The Bosken Heritage Foundation (BHF) is a non-profit cultural organization based in Brod Moravice, District X. Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Bosken language, the Pravoslavic Faith, and regional arts, the BHF is the largest non-governmental organization operating in southern Kresimiria.
Founded by former Senator Adin Vedran in the wake of the 1961 Treaty of Brod Moravice, the organization has evolved from a post-conflict community group into a major institution funded largely by the District X local government. Since the 1970s, the Foundation has maintained a strict stance of non-violence, explicitly distancing itself from the legacy of militant separatism to focus on cultural autonomy.
History
Foundation and the Vedran Era (1966–1972)
Following his retirement from the Assembly in 1962, Adin Vedran sought to rebuild the social fabric of the Bosken community, which had been devastated by four decades of insurgency and military occupation. In 1966, he used his considerable political influence and personal fortune to establish the Bosken Heritage Foundation.
In its early years, the BHF focused on youth engagement. Vedran organized the first “Summer of the South” camps in 1968, which brought children from rural villages to Brod Moravice for language classes and history lessons. However, the organization struggled to gain legitimacy outside of the Bosken community due to Vedran’s past alleged leadership role in the terrorist group BRC-21. Kresimirian authorities in Sinj viewed the BHF with deep suspicion, labeling it a front for radical indoctrination.
By 1972, with the rise of the hardline terrorist group AFIM threatening to undo the peace process, the BHF’s board of directors grew concerned that Vedran’s militant reputation was hindering the organization’s ability to operate legally. In the spring of 1972, Vedran and the board reached a mutual decision to part ways. Vedran resigned as Director, allowing the organization to rebrand.
The Schedl Era and Depoliticization (1972–1988)
Vedran was succeeded by Bianca Schedl, a respected academic and linguist from the Brod Moravice District University. Schedl immediately implemented a policy of “Cultural Pacifism.” Under her leadership, the BHF publicly and repeatedly condemned acts of violence perpetrated by AFIM and disavowed the historical methods of BRC-21.
Schedl shifted the Foundation’s focus toward academic and artistic endeavors. She established the Cross-Border Language Initiative, facilitating the first legal cultural exchanges between Kresimirian Boskens and citizens of Boskenmark since the Unification War. Despite her efforts to depoliticize the group, funding remained scarce, relying mostly on private donations.
Decline and Co-operative Period (1988–2007)
Following Schedl’s retirement in 1988, the BHF underwent a structural reorganization, becoming a loose employee-owned cooperative. Lacking strong central leadership or steady funding, the organization lost much of its influence. For nearly two decades, it existed primarily as a small collective of artists and historians maintaining a local archive, with little impact on the broader public.
The 2007 Relaunch
In 2007, the BHF was revitalized through the intervention of the political leadership of Moraviskameja. Senator and former BLF leader Jannik Lehr, seeking to cement the Bosken cultural revival, spearheaded a push to restore the Foundation.
With the backing of incumbent Senator and BLF leader Kristrad Bronstein, the District X local government approved the “Heritage Preservation Grant,” securing substantial and permanent public funding for the BHF. Sybille Tauber, a cultural administrator in Sprodvice, was appointed as the new Director. Under Tauber, the BHF professionalized its operations, renovated its headquarters in Brod Moravice, and launched a new series of high-profile public events.
Modern Activities and Events
Since 2014, the BHF has been led by Director Arno Grunberg. The Foundation now operates as the de facto cultural ministry of Moraviskameja, organizing major festivals that attract visitors from across Kresimiria and Boskenmark.
Key Events
- The Festival of the Ford (2015–Present): Initiated by Grunberg, this annual music and arts festival takes place on the banks of the Brod River. It celebrates the shared heritage of the region, featuring folk music, traditional cuisine, and theater. The 2019 festival saw record attendance of over 40,000 people.
- The Pravoslavic Art Symposium (2018): A major conference funded by the BHF that brought together theologians and art historians to discuss the preservation of religious icons damaged during the insurgency years. The event was praised for its academic rigor but criticized by the Council for Divinity in Sinj as “promoting schismatic imagery.”
- Centenary of Division Commemoration (2021): Marking 100 years since the end of the Unification War, the BHF organized a somber vigil in Brod Moravice. In line with its anti-violence stance, the event focused on mourning civilian casualties rather than celebrating militant figures. However, the event caused controversy when Senator Bronstein gave a speech calling for “spiritual reunification” with Boskenmark, leading to a formal rebuke from the Kresimirian Council for Internal Affairs.
Mission
The BHF’s official mission statement commits it to “the celebration of Bosken identity through the tools of peace, art, and memory.” It operates the Vedran Library in Brod Moravice, which houses the largest collection of Bosken-language literature in the Republic, and runs scholarship programs for Bosken students wishing to study humanities.