Culture for Democracy: Supported projects within the open call for grants for artistic expressions

CFD Fond News

The Culture for Democracy project announces selected grantees and supported projects within the new call for the realization of cultural and artistic projects published on December 16, 2022.

Grants for cultural and artistic projects / Grants for Artistic expressions are awarded for the implementation of cultural and artistic projects and activities that are relevant for the development of society and local communities, as well as for the development of various cultural and artistic practices of the independent arts and cultural sector. Within this call, the Culture for Democracy project received a total of 110 project applications, out of which 15 projects were approved for funding. The total approved funds amount to 13.225.500,00 RSD while the individual value of approved projects varies from 1.200.000,00 to 650.000,00 RSD. Organizations whose projects are proposed for funding come from 11 different cities / municipalities, while the number of places (village / municipality / city) in which activities will be implemented within different projects is 24. Supported projects focus on different areas of contemporary culture and arts: from research projects in the field of cultural policy to performing arts, poetry and literature to multidisciplinary projects that involve local communities in their implementation.

Supported organizations within call for Artistic Expression Grants:

1) CA Klara and Rosa (project: Interact): 1.200.000,00 RSD

2) Academic Initiative Forum 10 (project: Interpretation of Otherness – hijab as a cultural signifier): 1.000.000,00 RSD

3) Activist Association Stetoskop (project: Capacity building and affirmation of creativity of artists from southern and eastern Serbia): 1.000.000,00 RSD

4) Agency for artistic creation Rich&Famous Dejan Prćić PR Subotica (project: Filmoscopy – Decentralized criticism): 1.000.000,00 RSD

5) Association for environment and society Multivox (project: CircleArt Festival – 0% waste, 100% culture): 950.000,00 RSD

6) Society of Historians Šumadija (project: Historical-Documentary Exhibition “Between Empathy and Prejudice: Roma in the Press of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia (1929 – 1944)” with educational materials): 900.000,00 RSD

7) Creative Drive (project: Difference strengthens us): 900.000,00 RSD

8) Association of visual artists Užice (project: Reflektor Gallery Annual Program): 850.000,00 RSD

9) Citizens Association Cultural Center Pre Art (project: Kino on Tour): 850.000,00 RSD

10) Citizens Association Cooperativa ARTRUST (project: The Sound Landscape of Women Experience – Transdisciplinary Acoustic Ecology of Palić): 850.000,00 RSD

11) Association Cultural Frame (project: Youth for the Future): 750.000,00 RSD

12) Citizens Association Creative Theatre Center Talija (project: Theatre in Garden): 800.000,00 RSD

13) The Center for Theatre Research Novi Sad (project: Forum Theatre Play on the topic of peer violence): 800.000,00 RSD

14) Sombor Comics Lovers Club (project: 8th International Comics and Fantasy Festival in Sombor): 725.500,00 RSD

15) Initiative for equality, innovation and engagement IRIDA – IRIDA (project: This is Violence too): 650.000,00 RSD

The Culture for Democracy Project aims at supporting the independent cultural sector to con-tribute to improved social cohesion and tolerance at the local level. Supported by the Government of Switzerland, the first project phase lasts from October 2021 until February 2025, and is implemented by Heartefact Fond.

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The exhibition “There’s Room for Everyone”, part of the campaign of the same name, was officially opened on Thursday, September 4, in the lobby of Heartefact House and will be available to visitors until the end of September. Photographs of various marginalized communities in Serbia, staged inside an elevator, are accompanied by personal testimonies of participants, highlighting that diversity should not be a reason for exclusion, but rather an opportunity for solidarity.

Students from Serbia visited the Short Theatre Festival in Rome within the European project Fabulamundi – New Voices

As part of the final phase of the European project Fabulamundi – New Voices, in which Heartefact and partners from about ten countries have been participating over the past two and a half years, we organized a visit of students from Serbia to the partner festival Short Theatre in Rome. The visit took place from September 5 to 7, during the 20th anniversary edition of this renowned festival.

The project “Culture for Development” announces to the public the names of the projects that received support within the first call!

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.