The Association of Artists of Applied Arts 

and Designers of Vojvodina / UPIDIV

1953
For the first time in history, applied artists of Novi Sad tried to unite and collectively protect their artistic and social interests and goals. The same year, artists of Serbia established their own association – ULUPUS. They started approving membership for the artists from Vojvodina: Professor Zlata Markov-Baranji; Ivan Boldižar; Ranko Pavlović; Josip Ester, Professor of interior architecture; Predrag Stepanić; Stanislava Ceraj-Jatić; Mihalj Miroslav Kreičik, BArch; Etelka Tobolka; Professor Miodrag Miša Nedeljković; Jelena Vandrovska; Professor Đorde Tabaković, BArch; Katinka Evinger-Kovačević, Dušan Nonin, and Professor Dragoslava Andelković- Haker. The sixteen artists -- previously approved as members -- founded the Vojvodina ULUPUS division at the assembly session held on May 25, 1957 at the School of Applied Arts at 8 Petra Drapšina in Novi Sad.

1955
The first exhibition of the Association of Artists of Applied Arts of Serbia, including тхе participation of the artists from Vojvodina (Predrag Stepanić, Miša Nedeljković, and Dušan Nonin).

1956
The first Yugoslav applied arts exhibition Art and Industry held in Belgrade

1957
The Vojvodina ULUPUS division formed featuring the members: Zlata Markov Baranji, Ivan Boldižar, Ranko Pavlović, Predrag Stepanić, Josip Ester, Katinka Evinger Kovačević, Stanislava Ceraj Jatić, Pavle Ružička, Miroslav Krejčik, Etelka Tobolka, Jelena Vandrovska, Miodrag Nedeljković, Dušan Nonin, Karlo Baranji, Vukica Čoporda, and Dragoslava Haker Anđelković. Predrag Stepanić was elected as the first president of the Division.

1958
Тhе аpplied arts festival Art in the Service of Humans held in Zrenjanin.

1959
The City of Novi Sad established the Institute for the Advancement and Economics of the Household in Novi Sad.
The first ceramic art colony in the former Yugoslavia named Imre Dević established in Mali Iđoš. Its activities provided an impetus for the initiation of The Ceramic Triennale in Subotica
The Vojvodina Division opened the Sales Salon of Unique Artwork.

Technical College established in Novi Sad as a Community College of Mechanical Engineering. Since 1964, it has used the current name. A couple of years ago, the Program in Graphics was initiated. ULUPUDS launched the Zlatno pero exhibition. Since 1962, it has featured illustrators from across the former Yugoslavia, and international artists since 1966.

1961
Atelje 61, an institution specializing in art tapestry, initiated at Petrovaradin Fortress by Boško Petrović and The People’s Committee of Novi Sad.

1962
Modern Gallery Likovni susret opened in Subotica. The Vojvodina Division hosted The Union of Applied Arts Artists of Yugoslavia.

1963
The Jubilee ULUPUS Exhibition1953–1963 held in Belgrade from October 12 to October 19. It was facilitated by The Novi Sad based Association of Applied Arts Artists of Vojvodina from Novi Sad and the Belgrade based Association of Applied Arts Artists of Serbia.

1964
The decision regarding the establishment of the Association of Applied Arts Artists of Vojvodina made at the III Congress of the Union of Applied Arts Artists of Yugoslavia held in Ljubljana.

1965
Forma 1 (from February 20 to March 7) -- the Association of Applied Arts Artists of Vojvodina facilitated a members exhibition at Studio M in Novi Sad.

1966
Forma 2 (from February 26 to May 10) at the Gallery of the R. Ćirpanov Culture Center in Novi Sad.
In May that year, the first international stage and costume design triennale held in Novi Sad.

The marketing and economic propaganda agency Jugoreklam closed in Novi Sad. It was established in 1945 as Propaganda, a company specializing in political propaganda. It employed a circle of top postwar graphic designers and marketing artists in Vojvodina.

1967
Forma 3 (from April 10 to April 30) at the Gallery of the Union of Applied Arts Artists of Slovakia in Bratislava (Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, ČSSR). Visual identity of Forma 3 by Miodrag Miša Nedeljković. Miša Nedeljković facilitated the formal opening ceremony of the Slovakian fellow artists from Bratislava.

