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This year, the Children’s Creativity Festival “Zvezdara” was not merely a series of events. It became a journey through childhood, art, music, poetry, and togetherness. Thanks to the generous donation of Zvezdara Teatar (Zvezdara Theatre) from Belgrade, the Nikola Baroš Foundation brought to life more than twenty events as part of the Prijedor City Day celebrations, giving children the opportunity to create, imagine, learn, and share joy with others.
It all began quietly at the start of April, among colours, little hands, and the sincere joy that creation brings. The organisation “Kike-tačke”, together with our wonderful and creative Jelena Topić and Nikolina Fuštar, opened the festival at the Association “Neven” in Prijedor with a creative workshop, while the students of Boris Eremić’s painting school created works inspired by the theme “Paint a Song”. Even in those very first days, it could already be felt that “Zvezdara” would become something far greater than an event. It was slowly turning into an emotion, travelling from one school to another.
And that is exactly what happened.
The festival officially opened on April 3 at the Gimnazija “Sveti Sava” with the School of Comics for primary school students, led by Professor Milica Đerić. In a symbolic and deeply emotional moment, the festival was opened by Marija Rodić, Nikola’s friend from his earliest days, and from that very beginning, “Zvezdara” carried within it what matters most friendship and love.
The festival made its way through our classrooms, hallways, and schoolyards, carrying with it music, play, art, and smiles. Miloš Zec’s accordion orchestra “Sky Glory” brought a special energy to the students of Desanka Maksimović Elementary School, while friends of the Foundation and the festival, Danijel Špadić and Zoran Pilipović, visited Branko Ćopić Elementary School and showed the children how films are made, and just how much magic exists behind the camera.
The children’s ensemble of SKUD “Dr Mladen Stojanović” (Serbian Cultural and Artistic Society “Dr Mladen Stojanović”) brought song, dance, and joy to Jovan Cvijić Elementary School in Brezičani, reminding us how alive tradition becomes when children carry it through smiles and movement.
Throughout the festival, we also spent time with poets, because beautiful words always find their way into a child’s heart. Poet Mirjana Bulatović visited several of our elementary schools: Jovan Dučić in Lamovita, Ćirilo and Metodije in Trnopolje, Mladen Stojanović in Ljubija, Petar Petrović Njegoš in Busnovi, and Branko Radičević in Petrovo, where children discovered through poetry just how gentle, powerful, and meaningful words can be, and how poetry itself is born.
Poet Muhidin Šarić spent time with students in Kozarac, and each encounter brought children and art a little closer together.
Music traveled alongside the festival as Savo Balaban Music School students visited Vuk Karadžić Elementary School in Omarska, transforming it into a small concert hall filled with talent and emotion.
At the National Library “Sveti Ćirilo i Metodije” (Saints Cyril and Methodius), the event “Bajkoviti matine” (“Fairytale Matinee”) was held, where our youngest participants listened to Cinderella together with actress Zorica Jojić, while colouring, imagining, and dreaming, reminding us that the most beautiful stories are always the ones we share together.
A special warmth was also brought to the festival by the Association for the Preservation of Tradition Prijedor, which visited Dositej Obradović Elementary School, introducing children to the richness of customs, games, and heritage that must be preserved for the generations yet to come.
And then, the finale came.
We will dedicate a separate post to it. It was an evening overflowing with emotion, children’s smiles, creativity, embraces, and love that filled every corner. The festival’s closing night deserves a special blog of its own, just as all the children who became its brightest stars deserve one too
And truly, the greatest stars of “Zvezdara” were our little artists, poets, musicians, actors, and dreamers. The children. As always.
And somewhere above all of us, we believe, our guiding star was shining too
We conclude this festival with the belief that “Zvezdara” has only just begun its journey, and that it will grow into a tradition that, year after year, brings together children, art, and kind-hearted people around the same idea: that love, creativity, and togetherness always matter.
Sadly, one planned festival activity could not take place. The performance of the play “Ja sam taj junak” (“I Am That Hero”) at Petar Kočić Elementary School was postponed due to the tragedy that struck the school. They lost a first-grade student, little Ognjen Stupar. During this difficult time, we wish to extend our deepest condolences, strength, and support to his parents, family, classmates, and everyone at the school.
Because moments like these remind us just how precious children are.
And how important it is to protect them with love.
❤️
