First 10 Research Works Published as Part of the Kosovo-Serbia Research Visiting Program

Reconnection News

By December 2024, ten participants of the Kosovo-Serbia Research Visiting Program finalized their research projects. This program brought together five researchers from Serbia and five from Kosovo with the goal of fostering regional cooperation and creating a platform for individuals motivated to conduct research on the relations between two societies. The topics they explored include cultural heritage, dealing with the past, socially engaged art, nationalism in music and pop culture, and more.

In June 2024, as part of the program, the group from Serbia visited Pristina and Gračanica, while the group from Kosovo visited Belgrade. During these visits, the researchers engaged with over 20 organizations, university professors, activists, and artists. They had the opportunity to meet with academics, cultural workers, and activists such as Jelena Lončar, Idro Seferi, Jeta Xharra, Vladimir Arsenijević, Vesa Qena, Siniša Volarević, Mila Mihajlović, Enver Petrovci, Shpetim Selmani, and Visar Krusha.

The researchers also visited various organizations, including the Humanitarian Law Center, Youth Initiative for Human Rights, Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), Institute for Territorial Economic Development (InTER), National Youth Council of Serbia (KOMS), Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), European Policy Centre (CEP), BIRN Kosovo, Kosovo 2.0, Musine Kokalari Institute, Qendra Multimedia, Artpolis, Integra, Oral History Initiative, Foundation 17, Civil Rights Defenders, and others. These visits provided the groundwork for the participants’ research, which they developed and completed over the following months. Below, you will find the biographies of the program participants and links to their final research papers:

Nemanja Kidžin, Belgrade, Serbia

Nemanja Kidžin is a PhD candidate in psychology at the University of Belgrade and a research associate at the Institute of Psychology in Belgrade. He has primarily focused on the psychological impact of acting on empathy, personality, and dissociative experiences, although his research area is broader and includes the study of acting and theatre from various social science perspectives. In this project, Nemanja explored the work of theatre actors and organisations from Kosovo and Serbia that engage with socially relevant topics in their artistic work. Given the history of collaboration between societies from Serbia and Kosovo, Nemanja’s research focused on how this collaboration functions, what its goals are, and what its effects are. Artistic and non-governmental organisations from both communities achieve fruitful cooperation, which stands out against the political climate of neglect and isolation in which they operate. Joint projects they work on, regardless of political boundaries, fill a communication vacuum and have an emancipatory effect on society. The political and social context in which they create has a multifaceted function. On one hand, it represents a limiting factor and a barrier to greater achievements, while on the other, recognition by political structures stands out as one of the main goals of their work.

You can download his research HERE.

Albulena Mavraj, Pristina, Kosovo

Albulena Mavraj is a journalist with experience primarily in print media in Kosovo, focusing on economic and political issues. She graduated from the University of Hasan, Pristina with a degree in journalism and also completed her master’s studies in Mass Communication and Journalism. Albulena was awarded a scholarship from the European Union and participated in the ERASMUS program, attending studies for one semester in Norway at NLA College as part of the Global Journalism program. Her research aims to explore economic cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia, specifically examining export and import policies and statistics. Despite the ongoing political challenges faced by both Kosovo and Serbia on their path to peace, trade between the two countries remains the most significant in terms of both exports and imports. Albulena used a qualitative approach in her research, conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders from both Kosovo and Serbia.

Her work was published on BuletiniEkonomik, and you can download her research HERE.

Nevena Rudinac, Belgrade, Serbia

Nevena Rudinac is a researcher and activist with a particular interest in addressing the past. She works at the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia, where she contributes to the development of the Transitional Justice Program. She holds a master’s in psychology from the University of Belgrade and is currently pursuing a master’s in political science at the Faculty of Media and Communications. Her paper examines the contested collective memories surrounding the Kosovo War, particularly the differing narratives between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs. It highlights how collective memory is shaped by political interests and plays a crucial role in nation-building, with Kosovo Albanians framing the war as a liberation and Kosovo Serbs viewing it through the lens of victimhood. The paper discusses how memory activists challenge these dominant, often state-sponsored narratives by promoting marginalized voices, such as those of victims of sexualised violence and anti-war protesters. The research underscores the difficulties that activists face in changing the deeply entrenched memories of the war, as it is tied to personal and political identity.

You can download her research HERE.

Merita Hasani, Mitrovica, Kosovo

Merita Hasani is a legal professional from Mitrovica, with extensive experience as a legal assistant and researcher. She has a background in transitional justice related to the Kosovo-Serbia conflict and is an active feminist advocate working on women’s issues in the Balkans. Over the past five years, she has focused on promoting gender equality and social justice in her community through activism and volunteer work. Merita also completed an internship at the Humanitarian Law Center in Belgrade, gaining insights into human rights and legal advocacy. Her research explores the legal challenges faced by Kosovo Serbs, particularly concerning citizenship rights, and examines how these challenges impact both peace and conflict in the region. She aims to provide a deeper understanding of the human stories behind the legal issues, emphasizing the importance of addressing legal injustices while fostering dialogue and reconciliation in a historically complex region.

