The Bowling Green Bosnia Oral History Project (or “The Bosnia Oral History Project” / “The Bosnia Project”) is an on-going project directed by the Kentucky Folklife Program’s Bosnia Oral History Project Committee in partnership with WKU’s Department of Folk Studies and Anthropology.
As part of our on-going efforts, we have been involved in many projects and programs, including:
- The Annual Walk to Remember Srebrenica Genocide Symposium. For info on the 2017 Symposium, hosted by the Kentucky Folklife Program, visit the event’s Facebook page.
- The Kentucky-Rural Urban Exchange (RUX). July 28-30, 2017, the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange network gathered in Bowling Green for a Rural-Urban Exchange community intensive. The Kentucky Folklife Program served as the group’s regional host and planned cultural experiences that showcased our unique culture and assets. Members of Bosnia Oral History Project produced a coffee demonstration for the group, hosted at the Bosnian Islamic Center in Bowling Green. Click here more info on KFP’s role in RUX.
- “A Culture Carried: Bosnians in Bowling Green” – an National Endowment for the Arts-funded exhibit held at the Kentucky Museum, September 29, 2017-June 30, 2018. For more information on the exhibit and related programming, visit the exhibit’s website.
- The Kentucky Folklife Program’s Community Heritage Day. A National Endowment for the Humanities-funded digitization project set for November 4, 2017, this event is open to all who wish to digitize their items. However, this event is also an opportunity for members of the Bowling Green Bosnian American community to contribute to the Bosnia Oral History Project’s collection and learn how to better preserve and protect documents and items of significance. More info here.
Our fieldwork has also served as the basis for several partners’ programs, including:
- The Kentucky Museum’s Bosnians in Kentucky Traveling Educational Trunk (grades K-6). Traveling trunks are free resource kits available for checkout to area educators and homes school-ers. This trunk was designed by students in Dr. Tim Evans’ Folklore & Education class with help from the Bosnia Oral History Committee. The trunk features an extensive lesson plan with numerous activities and includes a variety of resources: books, maps, music, interviews, lute, coffee set, and much more. For more information and a complete inventory, please visit the Kentucky Museum’s Traveling Trunk page.
- WKU Office of International Program’s International Year of Bosnia Bosnian Cafe event (click here to read a WKU Herald article on the event). Members of our Bosnia Oral History Project led coffee demonstrations, provided music, and helped interpret Bosnian culture.