OPENING OF THE “EMBRACE” EXHIBITION

News Reconnection 2.0

On Thursday, 23 February 2023 at 7 p.m, Heartefact will host the opening of the exhibition Embrace by the Prishtina-based artist Fidan Bejtullahu in the Endžio HAB gallery at Dobračina Street 4. The exhibition is consisted of Fidan’s artistic work created during his residence in Belgrade organized by Heartefact.

Talking about his stay in Belgrade, the places that inspired his works, and his collaboration with Heartefact, Fidan stated: “Upon arriving in Belgrade, I quickly fell in love with the city, its architecture, early morning walks at Kalemegdan, and the trees that were always an inspiration for my paintings. My room with high ceilings and large windows emitted a special energy and contributed to an interesting change of environment that filled me with optimism throughout my stay. It’s sometimes hard to describe all of this, but it always made me look forward to returning to my room and to the time when I had to paint. The entire residency experience was made even better by the opportunity to watch theater performances in the other part of the Heartefact House. The opportunity to paint and create in such a specific environment is a wonderful experience that I would recommend to everyone.”

Fidan Bejtullahu graduated from the Academy of Arts in Pristina, and he is coming to Belgrade immediately after a successful solo exhibition at the Raifaizen Gallery in Pristina. In his works, the author plays with dense fog that penetrates the environment and creates beauty even in gloomy and difficult tones and landscapes. Through these works, he conveys the message that it is important to accept both bad and good days. “Surreal apocalypses can be seen as beautiful, devastating, ambiguous, or neutral, depending on the perspective and faith they promote. An obscure labyrinth can be discovered based on our experiences, where the living impulses of life are depicted under an analytical attitude,” said Fidan Bejtullahu.

The exhibition is held as part of the Reconnection 2.0 project implemented by the Heartefact Fund and Qendra Multimedia with a focus on artistic exchange between Belgrade and Pristina, developing a culture of dialogue, and improving communication between the two societies. Artists Marija Kalabić, Anja Drljević, and Dhurata Hoti have previously participated in the program, and the project is supported by the European Union Office in Kosovo.

The exhibition will be open from February 23rd to 27th, and admission is free for all interested visitors from 4 PM to 8 PM.

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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.