Since a long period of time, Gračanica has been recognized as an intensely living administrative, cultural, educational and business center.
This cultural and culturological fact has recently been articulated through important processes of democratization, as well as through the presence of non-governmental organizations and citizens’ associations, work of culture&arts organizations, great impact of print and electronic media, particularly gifted and successful individuals, and institutions that have been developing into bearers of cultural progress in the region.
Gračanica has always had valuable people who have made the town recognizable as much as Gračanica itself contributed to their good reputation.
NATIONAL LIBRARY “DR. MUSTAFA KAMARIĆ”
Based on public library tradition and experience from the Ottoman period and the tradition of having various reading rooms during the Austro-Hungarian period in 1928, the National Library of Gračanica was brought into existence as an association dedicated to education and culture. The library hosted various entertainment programs, and it supported cultural initiatives in general. Since 1973, the library bears the name of its founder, Dr. Mustafa Kamarić – a prominent cultural and scientific worker.
The library experienced Its rise in 1971 achieving a goal: one book per one municipality resident. From the madrassa of captain Osman which used to be the municipal cultural center, the library was moved in 1980 to a new purpose-built facility of the new cultural center – today’s Bosnian Cultural Center. In 1992, it had over 60.000 library units. During the war, the library expansion was not only in stagnation but it also encountered devastations, so it is now only approaching the number of books and number of readers it had in 1992. (more info on http://www.bkc-gracanica.ba/)
BOSNIAN CULTURAL CENTER
In order to enhance the cultural life of the municipality the municipal leadership, headed by the president of the municipality, Ćamil Naimkadić triggers a wide range of activities for the construction of a modern cultural center – the Cultural Centre of Gračanica.
Receiving a great support from the citizens during the 1978 and 1979, the project of turning an old elementary school locality into a modern building with total area of 2600 square meters was successfully completed. The new building hosted various cultural events taking place in theater and cinema, library, exhibition rooms and small rooms for lectures and entertainment programs organized by amateur cultural and artistic associations.
The work of former cultural center – today known as Bosnian Cultural Center Gračanica centers around the activities of Radio Gračanica, cinema and art gallery, as well as those of Local Heritage Museum Collection that was constructed after the war and the previously mentioned library.
Bosnian Cultural Center fix schedule (beside many others programs):
- Children’s Scenic Creativity Festival, organized every year in late April,
- Summer Evenings under the Linden Trees of Gračanica – a traditional cultural collage of events during July and August,
- Days of Book – during October
- Days of Bosnian Cultural Center in Gračanica
- Permanent Exhibition of Local Heritage Museum Collection: archaeological findings dating from the Neolithic, Eneolithic and Bronze Age, as well as from the Middle Ages, Ottoman and
- Austro-Hungarian periods, numismatic collection, etc.
One of well-known Bosnian Cultural Community groups called “Preporod” and several other culture&arts associations such as “Adem Alić” folklore dance group, and other, similar groups in Lukavica, Miričina etc. have very much enriched the cultural life of the municipality too.
CULTURAL HISTORY JOURNAL „GRAČANICA GAZETTE“
A continuously published cultural history journal – “Gračanica Gazette” has been produced by „Monos“ publishing house in Gračanica since 1996 twice a year on 100 – 150 pages in print and electronic format (it can be found on the internet); its concept and content focuses on cultural and historical topics in the broadest sense of the word (historiography, ethnography, cultural and natural heritage, literature, arts, important events, figures, etc.) and with all its local community related features ( a wider area around Gračanica).
The main objective of the Journal is to affirm and promote the local community achievements in culture, to promote cultural life and activities in the area, and to present these achievements to the citizens of the local community and the wider region (Tuzla Canton etc.) It brings together about 250 associates in the country and abroad, promoting young artists and sicentists. In addition, the journal has been a repository and driving force of the local culture and national heritage supporting the protection of these values continually.
The most important are: the establishment of the Association for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage “Soko”, the initiation of “Summer Evenings under the Linden Trees of Gračanica” festival, the founding of “Gračanica Crochet Art” (unique handicrafts works), the protection of the old Clock Tower and the medieval town of Soko etc. This way, the magazine fulfills another of its missions: it humanizes the living environment and influences the improvement of life quality among local community people.