The Research Phase of the European Project Eclectic of Otherness is Underway

Eclectic of Otherness

Since the project began in February, the research phase of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program, has been ongoing and will conclude at the end of this year with three creative labs where the research results will be presented. The sensitive topics addressed by all three performances – the genocide in Srebrenica, war-time rapes, and migrations – require thorough preparation based on artistic, activist, legal, and other types of research.

Arterarij from Croatia is exploring the topic of war-time rapes through collecting documentation from international organizations and courts, analyzing recorded materials and testimonies, holding discussions with children born as a result of war-time rapes, conducting a study visit to Kosovo and various memorial centers, as well as a movement workshop on transforming trauma. This phase involves director Romano Nikolić, playwright Dorotea Šušak, human rights activist Mario Mažić, choreographer Petra Hraščanec, among others, and will result in the development of a script for a future performance.

The French partner organization, El Vaiven, is also collecting material documenting the dictatorship in Argentina during the 1970s, resistance movements, and the stories of people like author Laura Alcoba, whose novel is being adapted for a future performance. She was a child during that period. Initial rehearsals and movement research have already been organized in Paris, involving director Juan Miranda, actress Astrid Albiso, and others. During the research phase, Heartefact is gathering materials and testimonies from the trials related to the Srebrenica genocide, as well as the testimonies of mothers who lost every family member, upon which the concept for Doruntina Basha’s future text is being developed, exploring what it means to lose all of one’s loved ones in a single day and how one continues living with that.

Since the project began in February 2023, the three partner organizations from Serbia, France, and Croatia, along with their creative and research teams, have been working on researching the themes of their future performances that will be created as part of the project. These performances will premiere during the Festival of Otherness in all three main partner cities – Paris, Zagreb, and Belgrade – at the end of 2024.

The project coordinator is the Heartefact Fund, and the project runs from February 2023 to January 2025. The project is co-financed by the European Union.

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The Festivity of Otherness was held in Paris

From January 9 to 11, 2025, the Festivity of Otherness was held in Paris. After the Zagreb version of the festival in November, when three plays created as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project co-financed by the European Union were shown on the theater stage of the Arterarij organization, Heartefact House hosted the Belgrade version of the festival in December last year. Lavoir Moderne Parisien hosted the Parisian version of the festival, rounding off the first three editions of the festival.

The Festivity of Otherness was held in the Heartefact House in Belgrade

From December 5 to 7, 2024, the Festivity of Otherness was held in Belgrade. After the Zagreb version of the festivity in November, when three performances created as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project co-financed by the European Union were shown on the theater stage of the Arterarij organization, Heartefact House hosted the Belgrade version of the festival.

Theater Festivity of Otherness in Belgrade from December 5 to 7

After two years of artistic research as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project co-financed by the European Union, we are proud to announce the “Festivity of Otherness”, a unique theatrical experience that will confront the audience with three poignant stories and reflections on the human experience, as well as personal stories that shape our world. The Festivity of Otherness is much more than a theater festival – it is an invitation to think, to face the invisible and the unspoken.

The first Festivity of Otherness as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project ended in Zagreb

From November 7 to 9, 2024, the first Festivity of Otherness was held in the theater venue of the Arterarij organization in Zagreb. As part of the festival, three performances from Serbia, France and Croatia premiered, and the festival is moving to Belgrade in December. The third location is Paris in January 2025.

Showcase of the play “Doghouse” held in Zagreb as part of the EoO project

On Friday, September 27, 2024, at 8 PM, the showcase of the play “Doghouse” was held on the Arterarij stage in Zagreb. This was also the premiere of the play, performed by Anita Matić Delić, Dušan Gojić, Jelena Graovac Lučev, Nikola Nedić, and Davor Tarbuk, directed by Roman Nikolić. Around 40 people attended the premiere, making them the first audience to see the play, which is based on true stories of wartime sexual violence during the wars in the former Yugoslavia.

Showcase of the Play “They Have Already Gone” Held as Part of the EoO Project

On Sunday, September 29, 2024, a showcase of the play “They Have Already Gone” was held at the Heartefact House in Belgrade from 6 PM to 9 PM. The showcase was performed by actress Mirjana Karanović, actor Svetozar Cvetković, and Tara Manić. Around 30 people attended, including directors, actors, activists, dramaturges, and technicians, witnessing for the first time a unique audio experience and sound experiment that the director and authors have been testing during the months of rehearsals for the upcoming play.

Rehearsals and Artistic Residencies for the Play “They Have Already Gone” Are Underway in Belgrade as Part of the EoO Project

Directors from France and Croatia, Juan Miranda and Romano Nikolić, are currently in Belgrade for an artistic residency at the Heartefact House as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. Juan Miranda and Romano Nikolić have been collaborating with the creative team of the play “They Have Already Gone” for over a year, initially during the research and concept development phase and later by directly participating in the play’s rehearsals, both online and in-person.

We invite you to the Show Case of the play “They Have Already Gone”

We invite you to attend the showcase of the play THEY HAVE ALREADY GONE on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The Showcase begins at 6 PM at the Heartefact House (Bulevar Despota Stefana 7) and lasts until 9 PM. The Show Case features actress Mirjana Karanović and actor Svetozar Cvetković, directed by Andrej Nosov. The play “They Have Already Gone” is part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, and the showcase is the result of several months of research and work on the text by author Doruntina Basha.

Rehearsals and Artistic Residency for the Play “Doghouse” Ongoing in Zagreb as Part of the EoO Project

Director Patrik Lazić from Serbia is currently in Zagreb for an artistic residency with the partner organization Arterarij as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. For nearly a year, Patrik Lazić has been collaborating with the creative team of the play Doghouse, initially in the research and concept development phase, and later by directly participating in both online and offline rehearsals.

Showcase and Second Artistic Residency for the Play “The Rabbit House” Held in Paris

A showcase of the French play The Rabbit House, directed by Juan Miranda and performed by Astrid Albiso, was held yesterday in Paris in front of an audience of about fifty people. Prior to the showcase, which represents the first public presentation of the future play, Serbian director Patrik Lazić was in Paris for an artistic residency with the partner organization El Vaiven, as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program.

Rehearsals and Artistic Residency for the Play “The Rabbit House” Ongoing in Paris as Part of the EoO Project

In Paris, Croatian director and actor Romano Nikolić is currently in an artistic residency with the partner organization El Vaiven as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. Romano Nikolić has been collaborating with the creative team of the play The Rabbit House for nearly a year, first in the research and concept development phase, and then directly participating in the rehearsals, both online and offline.

Rehearsals Begin for the Play “Doghouse” in Zagreb

Following auditions for actors held in April this year, the organization Arterarij has begun rehearsals for a new play as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. The play will premiere at the end of the year.

Partners’ Meeting Held in Zagreb as Part of the Eclectic of Otherness Project

A partners’ meeting for the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program, was held this weekend in Zagreb. Representatives of the three organizations – Heartefact from Serbia, Arterarij from Croatia, and El Vaiven from France – gathered for a two-day program to review the activities completed so far and discuss future plans.

Three Creative Labs Held as the Conclusion of the Research Phase of the Eclectic of Otherness Project

During October and November, three creative labs were held as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project, co-financed by the European Union through the Creative Europe program. Since the project began in February 2023, the three partner organizations from Serbia, France, and Croatia, along with their creative and research teams, have been working on researching the themes of their future performances, which are being developed as part of the project. These performances will premiere during the Festival of Otherness in all three main partner cities at the end of 2024 – Paris, Zagreb, and Belgrade.