What’s Cooking in the Western Balkans? Heartefact at the Gen Z Conference in Brussels

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Heartefact participated in the Gen Z Kitchen Festival, a one-day conference organized by the Open Society Foundations for Western Balkans in Brussels on March 4, bringing together young people from Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and across the Western Balkans to explore their perspectives on European integration, the EU enlargement process, and the future of democracy in the region. The festival’s name hinted at a space for conversation and exchange, where ideas shaping the next generation could come to the table.

The conference highlighted the first region-wide Gen Z survey, conducted among 6,000 young people aged 16–28. Findings revealed that youth in the Western Balkans value democracy and elections, but their trust in institutions is conditional and performance-based. Panels and discussions explored how Gen Z engages with politics, the challenges facing democratic legitimacy, and how young voices can influence both national and European decision-making.

Heartefact contributed to the dialogue through a performance of the play “Our Son”, which unfolds in a family kitchen and explores intergenerational conflict, misunderstanding, and coming out, set in a Western Balkan context. The performance resonated with participants, showing how arts and storytelling can illuminate social and democratic issues, spark conversation, and foster empathy.

The conference also featured Gen Z parliament members and European policymakers, including MEP Lukas Sieper, who engaged with youth representatives on how Gen Z perspectives will inform policies on EU enlargement and integration. Researchers, journalists, and policy assistants shared insights on the coexistence of hope and distrust among young people, emphasizing the importance of centering youth voices in decision-making.

Through its participation in the Gen Z Kitchen Festival, Heartefact reaffirmed its commitment to using arts and culture as a platform for civic dialogue, empowering youth to share their concerns, challenge norms, and imagine a future rooted in democratic principles and inclusive European values.

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No Apologies! in Belgrade: Heartefact and Atelje 212 present a performance about memory, music and queer histories

This June 9, Heartefact and Atelje 212 present No Apologies! in Belgrade, bringing the internationally acclaimed performance by Emma Frankland to local audiences. The Belgrade presentation will take place within the programme of Mucijevi dani, adding a contemporary performance work to this year’s festival programme.

No Apologies! in Skopje: a gathering of the queer communityaround performance, visibility and alternative archives

This June, Heartefact brings No Apologies! to Skopje, presenting the internationally acclaimed performance by Emma Frankland as part of the No Apologies! Balkan tour.

Open call for the residency programme in kutná hora, Czechia

The residency will take place in September 2026 and will culminate in a presentation of short works during the international Divadelní festival Kutná Hora (Kutná Hora Performing Arts Festival).

Call for Applications for Job Shadowing Program

Job shadowing aims to build capacities of cultural and artistic professionals in Serbia by providing grants for on-the-job training and learning from practice. This scheme is open to all cultural and artistic sectors, approaches, and work modalities.

Serbian journalists visit Pristina: exchange and strengthening of regional cooperation

Over the course of four days, journalists from Serbia had the opportunity to get to know Kosovo’s media landscape, speak with colleagues from different media, and gain broader insight into the social and political context in which media in Kosovo operate.

No Apologies! comes to Prishtina: Emma Frankland’s acclaimed queer performance arrives at Termokiss

This June, Heartefact brings No Apologies! to Prishtina, presenting the internationally acclaimed performance by Emma Frankland at Termokiss on June 3.

Heartefact brings No Apologies! to the Balkans — a live collision of music, memory and performance

At its centre is a direct and uncompromising focus on identity through queer and trans experience. The piece uses Nirvana’s 1993 MTV Unplugged concert as a starting point, not as nostalgia but as material to be broken apart and reassembled into something immediate.

South-East Satellite BEYOND Brings Europe and the Western Balkans Together in Skopje

Following the Culture for Development Forum held on 13–14 May, the dialogue on the future of independent culture continued in Skopje with the South-East Satellite BEYOND conference.

European and Regional Cultural Actors Gathered in Skopje

For two days, on May 13 and 14, Skopje became a meeting point for artists, cultural workers, activists, and international cultural networks from North Macedonia, the region, and across Europe through the Culture for Development Forum, organized by Heartefact in collaboration with Clubture, Kooperativa, A25 Cultural Foundation, and Euradia.

A Triumph for Heartefact in Rijeka

Heartefact performed How I Learned to Drive on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as part of the International Small Scenes Festival in Rijeka, where the production won awards in five categories: Best Director (Tara Manić), Best Actor (Svetozar Cvetković), Best Young Actress (Marta Bogosavljević), Best Overall Performance, and the Audience Award.

