Vujović: Culture is the most enduring expression of freedom and an investment in Montenegro's future

Culture represents the most enduring expression of freedom, a guardian of identity, and an important driver of societal development. The twenty-five-year existence of KotorArt confirms the strength of an idea that has grown into one of the most significant cultural events in Montenegro, symbolically connecting the country's historical continuity, the richness of cultural heritage, and contemporary creativity. This was stated by Minister of Culture and Media Dr. Tamara Vujović at the opening of the jubilee XXV KotorArt International Festival. "Twenty-five years of a festival represent much more than a series of successful seasons. Such duration speaks to the perseverance of an idea, the dedication of people who understood that public trust is built slowly, and that artistic excellence is developed with each new challenge," Vujović said. She added that Montenegro's Statehood Day is an opportunity to reflect with special attention on what gives a country its endurance, recognizability, and inner strength. "History is shaped by great events, institutions maintain order, but culture is created by people who believe that beauty, knowledge, and creativity are the most lasting expressions of freedom," Vujović stated. She emphasized that this year's KotorArt program symbolically connects Statehood Day with important figures and works that have marked the cultural and spiritual space of Boka, reminding us of the lasting value of art that transcends time. "This encounter gains additional symbolism with the premiere of the cycle 'Songs to Music' by Mladen Tarbuk, created from the verses of Don Branko."