workshop, the potential of this activity as an authentic tourism product was recognized, and opportunities for further cooperation with tourism agencies and the Public Institution Museum of Sarajevo were discussed, particularly through linking with the Svrzo’s House exhibition, which authentically presents traditional Bosnian house interiors and the rich use of woodcarving elements.

The workshop concluded with the awarding of participation certificates, and participants expressed a high level of satisfaction, especially highlighting the value of practical work, exchange of experiences and informal networking.

Activities under A 2.2 will continue through the further development and implementation of a pilot intervention at the Bentbaša site, further strengthening the link between nature protection, cultural heritage and sustainable tourism development.