On 3 October 2018 the Managing Authority organized the ECD celebration with three children’s homes from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro in our very own cross-border art colony in Bijela, Montenegro.
As a manifestation dedicated to cooperation among regions of Europe, the European Cooperation Day marked its seventh edition in 2018. The ECD is foreseen as a showcasing event dedicated to successful cooperation between two or more European countries. These events are organized around September every year in order to demonstrate the successful outcomes of Interreg projects to the local community.
Following Interreg IPA CBC programme Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro ECD celebrations in the past years, we had a chance to learn about the traditional cuisine, explore natural sites and enjoy music performances unique to regions of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. This year our idea was to help create a cooperative Europe by letting the children lead the way and paint our future together in a form of an art colony.
The event gathered children from three homes for children from Dubrovnik, Mostar and Bijela (Herceg Novi). The program started with a theater show performed by children of the Bijela home for children, who delivered an important message to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations. A show performed by professional facilitators followed and taught the children ideas of being caring, kind and considerate to our environment and friends. After the show, the event moved outdoors and made the coloring and painting activities more fun.
Groups of children from three countries participating in the Programme decorated the T-shirts branded with this year’s logo, painted canvases with natural elements of our programme area and helped a professional street artist in painting a wall mural.
The street artist incorporated elements of the three cities from which the children arrived – Kanli fortress of Herceg Novi, Mostar’s old bridge and the city walls of Dubrovnik– into a unique mural which tells a story of cooperation between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. At the end of the event the homes for children were given gifts to remember the fun activities of ECD 2018 in Herceg Novi.
Why an art colony? We believe it’s the best way to highlight the role of children and young people in building the Europe they want. We believe it’s the best way to tell the story of cooperation between Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro as well.
The event in Herceg Novi was organized by the Managing Authority of the Interreg IPA CBC Croatia-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Montenegro 2014-2020, in cooperation with the National Authorities: Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of the Republic of Croatia, Directorate for European Integration of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Prime Minister’s Office – European Integration Office of Montenegro. The event was generously supported by the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia.