1968
The first Ceramic Art Triennale, the most prominent display of Yugoslav ceramic art of that kind opened in Subotica.

1970
FORMA 4 (from April 17 to May 5) at the Gallery of Matica Srpska, Studio M, and the UPIDIV salon accompanied the Fifth Congress of the Union of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Yugoslavia SPID YU.

The first issue of the magazine Industrijsko Oblikovanje published by the Institute for the Economics of the Household in Belgrade, edited by Miroslav Fruht. It specialized in the advancement of the methods and practice of industrial design and the related fields.

The exhibition Modeling in Yugoslavia held.

ULUPUV (currently UPIDIV) contributed to the preparations of the exhibition and the accompanying catalog.
At the Fall International Fair in Zagreb, from October 12 to October 19 held The American Symposium on Industrial Modeling, and from October 18 to October 18 a lecture on industrial design in the US was delivered.

From April 17 to April 18 held V Congress of The Union of Applied Arts Artists of Yugoslavia, a.k.a., the NOVI SAD CONGRESS. The General Assembly met on the first day, when the new Statute proposal suggesting changing the name to the Union of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Yugoslavia was approved. The new management elected and The Vojvodina Division in Novi Sad selected as the location of the Union for the following two years. Miodrag Nedeljković, the graphic designer from Novi Sad, became the new president.
 

1971
The Association renamed The Union of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Vojvodina – UPIDIV and was suggested to be the headquarters of the Union SPID YU in 1973.

The May Exhibition ’71 held from April 29 to May 23, facilitated by the then The Association of Applied Arts Artists of Serbia (currently ULUPUDS). The participants included the UPIDIV artists. The May Exhibition was established in 1955 at the Museum of Applied Arts in Belgrade.

The Novi Sad Salon, a fine arts event held annually to commemorate the liberation of Novi Sad, established. The founder was the Culture Center of the People’s University Radivoj Ćirpanov in Novi Sad.

1972
The Design Center founded in Belgrade. The same year, Professor Miodrag Nedeljković, president of The Union of Applied Arts Artists of Yugoslavia from Novi Sad was a Design Center member. The gallery space of the New Public Library in Belgrade opened. Opening of the exhibition of ceramic artists of Vojvodina.

1973
The Association of Applied Arts Artists of Serbia in Belgrade published the book entitled Modeling in Serbia presenting an overview of the current creative practices in the field of applied arts and design in Serbia.

The Academy of Applied Arts in Belgrade changed the name it had been using since 1948 to The Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade. The institution employed several professors of Vojvodinian descent, and of significance for the development of applied arts and design in Vojvodina. Ivan Tabaković was teaching ceramics and textile, Mihajlo S. Petrov was teaching in the Department of Graphics, and Dragoslav Stojanović Sip The Introduction to Fine Arts Modeling.

The UPUID (currently UPIDIV) members exhibition Around the Corner held on December 16.
Exhibition of Contemporary Unique Ceramic Artwork in Vojvodina, held in Belgrade from October 10 to October 18 at the National Library of Serbia within the Days of the Culture of Vojvodina.

Sava Josić allocated 28 new artist studios at Petrovaradin Fortress.

Forma 5 (from September 21 to October 11) held at the Đorđe Natošević school in Novi Sad. Celebrating the tenth anniversary of the foundation of the Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Vojvodina (UPIDIV). Several events held featuring the Association of Architects of Novi Sad and the DIT horticulture section: Forma 5; exhibition of Contemporary Applied Arts, Design, and Architecture of Vojvodina held in Priština from December 16 to December 26; exhibition of the late members held from November 5 to November 20; a special, jubilee meeting of the assembly held on November 8; and Design Symposium held on November 9.

1974
The Academy of Arts in Novi Sad founded. The Graphic Communication Program initiated in 1992, and The New Fine Arts Media and Photography Program in 2002.

The Design in Jugoslawien exhibition held in Stuttgart from September 9 to October 6 within the Yugoslav Week.
The 2nd Ceramic Art Triennale held in Subotica and Belgrade, as The Museum of Applied Arts joined in the capacity of co-facilitator.

1975
The Design Center Council in Belgrade held on the last day of March. Aiming to promote quality design in the Yugoslav economy, the Design Center Council approved the proposal for rewarding companies with the Quality Design Diploma within particular national events.

