Skopje, 29 September 2023 (MIA) — As part of European Heritage Days international events organized to raise the awareness of European citizens to the richness and cultural diversity of Europe, a children's workshop dedicated to the work of the best known 19th-century Macedonian icon and fresco painter Dicho Zograf was held in the National Art Gallery Chifte Amam.

According to organizers, the workshop focused on the life and legacy of Dicho Zograf and introduced his works to children through conversation and coloring drawings inspired by his icons.

The workshop was run by Maja Dimitrova. The drawings the activities were based on were from a coloring book written by Aneta Georgievska-Shine, an art historian who has been living in the United States for several decades.

The coloring book is part of Georgievska-Shine's long-term project for the popularization of Dicho Zograf that also includes the English-language website https://www.dichozograf.org.

Workshop participants were students of Skopje's Nevena Gergieva Dunja Elementary, which the book author herself once attended.

"Cultural heritage contributes to a nation's education, through a better understanding of history and a sense of belonging," workshop organizers said.

"Each of us should be aware of the enormous importance of what we have and not allow it to decay, disappear, or be destroyed. Let's teach our children real values," they added. mr/