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

Heartefact House presented “They are All Gone” in Norway for the first time as part of the two-day international Ibsen Scope festival in Skien, Henrik Ibsen’s hometown. On May 7, audiences followed Sadika’s story in two performances, a tale of memory, forgetting, loss, and hope.

The launch of the Queer Art Academy program in Belgrade

The first segment of the Queer Art Academy program took place from April 14 to 19, 2026, in Belgrade, at Hartefakt House, marking the beginning of a multi-month process.

Dialogue and Exchange: Building a shared foundation for a stronger voice of the Independent cultural scene

This spring, Skopje will host a vital gathering through the Culture for Development Forum and BEYOND: South-East Satellite, organized by Heartefactand the leading European cultural network, Culture Action Europe (CAE).

New Encounters in Pristina: Launch of the New Generation of the Kosovo–Serbia Fellowship Program

On April 1, the new generation of participants in the Kosovo–Serbia Fellowship Program within the broader Reconnection program gathered in Priština for a kick-off event.

Building Bridges Through Media: The Kosovo-Serbia Visiting Program

Over the course of four days, journalists from Kosovo met with colleagues from various Serbian media outlets, ranging from established newsrooms to independent platforms.

Heartefact Returns to the Milan Triennale – “How I Learned to Drive” on Stage for Italian Audiences

Hartefakt once again had the opportunity to present itself to the Italian audience within the Triennale di Milano, performing the play How I Learned to Drive in four showings: March 28 at 6 PM and 9 PM, and March 29 at 6 PM and 9 PM.

Introducing the New Cohort: Five Kosovo-Serbia Research Fellows Selected

As part of the new generation of the Kosovo-Serbia Fellowship Program, Heartefact has selected five fellows who will explore new and constructive narratives in the region. This cycle focuses on topics such as women’s rights, transitional justice, media narratives, social movements, and mental health.

Beyond Borders: Join Us in Shaping the Future of Independent Culture in Skopje 2026

Skopje is set to become a vibrant hub for culture dialogue this spring.

Open Call for Playwrights: Playground for Emerging Playwrights – Kosovo

Playground for Emerging Playwrights is a mentorship-driven development program dedicated to supporting talented Albanian-language playwrights from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Albania.

The Regional VIBE Program Continues to Connect Young People: Visits in Podgorica, Belgrade, and Tirana

In February, young people from across the region have had the opportunity to take part in study visits to Podgorica, Belgrade, and Tirana through the regional program VIBE – Connecting Young People.

“Quiet Hours from Two to Six” – A New Play on the Heartefact House Repertoire

The play “Quiet Hours from Two to Six”, an authorial project by Tara Mitrović and Sofija Dimitrijević, premiered on March 5 at Heartefact House.

Culture for Democracy: Supported Projects within the Call for Cultural and Artistic Project Implementation in Serbia

Within the second call of the Kultura za demokratiju – Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, 18 projects have been selected to receive support through this grant line, with a total value of 195,000 euros (23,000,000 dinars).

Call for Concept Notes: BOOST GRANTS (Republic of North Macedonia)

The Culture for Development project is launching the Boost Grants Scheme Call for project proposals to support cultural and artistic civil society organizations in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Extended Application Deadline for Queer Art Academy Program

Heartefact invites emerging queer artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia to apply for the regional program Queer Art Academy.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: GRANTS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING

The Culture for Development project has launched the Job Shadowing Scheme Call for project proposals to allocate grants for the implementation of a capacity-building initiative that offers structured knowledge transfer. The objective of this call is to build the capacities of cultural and artistic professionals and organizations in the Republic of North Macedonia by offering them hands-on, on-the-job training opportunities through learning from practice.

Director Tara Mitrović at the Playground Residency in London

Our young director Tara Mitrović is currently in London, where she is taking part in a seven-day residency exploring a new original work she developed in collaboration with dramaturg and writer Sofija Dimitrijević.

Audience Development Workshop was held in Veles

On 18–19 December 2025, cultural workers from the independent scene in North Macedonia gathered in Veles for an intensive two-day Audience Development Workshop.

Human Rights Leadership Program Seminar Was Held

From December 11 to 15, 2025, Heartefact, in partnership with the Slovenian 8th of March Institute, organized a seminar within the Human Rights Leadership Program. The goal of the seminar was to empower 22 activists from different parts of Serbia, selected through a public call to participate in this one-year program.

