"Heartefact strengthens critical awareness and builds an open and free society."
Heartefact is a multi-disciplinary organization that convenes and maintains fora where cultural and social reality is critically questioned, the past is remembered and learnt from, individuality is encouraged and talent is celebrated, creative and forward-thinking individuals are empowered to try and allowed to fail—so that the cultural and public space for all people is diversified, enriched, made vibrant and more accepting towards differences.
Mission
Heartefact works at the intersection of arts and politics, guided by the mission to provide and guard critical spaces of remembrance, reflection, engagement, and artistry, where knowledge and learning is pursued so that common challenges are addressed, and where individuals and groups are empowered to contribute to social change through artistic expression, and through creation of or engagement with critical content.
Through the fusion of performing arts, creative industries and digital technologies Heartefact, as a leading institution, develops policies and practices that support a responsible culture of remembrance, democratic values, and above all, respect for human rights, freedom of speech and accountability in the public sphere.Â
Vision
We envision a society where all people have liberties, and rights to dignity and autonomy. Where no person’s identity is perceived as a provocation; where no person’s rights and liberties are relativized on account of who they are. Where all people have the freedom to stand out, to live their lives as they please, love on their own terms, freely express and self-actualize, choose and work to become the persons they want to be; so long as they provide the same to others through the principles of tolerance and individual responsibility.
Heartefact is founded upon the belief that the variety and vibrancy of a cultural sector, as well as uninhibited artistic expression of individuals and groups are both indicators and preconditions of a society’s freedom at large, and a crucial contributor in encouraging its diversity, democratic potential, and cohesiveness. We believe in the relevance of facts and critical, principled debates in building a society’s knowledge needed to address key societal issues and challenges. We believe that autonomous, tolerant, responsible, and engaged citizens are at the core of any democratic and open society, that arts and cultural forms can bring people together across divides by building genuine emotional relations and empathy; that open debate and engaged art is where new ideas appear, old conventions are questioned, and social progress is enabled.
Andrej Nosov
Managing Director
About us
Heartefact is a multidisciplinary organization that has been actively shaping the independent cultural scene in Serbia and the region for 15 years. With offices in Belgrade, Skopje, and Pristina, our work focuses on the Western Balkans, with programs across Europe and globally. Through engaged art, activism, knowledge exchange, and various granting mechanisms, Heartefact supports artists, activists, and organizations working on important social issues. Our work is structured around three program pillars:
The Fund – We support initiatives and organizations that contribute to the development of democracy, critical thinking, and social responsibility through art and culture. So far, we have supported around one hundred projects across Serbia with over one million euros. As of 2025, we are expanding our support to include those approaching social intervention in creative ways in North Macedonia as well.
The House – We focus on contemporary and engaged art through the production of theatre performances, exhibitions, and other cultural events. Since 2022, Heartefact House has had its own chamber stage in the center of Belgrade, with a regular program that explores important social issues. For over a decade, we have also organized a major regional competition for the best socially engaged dramatic text and supported the development of contemporary drama through various programs.
Institute – The youngest part of Heartefact, dedicated to research, education, and the exchange of knowledge on human rights and dealing with the past. Through research, educational programs, and fellowships, we support individuals interested in socially relevant topics but lacking resources or knowledge. A particular focus of our Institute is on new narratives and artistic practices related to reconciliation, equality, cooperation, and dialogue in the Western Balkans.
Over the past 15 years, we have produced more than 50 artistic works, published numerous contemporary plays, and awarded over 100 grants, contributing to a more open, just, and tolerant society through art, dialogue, and critical reflection. In the 2025–2030 period, we remain committed to cultivating and creating spaces for cultural and social engagement, challenging patterns of exclusion, confronting the past, and addressing human rights violations—believing that such efforts foster a more open, tolerant, and democratic environment for all.