You can download her research HERE.

Katarina Mladenović, Belgrade, Serbia

Katarina Mladenović completed undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Dramatic Arts in Belgrade, in Management and Production in Radio, Theater, and Culture, and her master’s degree in Scene Architecture and Design at the Faculty of Technical Sciences in Novi Sad. She participated in the production of various cultural projects in Serbia, after which she continued her education in Indonesia, where in 2023, she completed her master’s degree in Anthropology at Gadjah Mada University, focusing her research on the anthropology of space and the heritage of cultural landscapes. In this project, her research focuses on the intersection of national identity, belonging, and the emotional landscapes of post-conflict societies, particularly in the context of Serbia and Kosovo. Katarina examines how historical narratives, collective trauma, and past conflicts perpetuate mistrust and obstruct reconciliation efforts. Central to her research is the exploration of identity crises, especially how fear of the ‘other’ shapes national identity and geopolitical relations between Serbia and Kosovo. She also explores the impact of cultural significance, territorial ties, and historical myths on national pride and collective memory, which profoundly influence the current relations between the two societies.

You can download her research HERE.

Butrint Avdyli, Peja, Kosovo

Butrint Avdyli is a journalist from Peja, Kosovo. He completed his studies at the University for Business and Technology in Prishtina and further pursued a master’s degree at AAB College. Since 2016, Butrint has been working for Telegrafi, the largest online media outlet in Kosovo, initially as a journalist and currently as an editor. Throughout his career, Butrint has conducted numerous interviews with notable personalities and has covered important topics related to culture, art, youth, as well as environmental and health issues. He is the recipient of two prestigious awards: the Best Video Story at the journalism competition organised by RYCO and Deutsche Welle in 2023, and the Media Award in Kosovo from the TrustBuilding Platform, organised by UNMIK, recognizing his outstanding commitment to journalism. In addition to his media work, Butrint contributed to RYCO in 2024 by producing several articles for the Hajde Platform. He has successfully secured two journalism grants awarded by CBM and USAID Kosovo. In his research, Butrint wanted to highlight the achievements of Albanian artists in the vibrant cultural scene of Belgrade, with a particular focus on the legacy of the actor Bekim Fehmiu. Central to this exploration were in-depth interviews with relevant cultural actors who were familiar with the legacies of post-Yugoslav movie and theatre scene.

His work was published on the Telegrafi portal. You can download his work HERE.

Anđelija Stanimirović, Niš, Serbia

Anđelija Stanimirović graduated in communications from the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Niš. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade, specializing in Elections and Electoral Campaigns. Her academic interests include studying various forms of propaganda, identity formation processes, and political ideologies. In her research, Anđelija explores the presence of nationalism in public discourse and popular music, as well as how identities are shaped by propaganda narratives and political campaigns, particularly among young people. Based on fieldwork and theoretical research, her work identifies numerous examples of harmful narratives that may contribute to fueling conflicts between the Serbian and Albanian communities in the territory of Kosovo. Young people represent a particularly vulnerable category for such narratives, as they are in a specific stage of life where attitudes and identities are being formed, often making them the primary participants in interethnic incidents.

You can download her research HERE.

Azem Deliu, Pristina, Kosovo

Azem Deliu has a bachelor’s in Albanian literature from University of Pristina and works as executive creative director at Horizon Plus. Azem was honored with the prestigious Distinguished Student Award for his first poetry volume, The Funeral of Rain (2013). His first novel, The Illegal Kisser (2016), became a national bestseller and has already been translated into English. Interest in the author is also growing in other countries. The French press has called him ‘a great author from a small country’ and ‘the new star of European literature’. His novel Notes of the Worm Smolinski was translated in Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Turkish and was shortlisted for the European Union Prize for Literature 2020. Azem aimed to analyze street art and chants of sports fan groups in Serbia to address messages from the other side, as well as messages from one’s own groups and group identities. Azem intended to use comparative literature techniques to compare intertextuality, interculturality, terrains of influence, and relations of the expressions with the past and present, as well as the projections some of them have for the future. These reflections are written in narrative essay form.

You can download his research HERE.