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

As part of the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, Heartefact announces a call aimed at encouraging and supporting the artistic production of young and/or emerging artists in Serbia by enabling them to develop and publicly present their first independent or early artistic productions, initiatives, and/or works.

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

As part of the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, Heartefact is announcing a call for proposals for the implementation of cultural and artistic projects that contribute to the development of society, local communities, and contemporary cultural-artistic practices of the independent sector in Serbia.

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

From 3rd-6th of December 2025, Heartefact organized the Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, held in Pristina, Kosovo. The program brought together participants from Serbia – psychologists, psychotherapists, artists, political science students, and activists – for a four-day visit focused on regional cooperation in the context of women’s rights, minority rights, and transitional justice.

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

After its Belgrade premiere in May this year at the Heartefact House and its Sarajevo premiere in November at the Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR, the play “They Are All Gone”, written by Doruntina Basha and directed by Andrej Nosov, had its New York premiere from December 4 to 7, 2025 — with as many as five performances.

OPEN CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: Audience Development Workshop

Heartefact invites cultural workers from the independent scene from North Macedonia to apply for a two-day workshop focused on practical audience development skills. This activity is supported by the Culture for Development project of the Government of Switzerland and is implemented by Heartefact Fund.

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

On Thursday, November 27, the play “Art&Money” premiered at Heartefact House in Belgrade. Written and directed by Swedish artist Freja Hallberg, and performed by actresses Vanja Ejdus and Milica Stefanović, the play tells the story of an impossible love affair between art and capital—of loneliness and the quiet cruelty of needing something you cannot live with.

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

On Thursday, November 27, at Heartefact House in Belgrade, the play “Art&Money” will have its premiere. Written and directed by Swedish artist Freja Hallberg, the play features actresses Vanja Ejdus and Milica Stefanović. It tells the story of an impossible love affair between art and capital – a performance about loneliness and the quiet cruelty of needing something you cannot live with.

We are looking for the Regional Communication Lead!

As Heartefact enters a new phase of development and digital transformation, we are seeking a person who will help us connect diverse layers into a coherent, living communication system that supports our work and community across the region.

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Assistant!

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Financial and Administrative Grant Assistant to support the implementation of the Culture for Development project in North Macedonia. The project is supported the Government of Switzerland and is implemented by Heartefact Fund from the end of 2024 to the end of 2028.

Sarajevo Premiere of the Play “They Are All Gone” Held at SARTR

Following its Belgrade premiere in May this year, the Sarajevo premiere of the play “They Are All Gone” by Doruntina Basha, directed by Andrej Nosov, was held on November 11 at the Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR. The production is part of the official program marking the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica, through which SARTR and its partner organizations highlight the importance of remembrance culture and artistic testimony. Additional performances are scheduled for November 12 and 13.

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

The Playground workshop for the development of a dramatic text was held in Belgrade, at Heartefact House, from November 3 to November 9, 2025. The workshop was led by actress and professor of acting Marija Milenković, with director Patrik Lazić accompanying and facilitating the process. The workshop focused on developing the new play by Italian playwright Francesca Garolla.

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

The Playground workshop for the development of a new play was held in Belgrade, at Heartefact House, from October 27 to November 2, 2025. The workshop was led by theatre director and author Patrik Lazić, and it focused on the development of a play-in-progress by the young Hungarian-Romanian playwright Mark Oltean.

Open Call: Internship at Heartefact Institute

Heartefact invites young, ambitious, and curious individuals to apply for a 3–6 month paid internship within our Institute team – a space where knowledge, research, and regional cooperation come together to shape new ways of understanding the world we live in.

In Belgrade, we brought together activists from Kosovo during a four-day visit dedicated to women’s rights!

From October 23 to 26, 2025, Heartefact organized the Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, held in Belgrade. The program gathered six participants from Kosovo – activists, cultural workers, and researchers – for a four-day visit dedicated to women’s rights, gender equality, and the prevention of sexual violence. Throughout their stay, participants met with leading feminist and human rights organizations from Belgrade.

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

The 12th Bašta Fest was held in Bajina Bašta, at the Vlaja Cultural Center, where 27 short films from 17 countries were screened over the course of three days. The festival was opened by Nevena Nerandžić, and the audience enjoyed a diverse film and educational program, as well as a stage-cleaning performance that symbolically marked a new beginning.

