The city is the birthplace of many famous artists including Aleksa Santic, Osman Đikić, Vladimir Ćorović, Hamza Humo, Svetozar Ćorović, Elisabeth Radó, Ivan Zovko, Predrag Matvejević, Himzo Polovina and Grga Martić.
Mostar is also widely celebrated in popular lore, featured frequently as the setting for books, movies, and television programs.
Nobel Prize laureate for literature Ivo Andric wrote:
"When you spend a night in Mostar, it is not the sound that wakes you up in the morning, but the light. I know this from my own experience. It was the light that welcomed me when I arrived, it followed me from the morning to the evening, and when I left, that light forever stayed in me as the main characteristic of my memories of Mostar…"
The city is a home of music festivals called Melodije Mostara (Mostar Melodies), Mostar Blues Fest (
http://www.mostarblues.com) and Mostar Summer Fest (
http://www.mostarsummerfest.com). Theatre festivals include Mostarska Liska organized by Mostar National Theatre and Mostaran Spring organized by Matrix Croatica Mostar (
http://www.maticahrvatska-mostar.ba) in the House of Herceg Stjepan Kosača between March and May every year. Cultural Centre OKC Abrašević has been active for more then 70 years (
http://www.okcabrasevic.org). There are also Dives from the Old Bridge. The events are organized annually.
Cultural activities are announced on local radio and TV stations, such as:
Information on activities within Dzemal Bijedic University and can be found on their websites (
www.unmo.ba) as well as at the web site of Students Union of Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar
www.unijamo.ba