Uroš Popadić, Belgrade, Serbia

Uroš Popadić is a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Belgrade, with a focus on Peace and Security Studies, writing about the role of the EU in peacebuilding in the Western Balkans. At the faculty, he is working on a project at the Centre for Peace studies (the Balkan Peace Index), and at the Centre for International Security. He is the President of the Research Forum at the European Movement in Serbia, where he is also a part of a project of the European Institute of Peace on regional cooperation and reconciliation. Uroš has published two books at the European Center for Peace and Development, as well as several scientific articles. Uroš explored how culture and intercultural cooperation can contribute to reconciliation, through an analysis of peacebuilding efforts among cultural organisations and civil society organisations in Belgrade and Prishitna. His research was based on interviews which were founded on the theoretical ideas of social identity theory and the culture of peace. He investigated the understanding of ideas, narratives, identities, and concepts in the popular imagination, in the context of the search for a shared European identity. He found many commonalities between the two communities, with a shared interest in cooperation and understanding in the fields of art and culture. He also found that both communities have the same fears and worries of the political reconciliation struggle, with negative official rhetoric harming intersubjective peace.

You can download his research HERE.

Albina Kastrati, Podujevo, Kosovo

Albina Kastrati is a young journalist with a background in activism and Kosovo-Serbia relations. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Prishtina and has gained experience working at Gazeta 10 and interning with Deutsche Welle. Additionally, she completed an eight-month fellowship with Radio Free Europe and is currently with BIRN. At Balkan Transitional Justice, Albina’s investigative and creative writing skills contribute to a deeper public understanding of regional issues. Committed to journalistic integrity, her role involves synthesizing research, storytelling, and cultural insights to inform and empower audiences. Her work at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has further honed these competencies, underscoring her dedication to rigorous and enlightening journalism. Her investigative work with Heartefact focuses on the complex dynamics of integration and identity in the Balkans, particularly between the Albanian and Serbian communities. Through personal stories and experiences she explores the challenges of integrating while navigating cultural differences, historical tensions, and misunderstandings between assimilation and integration.

You can download her research HERE.

This program was carried out as part of the project “Enhancing Cross-Border Cooperation and Civic Engagement in the Western Balkans,” which Heartefact implements with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).

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On Thursday, November 27, at Heartefact House in Belgrade, the play “Art&Money” will have its premiere. Written and directed by Swedish artist Freja Hallberg, the play features actresses Vanja Ejdus and Milica Stefanović. It tells the story of an impossible love affair between art and capital – a performance about loneliness and the quiet cruelty of needing something you cannot live with.

We are looking for the Regional Communication Lead!

As Heartefact enters a new phase of development and digital transformation, we are seeking a person who will help us connect diverse layers into a coherent, living communication system that supports our work and community across the region.

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Assistant!

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Assistant to support the implementation of the Culture for Development project in North Macedonia. The project is supported the Government of Switzerland and is implemented by Heartefact Fund from the end of 2024 to the end of 2028.

Sarajevo Premiere of the Play “They Are All Gone” Held at SARTR

Following its Belgrade premiere in May this year, the Sarajevo premiere of the play “They Are All Gone” by Doruntina Basha, directed by Andrej Nosov, was held on November 11 at the Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR. The production is part of the official program marking the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, through which SARTR and its partner organizations highlight the importance of remembrance culture and artistic testimony. Additional performances are scheduled for November 12 and 13.

Playground Workshop for the Development of the Play “Don’t Run Hamlet” by Francesca Garolla Held at Heartefact House

The Playground workshop for the development of a dramatic text was held in Belgrade, at Heartefact House, from November 3 to November 9, 2025. The workshop was led by actress and professor of acting Marija Milenković, with director Patrik Lazić accompanying and facilitating the process. The workshop focused on developing the new play by Italian playwright Francesca Garolla.

Playground Workshop for the Development of the Play “…lead us not into temptation…” by Mark Oltean Held at Heartefact House

The Playground workshop for the development of a new play was held in Belgrade, at Heartefact House, from October 27 to November 2, 2025. The workshop was led by theatre director and author Patrik Lazić, and it focused on the development of a play-in-progress by the young Hungarian-Romanian playwright Mark Oltean.

Open Call: Internship at Heartefact Institute

Heartefact invites young, ambitious, and curious individuals to apply for a 3–6 month paid internship within our Institute team – a space where knowledge, research, and regional cooperation come together to shape new ways of understanding the world we live in.

In Belgrade, we brought together activists from Kosovo during a four-day visit dedicated to women’s rights!

From October 23 to 26, 2025, Heartefact organized the Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, held in Belgrade. The program gathered six participants from Kosovo – activists, cultural workers, and researchers – for a four-day visit dedicated to women’s rights, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual violence. Throughout their stay, participants met with leading feminist and human rights organizations from Belgrade.

12th Bašta Fest: All we need — connection, dialogue, and art!

The 12th Bašta Fest was held in Bajina Bašta, at the Vlaja Cultural Center, where 27 short films from 17 countries were screened over the course of three days. The festival was opened by Nevena Nerandžić, and the audience enjoyed a diverse film and educational program, as well as a stage-cleaning performance that symbolically marked a new beginning.

