Introduction
True and unique values, as well as the recognition of folk heritage within the universal human culture, may be achieved by broad-mindedness and individual permanent education. We believe that only those creative persons, who are familiar with their own cultures and consider it their own, will be able to pass it on appropriately. Such persons, owing to their education, and by accepting diversity, will also be able to respect the specific cultural values of any other nation. Intercultural dialogue plays a vital role in preserving traditional folk values of nations. Experience shows, that in lack of adequate information individuals often go astray from their own culture and turn to trendy, foreign ones. On the one hand, it leads to rootlessness, while on the other, we are witnessing the production of kitschy works, choreographies and events, created without any true authenticity and bearing no values, which are often tawdry and made to generate income at any price. In order to counterbalance such occurrences and to foster their own folk culture and tradition, a small group of people, led by István Nagy, have established the organization Hungarian Folk Centre of Vojvodina.
The Hungarian Folk Centre of Vojvodina is a non-partisan, civil organisation, established in Backa Topolja in 1995, with the aim to raise awareness on, foster and maintain traditional Hungarian folk culture. Within the organisation’s diversified activities (exchange of professional information, certification, providing presentation opportunities, launching events on seldom addressed topics, organising conferences, study tours etc.) one of the main areas of its activity is to organise education in the field of folk music, folk dance and folk craftsmanship ( waving, embroidery, pottery, honey-cake making, lacework and making folk dresses, egg-decoration, etc.).
Therefore, the organisation’s objective is to gather, inform and provide appropriate professional support to those interested in the Hungarian folk art in order to achieve a higher professional level in that area, and to implement programmes from the field of Hungarian folk art.
“HERITAGE – Folk Heritage Maintaining Opportunities in the 21st Century”, (In Subotica, February 2009.) Rozália Raj Secretary, coordinator, in charge for crafts Hungarian Folk Centre of Vojvodina
