Students of ethnomusicology at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade were introduced on March 30, 2026, to the “LHTMApp project – Living Human Treasures Mapping”, implemented by the World Music Association of Serbia (WMAS) in partnership with the Serbian Ethnomusicological Society.
The meeting represents an important step in connecting the academic community with contemporary models of research and safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, as well as in strengthening cooperation between the non-governmental sector and higher education institutions.
The session was attended by students and professors of the Department of Ethnomusicology at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, led by Professors Dr. Mirjana Zakić and Dr. Iva Nenić, who will play a key role in working with students during the implementation of the project. In a dynamic and interactive atmosphere, participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with the project’s goals, methodology, and practical aspects of fieldwork.
The project was presented by members of the project team: Oliver Đorđević, Marija Vitas, and Miloš Prikić. Their presentations outlined both the strategic objectives of the project and the specific challenges and opportunities involved in mapping bearers of intangible cultural heritage.
Particular emphasis was placed on the importance of fieldwork and the role of young researchers in documenting living traditions.
The President of WMAS and project coordinator, Oliver Đorđević, emphasized that LHTMapp emerged from the need to systematically identify and support tradition bearers, who are often marginalized and insufficiently visible within institutional frameworks. He stressed that the project is not limited to data collection, but also seeks to understand the life and professional contexts in which these artists operate, with the aim of improving their position in society. He particularly highlighted the importance of students becoming active participants in the creation of the first digital map of Serbia’s living cultural heritage.
Head of Research Marija Vitas further elaborated on the methodological framework of fieldwork, emphasizing that the essence of the project lies in meaningful and authentic dialogue with heritage bearers. She noted that the LHTMApp application serves as a tool for structuring data, while the key to success lies in the researcher’s ability to build trust and enable interlocutors to naturally share their knowledge and experience.
The importance of conducting research during folk gatherings and festivals was also underlined, as these are environments where tradition is actively lived and transmitted.
The technical segment of the project was presented by Miloš Prikić, who explained to students the functionality of the application, the installation process, and the procedures for data entry in the field.
Attention was drawn to the importance of properly recording audio-visual material, as well as to the standards ensuring the long-term usability of the collected content within the digital database.
A special highlight of the meeting was the performance of gusle player Boško Vujačić, who performed an excerpt from “The Mountain Wreath”, affirming the powerful emotional and cultural dimension of the living heritage that the project seeks to document and preserve.
Students followed the presentation with great interest, actively participated in the discussion, and expressed their willingness to engage in fieldwork. In this way, the LHTMApp project gains additional value, as it not only contributes to the preservation of cultural heritage but also enables students to acquire valuable practical experience and develop research skills in real-life conditions.
According to available information, the LHTMApp project represents an innovative approach in the region, as it systematically connects digital technology, fieldwork, and the academic community in the mapping of living cultural heritage.
A particular value of the project lies in the fact that the application itself is primarily tailored to young researchers – students, who, with the guidance of their professors and project team members, will make a key contribution to data collection and processing in the field.
By November this year, the project aims to document no fewer than 50 bearers of intangible cultural heritage, and all collected and systematized materials will be made available on the LHTMApp website, ensuring their long-term visibility and accessibility to both the general public and the professional community.
The project is implemented with the support of The Headley Trust UK, through the Headley South East Europe Cultural Heritage Fund, managed by the Balkan Museum Network.
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