NEWS

Nordisk Panorama 08 in Gornji Milanovac

The U40-Capacity Building Workshop on the UNESCO Convention

Natalija Stošić, project manager of the Balkankult Foundation, participated in the U40-Capacity Building Workshop on the UNESCO Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, held in Barcelona between September 19 an

The workshop is conceived as a European preparatory workshop for the run up to the U40-World Forum. It is the interdisciplinary capacity building programme "Cultural Diversity 2030" that was initiated by the German Commission for UNESCO in 2007 on the occasion of the Essen Conference "Cultural Diversity – Europe’s Wealth.

As its initial process, 20 young specialists from Europe with proven competence and interest in the area of the relevant aspects of the Convention were identified for the U-40 Workshop by UNESCO Call for Contributors. They are to act as core group during the whole programme cycle 2008-2010.

This U40-process offers young European Under 40ies – postgraduates, PhD students, young professionals, and similarly qualified young experts – the opportunity to participate in the international debate on cultural diversity and the implementation of the Convention. Its aim is to actively include excellent professionals, future decision makers and communicators into the debate that should be brought to the global level.

Subject areas of the programme are based on the objectives of the Convention:

• Diversity of Cultural Expressions and Sustainable Development

• Implementation of the Convention through and within the European Community

• Public awareness raising: Communication strategies for the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

The group members that partipicated in the Barcelona-workshop are expected to take part in the U40-World Forum as well as in a European evaluation workshop to be held in Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010 in March 2010. Moreover, they will continue and facilitate the discussion process by the means of mailing lists, webblog, i.a. In addition, they will disseminate the ideas and aims of the programme, and the Convention throughout their networks.

The next stage of the U-Process is establishing the U40-World Forum in 2009. It is going to be an interdisciplinary group of young professionals, communicators and future decision makers under 40 from all over the world gathered together in order to develop contribution to the first phase of implementing the Convention.

The U40-World Forum is going to be composed of three elements:

1. Two-day thematic workshop: The up to 60 persons will gather for a two-day workshop in Paris in June / July 2009, immediately before the Second Conference of Parties, the plenary and supreme body of the Convention. During this intensive working period the U40ies will discuss principally aspects of the three subject areas named above, in plenary and group work sessions. However,

essentials from the work of the Intergovernmental Committee (2007-2009) and the agenda of the Conference of Parties will be taken into account as well.

2. Participation in the Conference of Parties: One of the objectives is to give the mentees the opportunity to participate in the Conference of Parties as members of their respective national delegations. In addition, NGOs and other observers will also be asked to include one or more U40- participants in their delegations.

3. Presentation at UNESCO headquarters: In a briefing session at UNESCO headquarters the results of the workshop will be presented to all Parties to the Convention during the Conference of Parties (e.g. at lunch time).

The outcome of the U40-World Forum will be widely communicated and published among others through relevant websites and newsletters (e.g. www.unesco.org; www.unesco.de; www.ifccd.com, "Diversity of Cultural Expressions News") as well as individually by the participants themselves.

By the end of the project the mentees will be able to assess the following added values:

• Enhanced understanding of the objectives of the Convention and ways to put it to work;

• Enhanced understanding of international intergovernmental cooperation and its interplay with international civil society;

• Better understanding of their own possible role and space for action in the field of the diversity of cultural expressions.

The long term objective of the project is to self-commit the participants to feedback on the importance of cultural diversity in their respective work and life situation five and ten years after the U40-World Forum.

German Commission for UNESCO and the International Federation of the Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD) in cooperation with supportive Ministries for Culture and private partners.

The main organizers are the German Commission for UNESCO and the International Federation of the Coalitions for Cultural Diversity (IFCCD). As initiator of the U40-programme the German Commission for UNESCO acts as the executive organizer of the U40-World Forum. As a result of their activities, both the German Commission for UNESCO and the IFCCD have built up an international network of governmental, public sector and civil society partners in many parts of the world. Many of those have already expressed their interest to cooperate on the occasion of the U40-World Forum.

Res Artis 11th General Meeting 2008

Project manager of the Balkankult Foundation, Milica Božić, is taking part in the Res Artis 11th General Meeting 2008 to be held in Amsterdam between October 9 and 11, 2008.

Based on the subject "Artists in Dialogue, Transforming Communities", the Conference programme will highlight exemplary projects developed by smaller grass roots organizations linked to social, cultural and political contexts. These initiatives facilitate the dialogue of guest artists with local artists and the community. Such initiatives have built unique structures for producing and showing contemporary art on a small scale, creating wide networks of similar artists’ initiatives.

