Minister of Education and Culture visited the Academy of Arts

Natalija Trivić, MA, Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Srpska, visited the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka on February 26, 2019, where she had a meeting with the management team of the Academy.

During her visit to the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka, Trivić said that the Ministry is working on implementing the Law on Culture, and preparing a rulebook that will incorporate a register of independent artists and independent cultural experts.

“The register of independent artists and independent cultural experts will allow us to know who are the independent professional workers in culture, that is, the competences we have to offer in the Republic of Srpska”, said Trivić during her visit to the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka.

She pointed out that the register is of a vital importance to the Ministry of Education and Culture, as it allows us to know who are the artists and cultural experts available in the Republic of Srpska for the creation of programs and strategies for cultural development in the Republic of Srpska.

According to the records of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Academy of Arts and other higher education institutions in the Republic of Srpska have shaped about 2,000 experts.

“We want to know who they are, we want to define their status, to include them in different programs and give them a certain position where they will be able to define themselves as independent artists, influencing therefore the development of the culture of the Republic of Srpska”, said Trivić, and added that the next plan is to present the draft of the Law on independent artists to the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska in the third or fourth quarter of the year.

“As such, we will meet all the conditions for the implementation of the Law on Culture, passed last year, with the aim of developing the culture in the Republic of Srpska”, said Trivić.

Professor Sanda Dodik, Ph.D., Dean of the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka, said that the Academy celebrates 20 years of existence this year, pointing out that the Academy has made a large number of professionals, and set a strong base for a professional artistic life in the Republic of Srpska.

Dodik also said that it is very important to set the foundations and give further guidance, and point to the possibility of a serious cooperation and projects for the graduates with the Ministry of Education and Culture, but also on the grounds of the entire Republika Srpska.

According to her, the Academy of Arts currently has about 400 students, and besides being engaged in a teaching process, the Academy works on a number of projects related to music, art and drama art.

“In a way we try to give another level, reputation and professionalism to everything that happens in the city of Banja Luka; to somehow draw the line of professionalism, and offer only the highest quality of what we have made through our teaching process”, Dodik concluded.

The meeting was also attended by: Tanja Djaković, assistant Minister of Culture, Mario Ćulum, MA, Vice-Dean for Teaching, Mladen Miljanović, Ph.D., Vice-Dean for Art and International Cooperation, and Draško Gajić, MA, director of Dramatic Arts Study Program.

(AGENCIES/UBL)