Department of Ethnology of City Museum of Novi Sad collects, processes, stores and presents artefacts of material and spiritual culture of the inhabitants of Novi Sad and settlements that gravitate to it, both from Bačka and Srem. Diverse in material, function and size, the exhibits date from the late 18th until the mid-20th century. Over 10,000 items is classified into several collections and located in two buildings: Sremski Karlovci Homeland Collection and Gunboat (Topovnjača) at Petrovaradin Fortress.

The artefacts of Folk Art, which are usually created by women according to folk, traditional motifs: diversely decorated national costumes and items that go along with national costumes; embroidery and lace; household textiles; but also equipment and devices for their making are included in the collection FOLK CRAFT.  
Within the collection SPIRITUAL CULTURE are conserved the artefacts belonging to the majority Serbian people and Orthodox customs, but also the items used in the ritual practices of other ethnic minorities. They refer to the annual and life cycle of folk customs and family and social life of man. Part of the items belonging to Janika Balazs, renowned tamburizta player Novi Sad, were included into the Folk Musical Instruments Collection.

Numerous items from the sphere of social life are related to voluntary association of citizens for fire protection and they form the collection FIREFIGHTING.

The collection RURAL ARCHITECTURE includes photographs and items that show the exterior and interior appearance of a traditional house, outbuildings, commercial facilities and infields, as well as furniture and household items as a part of the interior design. On the basis of these items we can observe the evolution of the traditional way of living.

Traditional tools and implements for soil cultivation and processing of cereals and other crops related to different agricultural sectors are grouped into the collection AGRICULTURE. The majority of the collected items refer to cultivation the most common agricultural crops within agronomy, viticulture and orcharding developed on the Fruška gora, livestock farming, hunting and fishing… This collection also includes, as an inseparable part of agricultural activities, the items related to traffic and transportation of goods, as well as containers and measuring kit.
     
Due to the great importance during the formation and later development of Novi Sad, both economic and historical, HANDICRAFTS has been allocated in a separate collection. It includes craft tools and final products, master letters, books and documentation.

A special part, related to all of these collections, makes the collection of written and printed material, photographic documents and archive.