Department of Culture and Tourism: Guest lectures for students of Cultural Studies

Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism, students of Cultural Studies at the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Zenica had a unique opportunity to attend exceptional guest lectures given by prominent regional experts in the field of theatre and cultural production — Selma Parisi and Aleksandar Milosavljević. Both of them have been in Zenica for the past few days as members of the expert jury of the 24th Festival of Bosnian Drama, organized by the Bosnian National Theatre, which further enriched their visit to the faculty and provided the students with a valuable direct encounter with active actors of the contemporary theatre scene.

Aleksandar Milosavljević, one of the most important voices of contemporary theatre studies and media criticism in the region, spoke about the role of art in shaping public opinion, the challenges and perspectives of the cultural scene in post-transition societies, and contemporary models of festival and theatre production. His rich experience as a selector, director and dramaturge of regional and European festivals and theatres opened up a new dimension of understanding of cultural management and cultural policies for students.

Selma Parisi, theatrologist, writer and translator, presented her rich and award-winning oeuvre in the field of dramatic literature, radio drama and dramaturgy, and introduced the students to contemporary tendencies in theater creation and dramatic pedagogy. Her work, present both in regional and European cultural spaces, and multiple award-winning dramatic texts performed throughout the region, gave students a valuable insight into artistic practice and the challenges of translation, adaptation and dramaturgical creation in an international context.

The lectures were realized as part of the courses "Management in Culture" and "Festival Production". Subject teacher prof. Ph.D. Hazim Begagić moderated the event, which was attended by male and female students of all years of Cultural Studies, who were genuinely interested in practical insights and exchanging experiences with renowned experts.

This visit further confirms the commitment of the Department of Culture and Tourism to enabling students to meet prominent actors in the cultural and artistic scene, and to provide them with relevant knowledge and inspiration for future professional challenges.