The Culture Minister requested UNESCO to add Resist block printing and indigo dyeing to their Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage in March 2017. The request has been submitted together with Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Hungary. Over the past two years, the last two blue-dyeing workshops of Jiří Danzinger, Sr., from Olešnice and František Joch from Strážnice have been preparing for the UNESCO request. They have to commit themselves to maintaining original technological processes and being able to secure someone who will continue and keep the blue-dyeing technology alive.
The verdict will be probably announced in 2018. If the verdict is positive, they will be thrilled in Strážnice and Olešnice. “It would be a great honor for us. It’s the highest award we can ever achieve. On the other hand, it’s a big commitment. We won’t be full of ourselves. We just want to continue in the tradition and keep this craft alive,” Jiří Danzinger, Sr., said.
In workshop in Strážnice, they believe the adding to the UNESCO list would help to popularize and maintain the tradition of the blue-dyeing technology. “The list of UNESCO would definitely contribute to keep the production and more tourists would learn about us,” said Iva Bartošková, the daughter of the current co-owner.
South Moravia has already had four items on the UNESCO list: Lednice-Valtice Cultural Landscape, Tugendhat Villa in Brno, Ride of the Kings in the Slovácko area, and Slovácko Verbuňk – recruit dances.
