Extended Application Deadline for Queer Art Academy Program

News Queer Art Academy

Heartefact invites emerging queer artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia to apply for the Queer Art Academy, a regional program designed to support the professional development, mentorship, and visibility of LGBTIQ artists across the Western Balkans.

What we offer

Professional Mentorship: Guidance from regional cultural experts and arts professionals.
Project Development: Support to develop new artistic concepts in theatre, visual arts, dance, literature, music, and other artistic practices.
Work-in-Progress Showcase: Presentation of your project in collaboration with established art sector institutions, increasing your visibility and connection to the wider arts community.

Proposed Timeline

Queer Art Academy Residency: 14–19 April (14th and 19th being travel dates) 2026, Heartefact House, Serbia
Regional Work-in-Progress Showcase: 1–5 September 2026, Heartefact House in Belgrade, with participation of partner institutions

Who Are We Looking for

Emerging artists aged 20–35 from the five Western Balkan countries
Active in theatre, visual arts, dance, literature, music, or other artistic practices
Committed to developing new projects and engaging in mentorship and collaborative learning
Motivated to connect with a regional network of artists and cultural institutions

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through our Google Form provided on this LINK. Applicants will need to provide:

Short biography (CV)
Project proposal in the video-response format
Portfolio

Application Deadline: ~~8 March 2026 at 23:59h.~~ March 13 at 23:59h

Info Session: 24 February 2026 at 13h, link for session: https://meet.google.com/zit-droo-waf.

Please Note: This is a professional development program, not a grant-giving scheme. Heartefact provides mentorship, production support, and visibility opportunities. For questions or additional information, contact: [email protected].

The project Queer Art Academy – Building Safe Artistic Futures in the Western Balkans, implemented by Heartefact, is supported through the programme Working Safe: Socio-economic Inclusion of the LGBTQI+ Community in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, implemented by ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with Queer Montenegro, Tuzla Open Center (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Open Mind Spectrum Albania, Center for Social Group Development (Kosovo), Coalition Margins (North Macedonia), Izađi (Serbia), and Kaos GL (Türkiye). This project is funded by the European Union.

This material was produced with the assistance of ERA and the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Heartefact as the implementing organisation and do not necessarily reflect the views of ERA or the European Union.

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The grants for cultural and artistic projects are awarded for the development and implementation of socially relevant contemporary art projects that contribute to the enrichment of culture and promote diversity in artistic practices and expressions, address critical social issues, and encourage community development.

Young Artists and Activists from Serbia Visited Festivals in Pristina and Prizren as Part of Heartefact’s Visiting Program

As part of Heartefact’s Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, we organized a visit in early August to festivals in Pristina and Prizren for a group of young artists and activists from Serbia. During the visit, the participants had the opportunity to attend three major cultural events in Kosovo – the 24th edition of the DokuFest International Documentary Film Festival in Prizren, the 6th edition of the Sunny Hill music festival in Pristina, and the 5th edition of the Autostrada Biennale, an international contemporary art festival.

OPEN CALL: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

Public presentation of the play Doughnuts held as part of the New Voices workshop

On Sunday, July 6, a public presentation of the play Doughnuts (Buhtle) was held at Heartefact House, marking the conclusion of the four-day Playground for New Voices workshop. The workshop took place within the European project Fabulamundi: New Voices, which Heartefact implements with partners from nine European countries. It was led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, in collaboration with emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac, the acting ensemble, and translator Olja Petronić.

Exploring and developing contemporary drama through process: Doughnuts by Jelena Krdžavac in the spotlight of the Playground workshop

As part of the Fabulamundi project, implemented by Heartefact in collaboration with partners from nine European countries, the Playground workshop is taking place in Belgrade from July 3 to 6. Led by director and playwright Patrik Lazić, the workshop brings together a cast of actors and emerging playwright Jelena Krdžavac to explore and further develop her play Doughnuts (Buhtle), which was shortlisted in last year’s Heartefact Competition for Best Contemporary Socially Engaged Drama.

Culture for Democracy: Supported Projects within the Call for Cultural and Artistic Project Implementation in Serbia

An exceptional response—totaling 273 applications—reflects the critical position of the cultural sector in Serbia in the context of the current political and social climate. Based on the Commission’s evaluation, 22 projects have been selected for support, with a total budget of 21,500,000.00 RSD. Although this amount exceeds the originally planned budget for this call, we believe that, amid the ongoing crisis and with public calls for cultural funding either canceled or indefinitely postponed, such support is more necessary than ever.

Artistic Residency and Public Presentation of Gaelle Axelbrun’s Play Held as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, an artistic residency of French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun took place at Heartefact House in Belgrade, as part of the European project Playground. During this intensive seven-day working period, Gaelle, together with director Tara Manić, translator Olja Petronić, and the acting ensemble—Nevena Kočović, Jana Bjelica, and Andrej Nježić—explored the dramaturgical and performative potential of her play Far from the Mud in Which We Sink into Sleep.

Residency of French Author Gaelle Axelbrun in Belgrade as Part of the Playground Project

From June 22 to 28, 2025, the Heartefact House in Belgrade will host a residency for French playwright Gaelle Axelbrun as part of the European project Playground. This intensive seven-day residency, organized by Heartefact, is part of an international collaboration focused on the development of contemporary dramatic texts by emerging European authors.

First Seminar for Youth from Serbia Held as Part of the Regional VIBE Program

From June 20 to 22, 2025, Heartefact organized a three-day seminar for young people from Serbia in Belgrade as part of the regional program VIBE – Connecting Young People. The program brings together youth from Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania with the aim of strengthening regional cooperation and exchange. Designed as a space for learning, dialogue, and connection, it focuses on human rights, regional cooperation, the shared history of the region, and reflections on the future that young people wish to shape through activism and civic engagement.