Call for Project Proposals: Grants for the Implementation of Artistic Projects by Young and/or Emerging Artists (My First Time)

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As part of the Culture for Democracy(CfD) project, Heartefact announces a call aimed at encouraging and supporting the artistic production of young and/or emerging artists in Serbia by enabling them to develop and publicly present their first independent or early artistic productions, initiatives, and/or works. The grant line My First Time was created in response to the observed lack of support for young and emerging artists in Serbia who create independently, outside existing institutions, organizations, and academic frameworks.

About the CfD Project

Launched in October 2021, Culture for Democracy (CfD) is the first comprehensive and long-term initiative by Switzerland in the field of arts and culture in Serbia. Initiated and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the project uses arts and culture as tools to:

foster social inclusion and tolerance,
promote democratic values,
strengthen intercultural dialogue,
advocate for the rights of marginalized and vulnerable groups.

In its first phase (2021–2025), CfD supported 89 projects across Serbia. The second phase of the project will be implemented from 2025 to 2028.

Who CAN apply?

● Young and/or emerging artists (up to 35 years of age) who live and create in Serbia;
● Informal artistic collectives or groups of young artists jointly implementing an artistic project;
● Preference will be given to artists working outside major urban centers, especially those creating within local communities with limited access to artistic content.

Supported Areas

The My First Time grant scheme is intended for the creation of first or early independent artistic works and productions that represent an important step in the professional development of the artist. Project proposals should represent independent, professional initiatives by artists at the beginning of their careers, and not a part of student assignments, school programs, or mandatory academic projects. Projects may belong to various artistic disciplines, including: visual arts, performing arts, music, film, literature, multimedia, design, photography, comics, and interdisciplinary forms.

Grant Amount

The maximum amount that may be awarded per project is 625,000 RSD (approximately 5,000 CHF).

How to Apply?

More information about the call, application process, and required forms can be found HERE.

Application Deadline

The call is open continuously, until all funds allocated for this grant line have been distributed.

Applications are reviewed periodically — in March, June, September, and December.

For any questions, you can contact us at: [email protected].

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A three-day conference of the European network Fabulamundi – New Voices was held in the Heartefact House

From October 5 to 7, 2024, a three-day conference of the European network of playwrights Fabulamundi-New Voces was held in Heartefact House in Belgrade. After the meetings in Rome, Venice and Paris, Belgrade had the opportunity to host 19 playwrights from a dozen European countries and representatives of theaters and art organizations that are part of the network.

Heartefact’s Visit to DokuFest in Prizren for 13 young students and activists

From August 7 to 11, 2024, Heartefact organized a visit to DokuFest for 13 young film directing and production students, cultural workers, artists, and activists from Serbia. The documentary and short film festival is held annually in Prizren, and this year’s 23rd edition brought together numerous directors from the region, Europe, and around the world. In addition to the film program, participants attended masterclasses, exhibitions, concerts, performances, and met with cultural workers from Prizren, such as Vatra Abrashi from Autostrada, Linda Lulla Gashi, Alba Cakalli and Samir Karahoda from DokuFest, and Bengi Muzbeg from the Lumbardhi Foundation.

Aleksa Krstić from Heartefact Institute on the Oko Balkana radio show at Radio Belgrade

Why does Heartefact translate contemporary literature from Kosovo into Serbian? This was one of the key questions our Aleksa Krstić discussed on the “Oko Balkana” show on Radio Belgrade’s Second Program.

Exchange of Researchers from Serbia and Kosovo as part of Research Visiting Program

In June, Heartefact organized an exchange for 10 young researchers from Serbia and Kosovo as part of our Research Visiting Program. The group from Serbia visited Pristina and Gracanica, while the group from Kosovo visited Belgrade. During these visits, they met with representatives from over 20 organizations from Kosovo and Serbia, as well as university professors, activists, and artists.

Introducing the Second Cohort: Six Kosovo-Serbia Research Fellows Selected

As part of the second cycle of the Kosovo-Serbia Fellowship Program, Heartefact has chosen six researchers who will explore new and constructive narratives regarding the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, ranging from language and translation issues to education, EU-facilitated dialogue, normalization process and other relevant political and social areas. During the three-month research period, participants will spend one month in either Belgrade or Prishtina. Throughout the program, they will have the opportunity to influence dominant narratives and offer new perspectives to the public on the topic of their research.

Culture for Democracy Project: Supported Projects for On-the-Job Training and Capacity Building for Organizations and Professionals in the Field of Culture / Job Shadowing

The Heartefact Fund announces the selected organizations and individuals in the field of culture and the arts who will receive grants under the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project for on-the-job training and capacity building of organizations (Job Shadowing).

