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The Kraljevo and Kragujevac tragedies of October 1941, among the largest crimes committed by German troops in World War II, continue to cast a long shadow over Serbia’s culture of remembrance – not only because of the scale of suffering, but also due to incomplete justice and the absence of official apologies from Germany and Austria. The fate and responsibility of Wehrmacht officers behind the massacres – above all General Franz Böhme, Major Otto Desch, and Major Paul Koenig – were the focus of Nenad Karamijalković’s lecture at the National Museum Kraljevo, where he presented the results of his research into their biographies, ideological convictions, postwar destinies, and the broader system of impunity that shaped postwar Europe’s attitude toward crimes committed in Serbia.

The third icon painting workshop within the project “Icon Is Painted With Light” was held at the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo. It brought together participants of all ages who wished to explore the fundamentals of icon painting, the symbolism of color, and the spiritual meaning of Orthodox icons. Under the expert guidance of iconographer, academic painter, and restorer Marija Topalović, attendees engaged in hands-on work, discovering the deeper significance of iconography through the creative process.

The program “On Slava at Olivera’s House” was held at the Legacy of Olivera Radojković Čolović, on Mitrovdan, Saturday, November 8th, 2025, the donor’s family Slava day. The event contributes to preserving the memory of bourgeois Slava as a meaningful part of cultural life, set in the ambiance of an old town house that still retains the spirit of its era, the warmth of home, and the tradition of family celebration.

As a researcher of gastronomic heritage, Marina Lukić Cvetić spoke about the history, origin, and cultural significance of the beverage boza, as well as the boza-maker’s craft, one of the most distinctive traditional trades in the urban centers of the Balkans. She emphasized that gastroheritology – the study of food heritage – is still in its early stages in Serbia and that more systematic research is needed. Marina Lukić Cvetić highlighted that food and drink are essential elements of intangible cultural heritage, offering valuable insight into a society’s history, social structure, and everyday culture.

The Conference of Museum Educators of Serbia with International Participation, titled “Museum Education and the Family: Intergenerational Learning, Shared Experience, and Identity Formation”, was held at the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo on November 6th-7th, 2025. 6. и 7. новембра 2025.
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У закључцима скупа истакнута је улога музеја као простора међугeнерацијског учења, подстицања емоција, заједничких искустава и развоја идентитета, али и потреба за јачим умрежавањем музејских стручњака.

The scientific conference “Development of Towns in Western Pomoravlje in the 19th and 20th Century” was held at the Gallery of the National Museum Kraljevo, organized by the museum to mark the publication of the two-volume edition “Population Census 1863”, edited by Bojana Miljković Katić, PhD, and Nemanja Trifunović. This work is a valuable source for studying the history of Karanovac and its surroundings in the 19th century and serves as an important foundation for further scholarly research. The conference featured 12 researchers presenting nine papers, covering topics such as demographic development of towns in the 19th century, the impact of family and marital ties on economic and cultural progress, urban planning, industrialization, and infrastructure transformation.

The exhibition “Women’s Painting Manuscript of Kovačica Naïve Painting: From Needle and Thread to UNESCO” is inspired by the inscription of Kovačica naïve painting on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024. The display is dedicated to the women creators of the Kovačica school of naïve painting, whose talent and perseverance have preserved the cultural heritage of the Slovak community in Serbia. From this spirit of community and diligence, a distinctive form of naïve art emerged – an art that portrays a world where reality and imagination intertwine, in a way that is both simple and deeply thoughtful.

King Milan Obrenović, though credited with the modernization and Europeanization of Serbia, is also remembered for his turbulent private life. His love affair with Artemiza Hristić, the wife of diplomat Milan Hristić, stands out as one of the most intriguing love stories in 19th‑century Serbian history. This lesser‑known aspect of the king’s biography was the focus of the lecture of Aleksandar Marušić at the National Museum Kraljevo.

Prince, later King Milan Obrenović has long remained overshadowed by criticism of his political decisions and private life, shaping a complex historical image. Despite his significant contributions to Serbia’s modernization and its alignment with European states, many contemporaries and later historians emphasized his flaws, often overlooking his achievements. In her research, Suzana Rajić, PhD, seeks to reveal the complexity of Milan’s character and reign, highlighting that he was a ruler who had to navigate challenging domestic and international circumstances.

The ceremonial awarding of the “Žiča Chrysobull”to poet Gordana Đilas took place in the Refectory of the Žiča Monastery on the Feast of the Transfiguration, Tuesday, August 19th, 2025. Accompanied by hymns, speeches, and poetic readings, the jury honored her for “a lyrical search into the deeper foundations of being.” Her spiritual maturity, creative dedication, and the importance of poetry as a space of truth, healing, and transformation were especially highlighted.