Project description: The Art Boost support for Labris resulted in the Art Festival dedicated to women who love women, organized in collaboration with the organization Rainbow Ignite, in celebration of International Lesbian Visibility Day. As a continuation of Pride Week, when the LGBTI+ community gains greater visibility and media attention, the three-day “Women Who Love Women” (WLW) Art Festival held at Miljenko Dereta’s venue featured a variety of programs. The “WLW Poetry” program placed special emphasis on women who love women and are passionate about poetry, focusing on empowering them, connecting them, and showcasing their art through a public competition. Over sixty poems were submitted during the seven-day competition period. The “WLW Public Reading of Olga Dimitrijević’s People’s Drama” program offered individuals who are inexperienced in performing arts the chance to try out their skills, while the “WLW Bazaar” provided an opportunity for individuals involved in sustainable fashion to exhibit at the festival. “WLW Musical Improvisations” brought together amateur female musicians who created music on the spot, filling the festival space with melodies, while “WLW Self-Defense” was organized to empower all women to understand the power of the word “NO.” Finally, as part of the “WLW Short Films Program,” and with support from the Merlinka Festival, eight short films on relevant themes were screened. All activities were open to the general public, representatives of state institutions, and the LGBTI+ community, and the festival was accompanied by an extensive visibility campaign on social media, primarily focused on raising awareness about young LGBTI+ artists. By creating a platform for young people, free from judgment and unrealistic expectations, the festival empowered young LGBTI+ artists to explore and experiment with artistic expression. Through the display of queer art, valuable efforts were made to break down prevalent prejudices and stereotypes associated with the LGBTI+ community. The festival encouraged the connection between different segments of society, including the LGBTI+ community and the wider public, promoting diversity as a path toward a more imaginative, liberated, and just social order, as well as a more inclusive and open society.
Grant Amount: 897,875.12 RSD
