Muzej na otvorenom ‘’Staro selo’’ - Sirogojno
Проте Михаила Смиљанића 6, Сирогојно, Serbia
Jelena Toškić
jelena.toskic@sirogojno.rs
Introduction
The Open-Air Museum “Staro Selo” is an open-air museum, established in 1979 (the start of building) with the aim of preserving and showcasing the rural heritage, traditional handicrafts and traditional lifestyle of the western Serbia region. The museum was officially organized in 1992 as a space where both material and intangible cultural heritage could be experienced within an authentic rural setting. The museum carefully relocated traditional wooden structures, such as homes, barns, and workshops, to recreate an authentic village setting.
Thematic relevance
The Open-Air Museum “Staro Selo” excels in displaying handicraft heritage through an immersive and engaging approach that integrates traditional Serbian handicrafts, such as wool weaving, knitting, pottery, and woodcraft, within authentic historical environments. By situating artisans’ work in the context of traditional homes and communal spaces, the museum recreates the lived experience of regional traditional handicraft heritage. Its success is underpinned by legislative foundations, including adherence to Serbia's cultural heritage laws and alignment with UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which emphasize the protection and promotion of non-material culture.