The conference offers:

Workshops will focus on important topics such as residency programs creating safe havens for artists at risk, and the strategies of residential art centers to collaborate with corporations.

Special contribution to the program will be made by some of the world's main organizations involved in supporting international networks of artists' communities and residency initiatives, such as the European Cultural Foundation, HIVOS and Foundation Doen, all based in the Netherlands but operating worldwide.

"Days of Japan" in Čačak

Between September 22 and 28, the manifestation "Days of Japan" took place in Cultural Center of Čačak, organized by the Balkankult Foundation.

The manifestation included several cultural events: exhibition of 750 Japanese cards (for telephone and for metro), exhibition of "hokusai" prints, exhibition of postcards (old crafts and martial arts), promotion of book by Mr. Dragan Milenkovic "Japan for beginners" and finally the exhibition of Japanese dolls, celebrating traditional Japanese manifestation "Day of Girls".

Debate on "The Future of Mobility Schemes for Cultural Professionals in Europe"

Mr. Dimitrije Vujadinović, the Balkankult Foundation's president, attended the Debate on "The Future of Mobility Schemes for Cultural Professionals in Europe" on September 12, 2008 in Duesseldorf.

The Debate is one of the final stages of a 6 month study on mobility schemes for cultural professionals in Europe conducted by the ERICarts Institute for the European Commission. The purpose of the Debate was to draw upon lessons learned from innovative programmes and schemes developed by various regional bodies such as the Nordic Council, member state agencies e.g. Visiting Arts (UK) and European organizations e.g. the European Cultural Foundations.

The Debate presented the participants with recommendations for future actions the EU could take to support the mobility of cultural professionals and encouraged them to influence the final report on Mobility schemes in Europe with their own ideas and suggestions based on the knowledge and experience with the issue.

Reinhard Doubrawa in Artists' colony "Gamzigrad 2008"

Philosophical School Felix Romuliana between August 27 and 29, 2008 in Zaječar

The Second International Bread Festival

6000 years of Bread Culture for only four days at the Gallery PROGRES in Belgrade

The exhibition named "6000 years of Bread Culture"  was taking place between August 4 and 8, 2008, at the Gallery PROGRES in Belgrade.

The Festival had the following programme:

Successfully staged with the generous support of the general sponosor Belgrade Bakery Industry "KLAS", the exhibition was visited by numerous public.

Organizers: The Balkankult Foundation in Belgrade and The International Festival of Bread in Novi Sad.

5th European Forum on Culture and Society in Luxembourg

Dimitrije Vujadinović, president of The Balkankult Foundation participated in the 5th European Forum on Culture and Society in Luxembourg June 26 and 27, 2008. Topic of the meeting was Cultural Co-operation and Mobility in Europe. Conference was organized by Institut Culturel Europeen Pierre Werner (IPW).

During this two day conference, the role of mobility for both artistic work and cultural co-operation has been analysed in panels and workshops.

Project Team Meeting in Cologne

Mr. Dimitrije Vujadinovic, working as a cultural research expert for the European Commission "Study on the Mobility of Cultural Workers in Europe". For that purpose he participated in the  Project Team Meeting, 12-13 April 2008, Cologne, Germany.

The Balkankult Foundation hosted and guided a photographer from the Council of Europe on his mission tour in Serbia

The Balkankult Foundation hosted and guided Sandro Weltin, a photographer from the Council of Europe on his mission tour in Serbia between May 28 and June 2. Ten sites were visited and photographed: Smederevo Fortress, Gornjak Monastery, Senjski Rudnik, Zagubica, Felix Romuliana, Bothanical Garden in Belgrade, Bac, Sirmium, Old Industrial Area in Pancevo, Astronomic Observatory in Belgrade. The photographic material is going to be used for the purpose of publishing a monograph on Cultural and Natural Heritage in South East Europe, by the Council of Europe. Besides the Serbian Ministry of Culture, The Balkankult Foundation is offical coordinator of the Europe's Council project.

Opening of Nordic Panorama 08

Ms Karin Juanson Meks, director of FilmKontakt Nord, movie director Czaba Bene Perelenberj and Srdan Golubovic, program director, will oficicially open Nordic Panorama 08 on Thursday, February 14th, at 9pm at Hall of Cultural Center, Belgrade, Kolarceva 6

The Nordic Panorama 08 will open a movie "Occupation" by Lars von Trier.