Main areas of work related to the Convention:
The Ethno-camp project, organized by the Association since 2002, is part of the activities whose focus is on identifying, researching and documenting intangible cultural heritage. In this way, the organization gathers researchers of various disciplines and connects them with the holders, who are enrolled in the project both as respondents and as lecturers. The results of the project contribute to the implementation of further safeguarding measures through education, promotion and revitalization.
The project "Small graduation dance" aims to promote the intangible cultural heritage among elementary school students, by introducing elements of performing arts and a program to celebrate the end of the 4th grade of elementary school. In this way, the organization establishes cooperation with other institutions and implements safeguarding measures in cooperation with them. This project results in raising awareness of the importance of ICH among young people.
Awareness-raising and promotion of ICH is largely done through the organization and realization of stage performances, where elements previously identified, documented and researched are presented. Most of the participants of such performances are members of the Association who consider the elements part of their own cultural heritage.
The transmission of knowledge and skills related to performing practices takes place within numerous sections where new members, mostly children, have the opportunity to learn from older members, many of whom brought all the knowledge and skills related to certain elements from outside, learning them in their youth from older generations.
The Association is proposing two elements to be entered into the National Register of ICH of Republic of Serbia: Malo Kolo - a type of dance, and Lazarica - part of the Easter customs. Numerous members of the Association are carriers of these elements. The plan of the Association is to propose registration and other elements.
Objectives
ADZNM „Gusle“ Kikinda is an founded to preserve and safeguard various musical expressions and practices. Founded back in 1876, the Association had the goal of maintaining musical culture and tradition at a high level. Over time, the Association's mission included ideas about spreading musical knowledge among young people and providing conditions for introducing all those interested to non-commercial, and later traditional music, characteristic of local and regional culture. The society's activities were focused on the preservation and revitalization of traditional musical expressions.
Today, the main activity of the society is education and the transmission of knowledge of traditional artistic expressions that are mostly related to music - traditional forms of dance, playing different kinds of musical instruments and traditional forms of vocal performance, as well as stage presentation of performing arts. As part of its core activities, the Association implements numerous measures to preserve the intangible cultural heritage, among which the transmission of knowledge and skills, the inclusion of bearers in programs, field research and documentation (a special project that brings together experts from the fields of ethnology, ethnomusicology, ethnochoreology), proposing the registration of certain elements of the ICH in the national list, promotion and presentation of the ICH.
Cooperation
Association "Gusle" was founded by people living in Kikinda and Serbian Northern Banat District driven by interest to safeguard and promote traditional musical expressions as integral, vital, part of social practices, rituals and festivities. Founding members, as eledrs in North Banat Administrative District local communities, have actively encouraged children and youth to learn and practice not just traditional musical expressions but also other forms of social and religious practices that are of vital importance for our cultural identity. Members of "Gusle" are also maintain tight liasions with local community members as collaborators in facilitating transmission of knowledge among generations. This includes interactive promotional and educational projects as well as the support of elderly community members in condcting researching fieldwork. Collaboration with educational (e.g. Schools and kindergartens), cultural institutions (e.g. Museums and theatre) and other CSOs is also very important for implementation of our activities.