A five-day seminar was held as part of the Human Rights Leadership Program

In partnership with the Slovenian Institute 8th of March, Heartefact organized a seminar as part of the Human Rights Leadership Program. The seminar aimed to empower 23 activists from various parts of Serbia, selected through a public call for participation in this one-year program.

Workshop for youth “Transforming a personal story into a theatre play” held in the Heartefact House

Two weeks ago, a six-day workshop “Transforming a personal story into a theatre play ” was held in the Heartefact House, led by the author and director Patrik Lazić, who was joined by the playwright and professor of dramaturgy from Romania, Elise Wilk.

Poetry performance “Poets of Today, Voices of Tomorrow” in Poland

At the end of March, in the Polish city of Gliwice, a poetry performance “Poets of Today, Voices of Tomorrow” was held as part of the project of the same name in which Heartefact participates with partners from Slovenia, Finland, Hungary, and Poland.

Open Call for theatrical technicians from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia to participate in five-day masterclass in Video Operation in theatre

Heartefact Fund in partnership with Centar of Visual Arts Multimedia is pleased to announce an open call within the Beyond Stage Mastery project, supported by the British Council through Culture and Creativity Learning Lab grant scheme as a part of the project Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans (CC4WBs). CC4WBs is a project funded by the European Union that aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.

Open Call for theatrical technicians from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia to participate in five-day masterclass in Light design for theatre

CULTURE FOR DEMOCRACY PROJECT: NEW PUBLIC CALL FOR PROPOSALS OPEN

New call for financing cultural and artistic organisations and professionals is open for proposals submission within Culture for Democracy Project targeting programatic and organizational development of cultural organziations.

Project Culture for Democracy: Supported new projects under ArtBoost Grant line

Within the framework of the Culture for Democracy project, the Heartefact Foundation has supported three new organizations through the Art Boost Support grant line, with a total amount of 68.000 CHF.

Heartefact’s Queer Caravan began in Pirot and Niš

On Tuesday, the Heartefact Queer Caravan began at the National Theater in Pirot, during which Heartefact’s plays with queer and minority perspectives will be performed in around ten cities in Serbia. After Pirot, the next stop for the caravan was the National Theater in Niš, where Patrick Lazić’s play Our Son was also performed last night. After each performance, a discussion between the audience and actors is organized to further expand on this important topic. Through this Caravan, Heartefact aims to bring plays with queer themes to smaller towns and cities in Serbia where such content is traditionally less included in repertoires.

EXTENDED: Open Call for theatrical technicians from Albania, Kosovo and Serbia to participate in five-day master class in Sound Design for theatre

The objective of this training is to transfer high-quality, relevant, current, professional knowledge, share experience and give advice to theatre technicians, young professionals from Serbia, Kosovo, and Albania. The main theme of the Master Class is “Sound Design for theatre” and the aim is to equip young theatre technicians with the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively work on the theatre productions.

At the Heartefact House, a staged reading of the winning text by Marija Rakočević, “The Woman Ties the Ponytail,” was held

Last night, the twelfth consecutive award ceremony for the Best Contemporary Engaged Full-Length Drama Text in Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, Slovenian, Macedonian, or Montenegrin was held at the Heartefact House.

Project Culture for Democracy: supported new projects under Art Boost grant line

Within the framework of the Culture for Democracy project, the Heartefact Foundation has supported five new organizations through the Art Boost Support grant line, with a total amount of 13,701,000 RSD.

Culture for Democracy project: Announcing supported projects from the call for artistic expressions

Culture for Democracy Project Selects Awardees in the Fourth Call for Artistic Expressions Support.

The premiere of the new theater production “Climax” was held at the Heartefact House

On December 14th, the premiere of the new theater production “Climax,” directed by Patrick Lazić and dramaturged by Dunja Matić, took place at the Heartefact House. The inspiration for this project came from the controversial film of the same name by globally acclaimed director Gaspar Noé.

Artistic residencies in Belgrade: Yllka Brada and Tadi

As a result of the open call for artistic residencies of the Reconnection 2.0 project funded by the European Union Office in Kosovo, and implemented by Qendra Multimedia [Prishtina] and Heartefact Fund [Belgrade], two artists have been selected, Tadi and Yllka Brada, who will reside in artistic residencies during November and December 2023 in Belgrade.

With standing ovations for Our Son, Heartefact’s queer caravan kicked off in Lazarevac

Over the next year, Heartefact’s socially engaged plays will visit places in Serbia where independent theater performances are not frequent, especially those with minority and queer perspectives.