The rewards were initiated at the 16th International Technology Fair in Belgrade and 39th International Agriculture Fair in Novi Sad. On April 22, during the Spring International Fair in Zagreb, The Office of the Advancement of Design. Assembly held. Among the participants providing a service was UPIDIV.

The Design in Serbia exhibition held at the Belgrade Culture Center.

The exhibition of Vojvodinian ceramic art opened in Aranđelovac.

The UPIDIV jubilee logo honoring Ten Years of Activity designed by Svetozar Toza Tomić.

1976
In collaboration with the municipal Tourism Organization of Novi Sad, a sales exhibition of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Vojvodina (currently UPIDIV) held at Brankovo Kolo from September 4 to September 11.

Days of the Yugoslav Glass and Ceramic Industry opened on September 13 at the Fall International Fair in Zagreb. Among Vojvodinian companies, IGM Toza Marković from Kikinde was rewarded with The Quality Design Diploma for the ceramic tiles design by Marina Sujetova Kostić.

1977
Forma 6 (from October 20 to November 25) held at Studio M in Novi Sad.

Completed artistic solutions for the Textile Integrated Company Dunav in Čelarevo.

Multiple authors, UPIDIV and ULUV members alike, participated in this massive project. On that occasion, the working space and the factory premises were decorated with tapestries, stained glass, sculptures, drawings, ceramic art pieces, and fine arts pieces in copper.

The 3rd Ceramic Art Triennale held in Subotica and Belgrade now renamed The 3rd Yugoslav Ceramic Art Triennale in Belgrade and Subotica.

The exhibition Messages from Applied Arts and Design of Novi Sad held at Belgrade Youth Center in Belgrade from November 7 to November 14. A fashion show presenting work clothes designed by the fashion designer Anamarija Mihajlović accompanied the exhibition. The exhibition was held within the event Days of Novi Sad in Belgrade.
The Smiling Day ’77 exhibition held in Novi Sad, and the show Messages ’77 in Sarajevo.

1978
The Design in Serbia ’78 – from Idea to Realization held at the Belgrade Fair from February 10 to February 19. It was facilitated by the Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia and Belgrade Fair aiming to introduce the public design achievements in the Serbian industry. The Design in Serbia ’80 was held with the same objective.
The Messages exhibition held in Maribor.

1979
Forma 7 (from October 26 to November 25) held at the Lazar Vozarević gallery in Sremska Mitrovica.

1980
The Days of Vojvodinian Culture event held in Paris, facilitated by UPIDIV.
The Unique ’80, sales exhibition of unique art pieces by UPIDIV members held in July and August at the UPIDIV Salon.

1981
Forma 8 (from November 16 to November 26) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad. From March 19 to May 15, The Days of Vojvodinian Culture held in Vienna co-facilitated by UPIDIV.

The 36th World Table Tennis Championship held from April 14 to April 26 in Novi Sad (SPENS). Major reconstructions in the infrastructure of the city core included the renovations of old buildings and construction of the adjacent objects. The Serbian National Theater and the Liberty Bridge were officially opened. The new building of the Sports and Business Center Vojvodina (then “a city within the city”) was opened. The Varadin, Putnik, and Vojvodina hotels were renovated for the purpose of SPENS. The Novi Sad hotel was built, and the Park hotel was extended. In accordance with the international treaty between Yugoslavia and China, a Chinese restaurant Sečuan (Sichuan) was opened. Novi Sad boasted illustrations on the side facades of the old buildings advertizing Yugoslav companies. UPIDIV members contributed artistic solutions to these objects and the production of the materials accompanying this event.

1982
Igre sa suncem held at Petrovaradin Fortress facilitated by the Culture Center of Novi Sad. The program included exhibitions, theater plays, performances, and concerts.

1983
Forma 9 (from November 14 to November 26) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

The Exhibition of Fine and Applied Artists of Subotica, UPIDIV and ULUV members held from November 24 to December 10 at the Likovni susret gallery in Subotica.

1985
Forma 10 (from December 14 to December 28) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

UPIDIV published the book Miodrag Miša Nedeljković: The Monograph Honoring the 1955-1985 Retrospective Exhibition.

