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Culture Policy Focus

challenges-pile-up-on-serbian-culture-chief-s-desk
04 Sep 12

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.

docu-genre-answers-bosnia-s-postwar-hunger-for-facts
28 Aug 12

Docu Genre Answers Bosnia’s Postwar Hunger for Facts

Vogue for documentary art in Bosnia, in film, image and on the stage, reflects a conviction that post-war audiences need to confront the factual reality of the recent past.

serbia-s-rebuilt-library-needs-makeover-already
24 Aug 12

Serbia’s ‘Rebuilt’ Library Needs Makeover Already

Fate of landmark book collection hangs in balance after botched reconstruction failed to address key problems of storage and environmental conditions.

albania-s-last-stone-villages-await-new-lease-of-life
17 Aug 12

Albania’s Last Stone Villages Await New Lease of Life

Two projects financed by the World Bank aim to preserve the vernacular architecture of the villages of Albania’s Rivera - though locals doubt that such projects can rebuild a long-lost sense of community.

albanian-authors-wait-in-vain-for-lost-royalties
26 Jul 12

Albanian Authors Wait in Vain for Lost Royalties

Artists haven’t received royalties for years - because the system tasked with enforcing copyright law and collecting them appears to have collapsed.

treasures-stay-buried-in-serbia-s-riverbeds
25 Jul 12

Treasures Stay Buried in Serbia’s Riverbeds

The legacy of centuries lies unexplored and neglected at the bottom of rivers all over Serbia – and is all too often a target for thieves.

serbia-s-neglected-culture-ministry-needs-a-champion
21 Jul 12

Serbia’s Neglected Culture Ministry Needs a Champion

Beset by money troubles and politically marginalised, the ministry desperately needs someone who can restore culture to its proper place in national and political life.

multiplexes-revive-serbian-cinema-at-a-price
21 Jul 12

Multiplexes Revive Serbian Cinema at a Price

New multiplexes have been the salvation of Serbian cinema - but they come at the expense of diversity, in terms of the narrow selection of US blockbusters they show.

literary-prize-holdup-feeds-albanian-writers-suspicions
18 Jul 12

Literary Prize Holdup Feeds Albanian Writers’ Suspicions

Albania’s national literary prizes have been delayed by months – adding to writers’ angst about the little attention they receive from the state.

hunt-for-lost-treasures-has-macedonia-divided
17 Jul 12

Hunt for Lost Treasures Has Macedonia Divided

While Macedonia laboriously collects copies of its lost treasures, some say the effort is wasted - and want the country to seek the return of original items now sitting in foreign museums.

new-statue-awakens-past-quarrels-in-macedonia
13 Jul 12

New Statue Awakens Past Quarrels in Macedonia

Forget the row with Greece over Alexander. What now has Macedonians at odds are new monuments resembling, or commemorating, historic figures linked to Bulgaria.

bosnia-s-ars-aevi-open-but-awaiting-own-home
12 Jul 12

Bosnia's ARS AEVI Open – But Awaiting Own Home

Unique contemporary art collection as finally opened to the public in Sarajevo – but whether the promised museum opens next year as promised remains to be seen.

albanians-who-saved-jews-from-nazis-honoured-in-film
09 Jul 12

Albanians who Saved Jews From Nazis Honoured in Film

New film challenges hoary clichés about Muslims by recalling the heroic Albanians who kept 2,000 Jews safe in the Holocaust.

serbia-s-weak-copyright-laws-leave-authors-crumbs
05 Jul 12

Serbia’s Weak Copyright Laws Leave Authors Crumbs

Film and music authors are unhappy with the money get from broadcasts, screenings or sales of their works – but there isn’t much agreement about where the source of the problem lies.

serbia-s-empty-spaces-stay-beyond-artists-reach
20 Jun 12

Serbia’s Empty Spaces Stay Beyond Artists’ Reach

There are no longer any legal obstacles preventing local authorities from leasing or loaning empty sites to arts groups – but getting hold of one remains a challenge.