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

On October 20, 2025, the public discussion “Strengthening the Independent Cultural Scene: Funding, Spaces, and Advocacy” took place at the Drama Theatre in Skopje. Diverse representatives of the independent cultural scene, youth workers and artists highlighted the need for urgent changes in North Macedonia’s cultural policy.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: ADVOCACY GRANTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

The Culture for Development is announcing a Call for Advocacy Grants Scheme to empower independent cultural organizations in the Republic of North Macedonia to address urgent challenges and advocate for long-term, systemic improvements in the cultural sector. The purpose of this call is to support initiatives that strengthen dialogue with decision-makers, mobilize communities, and foster cross-sector collaboration, thereby improving operational conditions and financial sustainability of the independent cultural scene.

Open Application Call for Kosovo–Serbia Bridge Fellowship Program

Heartefact is pleased to announce an ongoing open call for the Kosovo-Serbia Bridge Fellowship Program – a cross-border initiative that supports young professionals, researchers, and creatives from Kosovo and Serbia who are eager to build new and constructive narratives about the relations between the two societies. Unlike previous editions, this year’s call will remain open year-round. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and fellows will be selected according to the quality, originality, and potential impact of their proposed research and action plans.

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

From October 9 to 11, 2025, Heartefact organized a three-day program dedicated to young people from Serbia as part of the regional initiative VIBE – Connecting Young People. The journey included visits to Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Novi Pazar, with the aim of helping young participants explore different parts of the country — their cultural heritage, social and political context.

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

From September 26 to 29, 2025, the playwriting workshop “Personal Story as the Inspiration for a Theatre Play” was held at Heartefact House in Belgrade, marking the final activity of the two-year project “Fabulamundi – New Voices.”

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

As part of the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, Heartefact launched the Boost Grants call on June 9, 2025, to support established cultural and artistic organizations in Serbia. The goal of this call was to strengthen the organizational capacities and resilience of independent cultural actors through long-term support, enhanced strategic development, and improved financial sustainability.

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

We are publishing the original text “Radical Optimism from a Kosovar Hill” by director Tara Manić, first released on September 4 in Nedeljnik. Tara wrote the text upon her return from Pristina, where, as part of our Kosovo–Serbia Visiting Program, she attended a concert of today’s major pop star — Dua Lipa. We are sharing the text in full.

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

From 4 to 6 September 2025, the final networking event of the Voices from the margins project took place in Belgrade. During the three-day visit to Belgrade, the programme participants—young activists from all over Serbia—had the opportunity to tour several relevant non-governmental organizations, and meet other activists.

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.

Andrej Nosov Wins the “Ljubomir Muci Draškić” Award for Directing the Play “They Are All Gone”

The acting jury of Atelje 212, which awards the biennial prize for best directing in Belgrade—named the “Ljubomir Muci Draškić” award and uniquely characterized by the motto “Actors to their Director”—has decided to grant the 2025 award to director ANDREJ NOSOV for the play “They Are All Gone”, produced by Heartefact.

Tenth Award for the Play “How I Learned to Drive” at the 52nd INFANT Festival

At the 52nd International Festival of Alternative and New Theatre (INFANT), held from June 15 to 19 in Novi Sad, the jury—composed of Vesna Radovanović (dramaturge), Vanja Magić (set designer), and Nikolina Đukanović (dramaturge)—had the opportunity to watch six plays selected by the festival’s curator, director Aleksandar Popovski. After viewing the performances, the jury unanimously decided to award our play How I Learned to Drive, directed by Tara Manić, the prize for Best Concept!

With the panel “Silence Is Not Golden,” we launched a campaign that encourages to speak up!

Organized by Heartefact, the panel titled Silence Is Not Golden marked the launch of a campaign of the same name, aimed at empowering individuals to recognize, understand, and respond to violence — rather than remain silent.

Public Reading of Last Year’s HF Competition Winning Play Held at Heartefact House

Last night, Heartefact House hosted a public reading of the play “Throw Her, Putin, and Be Precise” by Mirza Skenderagić, which was selected as the best play by the jury of last year’s Heartefact regional Competition for the Best Contemporary Engaged Full-Length Play. This is not Skenderagić’s first win at the Heartefact competition — his play “Wake Me Up When It’s Over” won the award in 2016.

Call for Project Proposals – Boost Grants

Within the framework of the Culture for Democracy (CfD) project, Heartefact is launching a call for proposals aimed at strengthening the organizational, programmatic, and financial capacities of independent cultural actors in Serbia through multi-annual support.

