The grants are awarded for development and implementation of contemporary cultural initiatives that strengthen the independent cultural sector and local communities, encourage artistic authorship, experimentation and collaboration, expand access to culture, and contribute to addressing socially relevant issues. In addition to supporting new artistic productions, Culture for Development also supports the continuity and growth of established cultural initiatives that enrich cultural life and strengthen local cultural communities.
Following the strong response to the first call, the second call once again attracted considerable interest from cultural organizations, artists, and cultural workers across the country. The consistently high quality of the submitted project ideas made the selection process particularly competitive. Fourteen projects were selected for funding, with a total of 10,176,157 MKD awarded. Individual grants range from 310,000 MKD to 857,145 MKD. The supported projects will be implemented in more than 20 locations across North Macedonia, including cities, municipalities, and villages, spanning six of the country’s planning regions.
The diversity of the supported projects is reflected both in their geographical reach and in the artistic disciplines and cultural activities they encompass. The selected initiatives include theater and performing arts, artistic research, archiving, film, musical talent, publishing, festivals, community-based cultural activities, and other interdisciplinary practices. The projects address topics such as youth participation, cultural diversity, environmental sustainability, community engagement, gender equality, critical cultural reflection, alternative publishing, collective memory and archives, and the visibility and inclusion of marginalized communities. Several projects create opportunities for young artists and cultural workers, while others promote dialogue, experimentation, and access to contemporary culture beyond the country’s largest urban centers.
Organizations and projects that were selected for support through the second call are:
- Organization for Theatre and Multimedia Production WONDERLAND THEATRE Skopje (Project “The Forbidden Fruit”): 797,000 MKD
- TP MEDEA – Sole Trader for Art, Kumjana Novakova, Skopje (Project “Artistic Research as Collective Counter-Archive”): 711,000 MKD
- Velo Card Cafe LLC Skopje (Project “Sirni Film and Music Festival”): 807,000 MKD
- Association Kupola Shtip (Project “VIA 5 – Cycle of Interdisciplinary Activities, 5th Edition”): 857,145 MKD
- Association for Multimedia Engaged Art TESA Skopje (Project “PRIMA FACIE”): 704,221 MKD
- Association for the Promotion of Youth Culture KULTURA BETA Skopje (Project “TRIGGER – A Caravan for Youth, Alternative, and Critical Culture”): 360,000 MKD
- TEMPLUM DOOEL Skopje (Project “DISSENSUS”): 739,948 MKD
- Association for Theatre Education and Production THEATRE FOR ALL (Project “Mirror”): 857,000 MKD
- Association for One-Actor Theater (Project “Father” by Florian Zeller): 857,143 MKD
- Publishing House MUZA LLC Skopje (Project “Women in Musical Art Through the Centuries / From Invisibility to Voice: Research, Dialogue, and Interpretation”): 310,000 MKD
- Citizens’ Association The Green Ark Skopje (Project “Bostanie Microfestival – Rooting”): 856,200 MKD
- Roma Cultural and Media Center BARIKANIPE Skopje (Project “RomaVision – Culture in Action”): 733,000 MKD
- Association of Youth Gostivar (Project “Painted Stories: Culture for Inclusion”): 847,000 MKD
- Laboratorium DOO Skopje (Project “New Faces”): 740,500 MKD
The project Culture for Development aims to contribute to the growth of the arts and the shaping of socio-political norms, recognizing culture as a vital tool for fostering a more open, democratic, and interconnected society.
This activity is supported by the Culture of Development project of the Government of Switzerland and is implemented by Heartefact Fund