The last Assembly of ASSITEJ Serbia was particularly emotional for all of us, members of this small artistic community: our dear colleague and friend, the president of the Executive Board of ASSITEJ Serbia, Diana Kržanić Tepavac, stepped down from that position, where she spent seventeen years.
Her involvement in the Executive Board of ASSITEJ Serbia began in 2005, so 2025 is also a jubilee of Diana’s work in our association. Nowadays, when everything lasts too short and ends quickly, this figure represents a REAL MIRACLE. And we, her colleagues, associates and friends from the Executive Board, are proud and grateful to be part of that miracle.
Firstly, let us share the key points from Diana’s professional biography. As the founder and leader of the Studio of Performing and Visual Arts “A Step Forward,” she established a series of educational and artistic projects. She directed significant plays developed through collaboration with teenagers, addressing delicate and important issues during their formative years. These plays were selected and showcased in the programmes of BITEF Polyphony, at the First World Youth Theatre Festival “Write&Wrong” in Vienna in 2009, as well as at youth theatre festivals across Serbia.
As the president of ASSITEJ Serbia, Diana initiated and implemented numerous conferences, forums, seminars, and workshops designed for professionals in the field of performing arts for children and young people. She represented ASSITEJ Serbia and our entire artistic community at world congresses and has spoken at various international gatherings, conferences, and festivals. Diana has also contributed articles to several theatre magazines discussing the importance, influence, and application of performing arts in engaging with children and young audiences. She has worked diligently and continues to strive for the development of Serbian theatre for young audiences (TYA). Diana initiated international workshops such as TABOO in the TYA and Next Generation, as well as fostering cooperation among ASSITEJ centres in the region through the Europe 8+ platform. Additionally, her advice and support have been vital in establishing and developing several ASSITEJ centres in our region.
She was also a member of the jury at numerous domestic and international festivals and served as an advisor for the selection of plays at the MIRAI festival in Japan for the Balkans. She is the recipient of many awards, including Grozdana’s Giggle, Pharmacopeia’s Cube, Star of Belgrade, the Award of the Congress Bureau for Congress Ambassador of Serbia, and Star Among the Stars. Her membership on the Executive Board of ASSITEJ International from 2011 to 2017 is particularly significant; her considerable commitment was recognised in the international community, leading to her becoming an Honorary Member of ASSITEJ International in 2021.
Thanks to her vision, enthusiasm, and dedicated work, ASSITEJ Serbia hosted the ASSITEJ Artistic Gathering “Turning Point” in Belgrade and Novi Sad in 2023.
And now, a heartfelt THANK YOU from all of us!
THANK YOU for establishing ASSITEJ Serbia where it is today. Now, everyone sees and hears us. They know well who we are, and we can be proud of that.
Thank you for the tall ladder. We shall endeavour to maintain it.
THANK YOU for a pleasant and safe working environment, where all opinions are equally important and valued.
For inspiration! You have introduced us to the international community. With you, we brought the international community to Serbia.
For fellowship, compassion and support. Without that, you have nothing.
For thinking outside the box, as only an Aquarius, always young at heart, can do.
For a vision that transcends the present moment, for seeing the endless possibilities before us. For a world of freedom in artistic expression for young audiences. For the belief that everything is possible.
Thank you for the beautiful and long sailing, sometimes calm and sometimes rough seas, and all the mighty voyages. For joy and dancing. Cheers!
ASSITEJ Serbia Board Members