Strengthening the Independent Cultural Scene – the public discussion held in Skopje

On October 20, 2025, the public discussion “Strengthening the Independent Cultural Scene: Funding, Spaces, and Advocacy” took place at the Drama Theatre in Skopje. Diverse representatives of the independent cultural scene, youth workers and artists highlighted the need for urgent changes in North Macedonia’s cultural policy.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: ADVOCACY GRANTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

The Culture for Development is announcing a Call for Advocacy Grants Scheme to empower independent cultural organizations in the Republic of North Macedonia to address urgent challenges and advocate for long-term, systemic improvements in the cultural sector. The purpose of this call is to support initiatives that strengthen dialogue with decision-makers, mobilize communities, and foster cross-sector collaboration, thereby improving operational conditions and financial sustainability of the independent cultural scene.

Open Application Call for Kosovo–Serbia Bridge Fellowship Program

Heartefact is pleased to announce an ongoing open call for the Kosovo-Serbia Bridge Fellowship Program – a cross-border initiative that supports young professionals, researchers, and creatives from Kosovo and Serbia who are eager to build new and constructive narratives about the relations between the two societies. Unlike previous editions, this year’s call will remain open year-round. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and fellows will be selected according to the quality, originality, and potential impact of their proposed research and action plans.

Young People from Serbia Explore Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Novi Pazar through the Regional VIBE Program

From October 9 to 11, 2025, Heartefact organized a three-day program dedicated to young people from Serbia as part of the regional initiative VIBE – Connecting Young People. The journey included visits to Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Novi Pazar, with the aim of helping young participants explore different parts of the country — their cultural heritage, social and political context.

Workshop “Personal Story as the Inspiration for a Theatre Play” Held at Heartefact House

From September 26 to 29, 2025, the playwriting workshop “Personal Story as the Inspiration for a Theatre Play” was held at Heartefact House in Belgrade, marking the final activity of the two-year project “Fabulamundi – New Voices.”

Pančevo Film Festival: Brave Cinematic Voices Driving Social Change

As part of the “Culture for Democracy” project, supported by the Government of Switzerland, the Pančevo Film Festival was officially opened last week in Pančevo. The ninth edition of the festival reaffirmed PAFF’s reputation as a platform for auteur cinema, social dialogue, and the promotion of young artistic voices.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC PROJECTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

The Culture for Development project is announcing the Second Call for the Artistic Grant Scheme for project proposals to allocate grants for the implementation of artistic and cultural projects in the Republic of North Macedonia. The objective of this call is to support the development and implementation of socially relevant and culturally enriching contemporary artistic projects that promote diversity in artistic practices and expressions, address critical social issues, and foster community development.

Culture for Democracy: Supported Projects within the Boost Grants Call

As part of the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, Heartefact launched the Boost Grants call on June 9, 2025, to support established cultural and artistic organizations in Serbia. The goal of this call was to strengthen the organizational capacities and resilience of independent cultural actors through long-term support, enhanced strategic development, and improved financial sustainability.

Radical Optimism from a Kosovar Hill — an original text by director Tara Manić about Dua Lipa’s concert in Pristina

We are publishing the original text “Radical Optimism from a Kosovar Hill” by director Tara Manić, first released on September 4 in Nedeljnik. Tara wrote the text upon her return from Pristina, where, as part of our Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, she attended a concert of today’s major pop star — Dua Lipa. We are sharing the text in full.

The final networking event of the project Voices from the margins was held

From 4 to 6 September 2025, the final networking event of the Voices from the margins project took place in Belgrade. During the three-day visit to Belgrade, the programme participants—young activists from all over Serbia—had the opportunity to tour several relevant non-governmental organizations, and meet other activists.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

The Culture for Development project is announcing the second Call for Institutional Grants Scheme to support well-established cultural organizations in the Republic of North Macedonia. The objective of this call is to strengthen the organizational and financial capacities of these organizations by providing financial resources, infrastructural support and capacity building activities. This intervention seeks to enhance organizational stability, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience within the cultural sector.

The First Sarajevo Theatre Showcase Presented Numerous Young Artists to the Regional and European Theatre Public

From September 12 to 15, Sarajevo hosted the first edition of the Sarajevo Theatre Showcase, an annual professional event that provides a significant development platform for theatre professionals from Southeast Europe. The Showcase is organized by cultural organizations and theatres from five countries: Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR, Heartefact from Serbia, Ulysses Theatre from Croatia, Binario Vivo from Italy, Para Film&Theatre from Norway, and Realstage from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Exhibition of Personal Stories from Marginalized Communities “There’s Room for Everyone” Opened at Heartefact House

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.