Culture Policy Focus
Financial Sword Hangs Over Roma Theatre
Roma Theatre ‘Suno e Romengo’ has brought Roma culture closer to Serbian audiences with sell-out shows - but its future is threatened by financial crisis, the founder and manager Zoran Jovanovic, says.
Serbian Art Scene is Opening to the World
Mobility and networking are the keys to survival on the modern art world, the curator of Belgrade’s first private-owned international gallery, Zara Audiello, tells Balkan Insight.
Endless Reconstruction Keeps Art Museum on Hold
Despite artists’ appeals, Serbia’s Museum of Contemporary Art, shut for five years, looks likely stay a construction site for years.
D.J.s Lament Shrinking Electronic Music Scene in Kosovo
Electronic music is giving space to mixed menu in Kosovo, a sign of lesser money flowing around the country but also perhaps of a new more diversity-hungry period.
Culture Minister Unveils Action Plan by Year’s End
Adoption of a national cultural strategy, reopening museums, inter-ministerial cooperation and exempting culture from taxes are Bratislav Petkovic’s top priorities, he tells Balkan Insight.
Bosnia’s Travelling Artists Lament Lack of State Support
Artists attempting to exhibit or show films outside the country say they can rarely count on any official support.
Travelling Film Festival Challenges Balkan Barriers
A group of activists armed with dozens of short films by young filmmakers have taken their show on the road for the third year, in an effort to build bridges between peoples in the Balkans.
Kosovo’s Filigree Shines at Venice Biennale
Kosovo’s first appearance at the Venice Architecture Biennale, which interweaves the past with the future, is winning plaudits.
Bulgarians Force Changes to Macedonian Manuscript Show
A Belgian museum seem to have succumbed to Bulgarian pressure to delete the word ‘Macedonian’ from a landmark exhibition of medieval manuscripts.
Secret Contracts Hide Cost of Skopje Makeover
With many construction contracts for the revamp of the Macedonian capital still secret - and annexes added to them all the time - the total sum being spent on Skopje 2014 remains a mystery.
Serbia’s Modern Art Show Faces Homelessness
The Ombudsman’s use of Twitter to threaten the October ‘Salon’ with closure highlights the casual and contemptuous approach of Serbian officialdom towards the arts scene in general.
‘Black Sheep’ Disturbs Lethargy of Albania Art Scene
An exhibition by painter Helidon Haliti, which draws inspiration from his personal narrative, anxieties and qualms, has art lovers flocking to Albania’s National Gallery.
‘Money’s Tight - But Bitef Hasn’t Changed’
Veteran festival selector Jovan Cirilov talks to Balkan Insight about Bitef’s 46th edition – and reveals his hopes of finally putting the festival on a more secure financial footing.
Serbia’s New ‘Patriots’ Revive Old Threat to Art
Deputy minister’s attack on ‘unpatriotic’ artists shows that Serbia has not learned the lessons of the Milosevic era, when, as now, patriotism was shamelessly abused to advance people’s careers.
Challenges Pile Up on Serbian Culture Chief’s Desk
From bridging funding gaps to completing unfinished reconstruction jobs – not to mention trying to establish cooperation with other ministries – incoming culture minister Bratislav Petkovic faces a mountain of challenges.
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