Queer Art Showcase: Eight Stories by Regional Artists Taking Shape

Queer Art Academy News

On 3 September, Hartefakt House hosted the regional Queer Art Showcase, where eight artists from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and North Macedonia presented work-in-progress projects they had been developing over the previous six months as part of the Queer Art Academy. Throughout the programme, they worked on their ideas with the support of mentors Stevan Marić, film editor; Zorana Đaković Miniti, programme editor at the Belgrade Cultural Centre; Mojca Jug, programme editor at the Mladi Levi Festival in Ljubljana; Zvonimir Dobrović, founder of Queer Zagreb Festival; and theatre director Patrik Lazić. The showcase offered an opportunity to share these works with audiences from across the region and Europe.

Some of the projects draw on personal experiences, placing them within a broader context that can resonate with others and, in turn, inspire them. Fragments of our Lives by Erik Srebrov from Skopje uses collage, photography and stop-motion animation to capture small but meaningful details of queer life. Starting from individual fragments, the work opens up questions about how the experiences of a community can be documented and preserved.

Pavle Hrnčić from Novi Sad also explores the documentation and archiving of queer life and personal experience in his documentary I have something to tell you. At its centre is his relationship with his grandfather, whom he decides to come out to. Archival VHS footage is interwoven with contemporary material, connecting experiences of growing up across different periods with the present, in which Pavle documents both the process of making the decision and the moment of coming out itself.

While Pavle approaches the past through images, Natalija Enkarna from Banja Luka explores it through text. In I Live Here Too, she is developing a digital collection of stories and poems about previously undocumented queer and trans experiences, language, stories and places. Over time, the collection becomes both an archive and a living body of work that continues to grow and change. The Chosen Archive by Ilja Simin from Novi Sad is a magazine project documenting contemporary queer art in the region.

Nikola Kalajdžić from Novi Sad is developing the poetry performance A Little Place Under the Stars, based on readings of his own poetry and works by other authors, while also inviting participants to create, open up, share and connect their inner worlds. The experiences and positions of marginalised groups and individuals are an important part of this process. In his project A Printer’s Music, Uroš Đorović from Pančevo explores how seemingly ordinary objects we use every day, such as office supplies, can become sources of inspiration and tools for artistic creation.

Muhamed-Adem Merdžanić from Sarajevo’s performance Svemajkino/Mother’s pays tribute to his relationship with his mother, exploring intimacy alongside tradition, rituals and heritage in relation to queer existence and identity. In his play Stains, Arman Fatić from Sarajevo explores trans identity, distance, self-preservation and the creation of a safe space. Actresses Dragana Varagić and Aleksandra Arizanović presented part of the story through a reading of the text.

Different in form, the projects were presented while still finding their final shape, giving local, regional and international cultural practitioners an opportunity to encounter the work, while also creating space for the artists to connect and exchange experiences with people whose knowledge and expertise can help them bring out the best in their projects. Following the presentations, the audience had a chance to meet the artists more closely during a speed dating session. The day concluded with a performance Poša, produced with support from the Culture for Democracy project and included this year in the official programme of Belgrade Pride Week.

Photo: Jakov Simović

The project Queer Art Academy – Building Safe Artistic Futures in the Western Balkans, implemented by Heartefact, is supported through the programme Working Safe: Socio-economic Inclusion of the LGBTQI+ Community in the Western Balkans and Türkiye, implemented by ERA – LGBTI Equal Rights Association for the Western Balkans and Türkiye, in partnership with Queer Montenegro, Tuzla Open Center (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Open Mind Spectrum Albania, Center for Social Group Development (Kosovo), Coalition Margins (North Macedonia), Izađi (Serbia), and Kaos GL (Türkiye). This project is funded by the European Union.

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Interaction

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Queer Art Showcase: Eight Stories by Regional Artists Taking Shape

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No Apologies! Balkan Tour: What if Kurt Cobain had been a trans woman?

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Three cultural advocacy projects selected for support through the Advocacy Grants Scheme

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Norwegian Premiere of “They are All Gone” at the International Ibsen Scope Festival

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The launch of the Queer Art Academy program in Belgrade

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Open Call for Playwrights: Playground for Emerging Playwrights – Kosovo

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Extended Application Deadline for Queer Art Academy Program

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Director Tara Mitrović at the Playground Residency in London

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Audience Development Workshop was held in Veles

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Human Rights Leadership Program Seminar Was Held

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Call for Project Proposals: Grants for the Implementation of Artistic Projects by Young and/or Emerging Artists (My First Time)

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Call for Project Proposals: Artistic Grants for the Implementation of Cultural and Artistic Projects

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Heartefact’s Kosovo-Serbia Visiting Program in Pristina from December 3 to 6

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Heartefact’s Play “They Are All Gone” Directed by Andrej Nosov Premieres in New York

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Premiere of the play “Art&Money” at Heartefact House

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Premiere of the play “Art&Money” by Swedish director Freja Hallberg at Heartefact House

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

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

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Open Call: Internship at Heartefact Institute

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

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

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Open Application Call for Kosovo–Serbia Bridge Fellowship Program

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

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

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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

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

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

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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.