INTERNATIONAL ART COLONY “PATKOVAČA” RETURNS TO DERVENTA FOR ITS 23RD EDITION

DERVENTA – One of Derventa’s most important cultural events, the International Art Colony “Patkovača,” is being held for the 23rd time, bringing together 15 artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia from July 9 to 12.

The event officially opened with an exhibition featuring artworks created during last year’s edition. The exhibition, displayed in the garden of the Derventa Cultural Centre, welcomed participating artists and guests to mark the beginning of this year’s gathering.

According to Saša Bogdan, organizer of the colony and president of the Derventa Association of Visual Artists (ULIKS), artists from North Macedonia and Montenegro had to cancel their participation at the last moment. Despite this, the colony has successfully assembled 15 painters from three countries.

This year’s artistic theme is open, giving participants complete creative freedom. Artists have also been encouraged to draw inspiration from Derventa itself and incorporate local landscapes and landmarks into their works.

In addition to painting sessions, visitors can enjoy a diverse accompanying program. On Saturday, the Cultural Centre will host a poetry evening featuring Croatian academic painter and poet Marko Hrvoje Peruzović from Zagreb. An inclusive art workshop with children from the “Budućnost” Institute has also been planned, allowing artists, students, and teachers to create artworks together.

During their stay, participants will visit the Patkovača riverside beach and the Babino Brdo viewpoint, while painting at locations across the town that inspire them, particularly in the city centre and around the Cultural Centre.

Peruzović, who is attending the Derventa colony for the first time, praised both the town and the atmosphere.

“I am visiting Derventa for the first time and I am pleasantly surprised. The town is beautifully maintained, multicultural, and I believe we will enjoy both the artistic work and the company over the coming days,” he said.

Besides painting, Peruzović is also an accomplished writer and will present part of his literary work during the poetry evening alongside other participants who write poetry.

Derventa Mayor Igor Žunić emphasized that the “Patkovača” Art Colony has become an essential part of the city's cultural identity over the past two decades.

“Art leaves a lasting mark, and I believe these 23 years have left an important legacy in Derventa’s cultural life. Over the past year and a half, we have organized more than 50 theatre performances, a book fair, and a high school theatre festival. All of this confirms that Derventa continues to be a city of culture, with ‘Patkovača’ remaining one of our most recognizable cultural events,” Žunić said.

The 23rd International Art Colony “Patkovača” concludes on July 12. The artworks created during this year's gathering will become part of the permanent ULIKS collection, serving as a lasting reminder of another successful artistic meeting on the banks of the Ukrina River.