From 21 to 24 August, the 17th Days of Luke Botić will be held in Đakovo, Slavonski Brod and Kaštel Lukšić. The event is organised by the Đakovački kulturni krug (Đakovo Cultural Circle) and the Udruga Opor Botići (Opor Botići Association) from Kaštela, with the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Media, Osijek-Baranja County, and the cities of Đakovo and Kaštela.
The event marks the 180th anniversary of the death of Josip Muravić, the first trained painter in Slavonski Brod and the son of Veronika, the second wife of the poet Luke Botić. Muravić, born in 1868, died on Christmas Day 1946 in Slavonski Brod, where he is also buried. His works, particularly the frescoes in the Sremska Mitrovica Cathedral, will be presented through photographs by Mihael Kelbas.
The programme in Đakovo begins on Friday, 21 August, at 17:00 with the opening of the exhibition "Muravić's Painting Trail in Sremska Mitrovica" at the Cultural Centre. Following the opening, the documentary film "Luka Botić: Opor, Split, Đakovo..." by Mihael Kelbas and screenwriter Mirko Ćurić will be screened in the centre's cinema hall. The film includes dramatic scenes depicting the poet's arrival in Đakovo, filmed for the 58th Đakovo Vezi (Embroidery Festival).
The evening programme continues at 19:00 in the courtyard of the Rock Club King with the ceremonial opening of the event. Following welcome addresses from the organisers and patrons, Josip Molnar and Sanja Hajduković will perform a musical setting of Botić's work "Tri muke bjeguncima" (Three Sorrows for Fugitives). New publications by Croatian authors from Croatia, Austria and Vojvodina will also be presented.
The central part of the evening features the musical programme "Dugih lampa sjaj" (The Glow of Long Lamps), dedicated to the musical settings of Vjekoslav Mayer's poems. As part of this segment, a CD release published by the Matica hrvatska (Croatian Literary Guild) will be presented. In total, around 40 participants from various artistic fields will be featured across more than ten programme events.