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS: INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT GRANTS (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA)

The Culture for Development project is announcing the 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.

Open call for youth participation in the regional VIBE project

Heartefact announces an open call for young people from Serbia to participate in the regional VIBE project, implemented in cooperation with Arsis from Albania and Juventas from Montenegro. Fill out the application form by June 6, 2025.

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 Artistic Grant Scheme Call 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.

Voices from the Margins – Seminar for Human Rights Defenders in Serbia Held

From April 24 to 27, 2025, the first seminar of the “Voices from the Margins” program was held in Ub, Serbia. The program aims to empower emerging human rights defenders from local communities across the country. The seminar brought together eleven participants from various cities and communities who, over an intensive four-day program, had the opportunity to strengthen their capacities for human rights work through lectures, workshops, and discussions.

Open Call: Beldocs Festival (Kosovo-Serbia Visiting Program)

Heartefact invites young people from Kosovo to apply for a four-day visit to Beldocs – the International Documentary Film Festival taking place in Belgrade. The visit will be organized from May 22 to May 25, 2025 (Thursday to Sunday), during the festival’s official dates of May 21 to May 27 2025.

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

Jana Milivojević at the residency in France as part of the Playground project

Our young author Jana Milivojević stayed in France, in Pont-a-Mousson, where during the one-week residency she developed and publicly presented her text “We don’t have a camper, and even if we did, we wouldn’t tell you”.

A seminar was held for the new generation of the Human Rights Leadership program

Heartefact, in partnership with the Slovenian 8th of March Institute, from March 27 to 30, 2025, organized a seminar within the project Human Rights Leadership. The goal of the seminar was to empower 18 activists from different parts of Serbia who were selected through a public call to participate in this one-year program.

Nađa Mišković at the residency in Romania as part of the Playground project

Our young playwright Nađa Mišković spent last week in Romania, in Targu Mures, where during her residency at Teatrul Ariel she worked on her text “Will we see the sun?” based on the motifs of the Turkish folk tale “80 eyes”.

Sarajevo successfully hosted the beginning of the Atelier program for young playwrights

Last week, Sarajevo successfully hosted the first module of the Atelier program workshop for young playwrights as part of the new Sarajevo Theater Showcase/New Theater Market project, funded by the European Union through the Creative Europe program.

Sarajevo Theatre Showcase – open call for the inaugural atelier for playwrights

Sarajevo Theatre Showcase announces an open call for the inaugural Atelier for Playwrights. We invite participants from the following countries to apply Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Kosovo, Slovenia, and Serbia.

The new Sarajevo Theatre Showcase launched in Sarajevo as part of the European project New Theatre Market

Today, a press conference was held in the Sarajevo War Theater (SARTR) on the occasion of the start of the New Theatre Market project, the crown of which is the newly established Sarajevo Theatre Showcase, which will be held in the second week of September in Sarajevo. The leader of the project is the SARTR theater with partners: Heartefact from Serbia, Ulysses Theater from Croatia, Binario Vivo from Italy and Para Film & Theatre from Norway.

The Festivity of Otherness was held in Paris

From January 9 to 11, 2025, the Festivity of Otherness was held in Paris. After the Zagreb version of the festival in November, when three plays created as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project co-financed by the European Union were shown on the theater stage of the Arterarij organization, Heartefact House hosted the Belgrade version of the festival in December last year. Lavoir Moderne Parisien hosted the Parisian version of the festival, rounding off the first three editions of the festival.

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

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.

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Program Grant Officer to support the implementation of the Culture for Development Project in North Macedonia

Heartefact Fund is looking for the Program 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 set to launch in January 2025 with a four-year duration.

We Presented the Slavic Soundwalking Application to Senior Citizens

In Belgrade, we held an incredibly inspiring meeting with representatives of several civil sector organizations working with senior citizens and their quality of life.

The Festivity of Otherness was held in the Heartefact House in Belgrade

From December 5 to 7, 2024, the Festivity of Otherness was held in Belgrade. After the Zagreb version of the festivity in November, when three performances created as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project co-financed by the European Union were shown on the theater stage of the Arterarij organization, Heartefact House hosted the Belgrade version of the festival.