1986
The Design High School Bogdan Šuput in Novi Sad officially named. The school was established in 1948 as an applied arts school.

Terra established at the gallery of the Agency for fine and applied arts in Kikinda.

1988
The NS illustrations exhibition held from June 6 to June 16 at the Forma gallery featuring Dimitrov, Jerinić, Joler, Pedović, and Prosenik.

1989
FORMA 11 (from November 3 to November 24) held at the Serbian National Theater, Novi Sad. 

1991
Forma 12 (from October 5 to November 5) held at the Vojvodina Museum, Novi Sad.

1992
The Museum of Vojvodina was given its current name. It was established in Pest in 1847. On multiple occasions, it hosted the UPIDIV Forma biennale.

1994
Forma 13 (from November 4 to November 23) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

Published the monograph entitled Thirty Years of The Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Vojvodina, alongside The Address Book.

1996
Forma 14 (from October 4 to November 30) at the Serbian National Theater, Novi Sad.

Likovni susret, Subotica; The City Museum, Kikinda; The Lazar Vozarević Gallery, Sremska Mitrovica.

1997
UPIDIV published a major publication The Protection of Copy Rights and the Compensation for the Applied Arts and Design Pieces.

1998
Forma 15 (from December 10 to December 25) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad;
Likovni susret, Subotica.

UPIDIV exhibits at the Novi Sad Fair within the international furniture and equipment show Ambijenta '98.

1999
The Department of Graphic Engineering and Design established at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad (GRID).
The First Symposium of Graphic Engineering and Design GRID held in 2002.

2000
Forma 16 (from October 3 to October 20) held at the SPC Vojvodina, Novi Sad; The National Museum in Kikinda; the Likovni susret Gallery, Subotica; The Gallery of Fine Arts of the Republika Srpska, Banja Luka. On January 24th, the first Internet event took place. It was running regularly for four years aiming to popularize new technologies.

2002
Forma 17 (from October 24 to November 8) held at the Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad; Likovni susret held in Subotica from January 21 to February 21.

Within the GRAF BIRO event at the Novi Sad Fair the Znak '88–2002 exhibition held to honor Forma 17. The exhibition featured the trademark solutions realized by UPIDIV members from 1988 to 2002.

The Znakovito trilogy published. UPIDIV contributed to the preparation of the materials.

2003
The UPIDIV members group exhibition of children’s illustrations took place from June 3 to June 24 at the Forma Gallery.

2004
Forma 18 (from November 4 to November 14) held at the Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

2006
Forma 19 (November) held at the Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

2009
Forma 20 (from January 16 to January 31) held at the Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. 

2011
Forma 21 (from April 28 to May 15) held at the Museum of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

UPIDIV was granted the status of a representative cultural association in the Republic of Serbia.

2014
Forma 22 (from December 2 to December 10) at the hall of The Provincial Government of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.

The monograph 50 Years of UPIDIV: On the Shoulders of Giants published.

The exhibition 50 Years of UPIDIV: On the Shoulders of Giants took place from December 23, 2014 to January 12, 2015 at the exhibition hall of the central building of the University of Novi Sad.

The book The Atlas of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia – 21 Century published.

2015
The exhibition 50 Years of UPIDIV: On the Shoulders of Giants took place from October 30 to November 15 at the big gallery of the Culture Center in Vršac.

2017
The monograph 50 Years of UPIDIV – 50 Years of Applied Arts in Vojvodina, volume II published.

2019
Forma 23 (from December 10 to December 20) held at the Vojvodina Archive, Novi Sad.

The public competition Audience in Focus, aiming at the development of the audience, initiated by the foundation Novi Sad – A European Capital of Culture; developed the project A Stroll through the History of Design in Vojvodina (1945 -1985) that through a series of lectures, workshops, and exhibitions thematizes the phenomenon and the development of industrial and graphic design in Vojvodina from the end of the Second World War to the mid 1980s.

The main contractor was the Memorial Collection of Rajko Mamuzić in partnership with the Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Vojvodina (UPIDIV).

2020
The Fall UPIDIV Exhibition (from November 9 to November 27) held at the Archives of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.
The monograph The Production of UPIDIV 2014-2020 published.

2021
Forma 24 (from November 9 to November 25) held at the Archives of Vojvodina, Novi Sad.