First Seminar for Youth from Serbia Held as Part of the Regional VIBE Program

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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.

Throughout the seminar, participants explored topics related to history, activism, human rights, and social responsibility through lectures, discussions, and interactive workshops. The program also included a visit to the exhibition The Labyrinth of the 90s, guided by historians Dubravka Stojanović and Ana Radaković, who led the group through key events and symbols of the 1990s in the former Yugoslavia—elements that continue to shape the Western Balkans today.

A special segment of the program was dedicated to a discussion on the role of youth in social change, led by Sofija Todorović, a longtime activist and Director of the Youth Initiative for Human Rights in Serbia. Through an open conversation, participants were encouraged to reflect on responsibility, challenges, and the potential of young people as drivers of positive change in their communities.

Sofija Todorović emphasized that the group, thanks to their proactive approach, gained direct insight into social issues they care deeply about. She highlighted the importance of the strong local perspective that emerged throughout the workshop, driven by their willingness to engage in solving local community problems.

“Sharing personal experiences and interests helped these young people better understand the issues their peers face. Through the discussion, they challenged their own views to ensure that their future initiatives are effective,” Todorović said after the seminar.

As part of the educational section of the seminar, participants also took part in workshops on human rights and discrimination. These sessions helped them analyze mechanisms for protecting rights, recognize ways to become engaged in their communities, and identify both external and internalized forms of discrimination, as well as moments when they themselves may participate in discriminatory thinking or behavior.

This gathering marked the first phase of the VIBE program, which will continue throughout 2025 with activities and meetings in Novi Sad, Novi Pazar, Tirana, Podgorica, and Belgrade. These events will provide opportunities for young people from Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and develop joint initiatives that promote cooperation.

The “Vibe – Connecting Young People” project is implemented by Juventas (Montenegro) in partnership with Arsis (Albania) and Hartefakt (Serbia), with financial support from the BOOST program, led by the European Association for Local Democracy – ALDA and the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement). The project aims to strengthen regional cooperation among youth from Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania by promoting cultural diversity, European values, and mutual understanding through exchanges, educational, and cultural activities.

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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.