Final partners’ meeting and poetry performance in Ljubljana as part of the POT-VOT project

From November 25 to 27, 2024, in Ljubljana, in Pionirski dom, the last partners’ meeting was held as part of the Poets of Today, Voices of Tomorrow project. After more than two years of various activities dedicated to the promotion of contemporary poetry among young people and the general population, the last meeting of 5 partners from Slovenia, Serbia, Finland, Hungary and Poland was used to recapitulate and evaluate the project.

Sofija Dimitrijević at the Playground residency in Rome

At the beginning of November, playwright Sofija Dimitrijević participated in the first of 12 residencies within the Playground project, which Heartefact implements with partners from Italy, France and Romania. The innovativeness of the project lies in the fact that it was designed with the idea of establishing a more complex and comprehensive cooperation between the various professions involved in the theater process – playwrights, directors, translators and performers.

Billboard campaign “Poets of today, voices of tomorrow” in Belgrade

From November 11 to 17, Heartefact ran a billboard campaign in the main pedestrian street in Belgrade, in Knez Mihailova, with the aim of promoting the poetry of our young contemporary poets. The verses of Jelena Marinkov, Aleksa Krstić, Tihana Smiljanić, Milica Milosavljević and Marija Dragnić, in the design of Miroslav Živanov, were found in several locations along the entire street.

Second Slavic Soundwalk Through Belgrade

Starting at 12 PM, we gathered at the Main Post Office, the first location, and then continued walking while listening to the stories at different locations, including the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the Hall of the Cultural Center of Belgrade, and finally concluded the walk at Atelje 212.

The first Festivity of Otherness as part of the Eclectic of Otherness project ended in Zagreb

From November 7 to 9, 2024, the first Festivity of Otherness was held in the theater venue of the Arterarij organization in Zagreb. As part of the festival, three performances from Serbia, France and Croatia premiered, and the festival is moving to Belgrade in December. The third location is Paris in January 2025.

The exhibition UKRAINE: LOVE + WAR (2014-2024) will be held in Belgrade from November 15 to 23

The Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans invites you to the opening of the exhibition UKRAINE: LOVE + WAR (2014-2024) which will take place on Friday, November 15, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the Europe House in Belgrade (Zmaj Jovina 8). The exhibition is inspired by the book of the same name published by FotoEvidence, which is a testimony of the devastating impact of Russian aggression on Ukrainian society, captured through the lenses of 95 international photojournalists.

We’ve developed toolkits for non-formal teaching about sound and light design and video operations in theatre!

During this year, we held three masterclasses for theatrical technicians in light and sound design and video operations within the Beyond Stage Mastery project. The masterclasses were led by experts Luigi Biondi, Alessandro Olla, Lazar Nikolić and Ivan Đurović. As a result of the masterclasses we’ve developed manuals as toolkits for non-formal teaching about sound and light design and video operations.

A three-day conference of the European network Fabulamundi – New Voices was held in the Heartefact House

From October 5 to 7, 2024, a three-day conference of the European network of playwrights Fabulamundi-New Voces was held in Heartefact House in Belgrade. After the meetings in Rome, Venice and Paris, Belgrade had the opportunity to host 19 playwrights from a dozen European countries and representatives of theaters and art organizations that are part of the network.

Heartefact’s Visit to DokuFest in Prizren for 13 young students and activists

From August 7 to 11, 2024, Heartefact organized a visit to DokuFest for 13 young film directing and production students, cultural workers, artists, and activists from Serbia. The documentary and short film festival is held annually in Prizren, and this year’s 23rd edition brought together numerous directors from the region, Europe, and around the world. In addition to the film program, participants attended masterclasses, exhibitions, concerts, performances, and met with cultural workers from Prizren, such as Vatra Abrashi from Autostrada, Linda Lulla Gashi, Alba Cakalli and Samir Karahoda from DokuFest, and Bengi Muzbeg from the Lumbardhi Foundation.

Aleksa Krstić from Heartefact Institute on the Oko Balkana radio show at Radio Belgrade

Why does Heartefact translate contemporary literature from Kosovo into Serbian? This was one of the key questions our Aleksa Krstić discussed on the “Oko Balkana” show on Radio Belgrade’s Second Program.

Exchange of Researchers from Serbia and Kosovo as part of Research Visiting Program

In June, Heartefact organized an exchange for 10 young researchers from Serbia and Kosovo as part of our Research Visiting Program. The group from Serbia visited Pristina and Gracanica, while the group from Kosovo visited Belgrade. During these visits, they met with representatives from over 20 organizations from Kosovo and Serbia, as well as university professors, activists, and artists.