Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Officer to support the implementation of the Culture for Development project in North Macedonia

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Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Officer to support the implementation of the Culture for Development project in North Macedonia. Funded by the Swiss Agency for the Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Culture for Development project will be managed by the Heartefact Fund and is launching in January 2025 with a four-year duration.

The Culture for Development Project will be a key component of the Swiss Cooperation Programme in North Macedonia for 2021-2024 in the area of arts and culture, contributing to increasing citizen participation from all social groups in public affairs and election processes foster continuous political dialogue between citizens, civil society organizations, and public institutions.

Culture for Development Project focuses on the independent cultural sector, addresses challenges such as limited funding, organizational instability and insufficient collaboration, and seeks to unlock the full potential of cultural actors as drivers of democratic participation and social cohesion. It adopts a bottom-up approach, prioritizing and emphasizing inclusivity, local needs and socially engaged arts that foster human rights, cultural diversity and civil involvement, while offering citizens opportunities to actively engage with cultural content. The project will provide grants and capacity building programs to support independent cultural organizations, including advocacy efforts to address immediate and long-term challenges in the cultural sector.

Key responsibilities:

Manage day-to-day financial operations of the Culture for Development project, ensuring efficient financial and transparent financial management.
Prepare, process and manage financial documentation related to grant schemes, including supporting the assessment of grant proposals with focus on financial compliance.
Serve as the financial contact for grantees, providing instructions and support for financial management, reporting and compliance.
Process grantee financial documentation, verify compliance with reporting requirements and grant agreements, and assist grantees in maintaining accurate and compliant financial records.
Maintain organized and systematic filing of all financial documentation, ensuring compliance with project requirements.
Prepare and process documentation for the transfer of grant funds, ensuring accuracy and timely disbursement.
Monitor project expenditures to ensure alignment with approved budgets and provide insights into financial outcomes.
Support the preparation of documentation required for internal and external audits.
Collaborate closely with the Team Leader, Grant Officer, and Financial Strategic Advisor to align financial activities and reporting with overall project objectives.
Ensure financial processes are conducted transparently, accurately, and accountably.

Key Qualifications and Skills:

At least 5 years of relevant continuous work experience in finance, accounting and administrative functions.
Strong knowledge of financial rules, procedures, and regulations applicable to organizations operating under the legal framework of North Macedonia.
Experience with donor-funded projects will be considered an added advantage.
Demonstrated experience in procurement, preparation of financial reports, and budget variance analysis.
High level of integrity, strong result orientation, and drive for excellence, with the ability to take initiative.
Good communication and interpersonal skills.
Computer literacy, including proficiency in financial software and tools.
Proficiency in the English language (spoken and written).

Candidates are invited to submit their application (CV, short motivation letter and two names for reference) until 20 January 2025. Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected], with the subject “Application- Financial and Administrative Grant Officer “. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified of the results within 7 days of the application deadline.

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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.