Home to a rich and diverse cultural heritage, the Western Balkans are a vibrant hub of contemporary creativity, with lively cultural scenes, promising creative industries and abundant cultural festivals and events. Jointly implemented by UNESCO, the British Council and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and funded by the European Union, the ‘Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans’ (CC4WBs) project has entered its third year in supporting creative and cultural sectors in the Western Balkans. 

Over the next 24 months the CC4WBs project will continue to improve the performance of these sectors by enhancing skills, knowledge, and access to financial aid to increase competitiveness and sustain the co-production and circulation of goods and services in the region. Since the launch of the project and the subsequent ‘Calls for Proposals’, UNESCO has been able to support more creative and cultural programmes.

Ties that Bind

In May, the second call for proposals was announced, accompanied by outreach programmes aimed at supporting a diverse range of applicants, including Civil Society Organisations, public institutions and municipalities. The initiative attracted over 140 applications achieving an overall eligibility success rate of 97.2%. 

Among the selected applicants is the Art of Co-Creation, “Ties that Bind: BiH & MK Dimensions of Fashion”, led by the Macedonian Fashion Association, which focuses on empowering vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth, while fostering regional cooperation, through the medium of fashion. 

Within the frame of CC4WBs, a series of creative workshops were organised in Sarajevo where fashion emerged as a bridge to overcome cultural gaps and address socio-cultural challenges. A public debut was made at Fashion Weekend Skopje, allowing audiences to engage with the powerful stories and themes woven into each piece.

Meet Aleksandra Lovrić a fashion designer and director of the brand “No Nation Fashion” which developed a look featuring handcrafted dolls to symbolise resilience and the journeys of migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Designed as an extension of its commitment to inclusivity, this piece was co-created by migrant artisans, emphasising the transformative role of fashion in social advocacy. “This No Nation Fashion dress tells the story of connection, resilience and unity across borders,” Aleksandra says.

Svetlana Bogova Jovanovska, from the Macedonian Fashion Association, highlights that promoting gender equality within the fashion industry is very important to their project. “By supporting vulnerable populations, fostering market integration, and preserving cultural heritage, the project addresses pressing needs within the industry and the broader society,” Svetlana remarks.

Video: The Art of Co-Creation. Project “Ties That Bind: BiH & MK Dimensions of Fashion”   

Individual grant awards 

The CC4WBs project is also making a meaningful impact in supporting participation in artistic residencies and cultural events. Through the individual grant awards, recipients are empowered to pursue their passions and thrive in their area of interest – opportunities that would have otherwise been out of their reach. 

Meet individual grantee from North Macedonia, Bojan Lazarov, a dancer with a Master’s in Ballet pedagogy at the Faculty of Music Arts Skopje. He describes the opportunity to attend the Physical Theatre Lab and IUGTE Conference in Austria as a transformative experience, which enriched his skills and helped him to build valuable connections with fellow practitioners. Bojan remarked that he has gained practical techniques and fresh ideas. This experience has significantly impacted his work, and he is looking forward to applying and sharing what he has learned.

Website: International Physical Theatre Laboratory

The CC4WBs project has experienced a notable increase in visibility and engagement, especially following its launch on social media platforms. This digital expansion complements ‘Creative Gate’, an initiative implemented by EXIT Foundation and jointly supported by UNESCO and the British Council. This innovative digital platform aims to promote collaboration, networking, and funding opportunities for cultural and creative industries across the Western Balkans. 

Creative Gate 

On 16 November 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia, with EXIT Foundation, the project kick-off marked a significant moment in positioning the Western Balkans as a future global hub for creativity. Among a vast range of guests, one of the panellists, Tihomir Bajić, emphasised the importance of nurturing the next generation of unicorn companies in the region. 

The introduction of Creative Gate enables the CC4WBs project to continue to provide support for individuals and groups in the cultural and creative sectors, as it gains a new tool to broaden its reach and establish a stronger foundation for professionals to network and collaborate.

Ivan Petrovic, President of the Board at EXIT Foundation, notes that the synergy between the region’s strong tech workforce and local creative talent will be key to advancing the development of Creative and Cultural Industries (CCI).

Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/596870176330006 

In addition to directly funding initiatives, the CC4WBs project actively supports cultural policy development and the safeguarding of culture. The risks and safeguarding solutions related to Intangible Cultural Heritage, and its value to local communities, are of great interest to the project. 

Enhancing UNESCO Designated Sites as Learning Landscapes

To address these issues and explore safeguarding measures, most recently, a programme for UNESCO designated cultural sites was designed, with an introductory workshop for Interpretive Agents held in October 2024 in Kotor, Montenegro. This pilot initiative introduced value-based interpretation at UNESCO designated sites to make heritage more meaningful to people and people more mindful towards our future. 

Jelena Cencur, Archivist at Muzeji Kotor, recounts how the event equipped local and international interpretive agents with skills to align broader cultural and planning frameworks, promoting sustainable cultural tourism. Jelena appreciates the opportunity given by the project to connect with colleagues from around Europe who share the same passion for cultural heritage. 

These voices represent the profound impact of the CC4WBs project in fostering inspiring dialogue, promoting reconciliation and uplifting those in the cultural and creative fields to achieve their aspirations. 

As we look forward to 2025, its agenda will continue to propose enriching activities. Among them, the upcoming capacity-building workshop on “Fostering the safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Western Balkans region” will further empower culture professionals. Panagiota Andrianopoulou, Head of Collections, Research and Documentation of Folk Art at the Museum of Modern Greek Culture, isis is preparing  5 online webinars that will offer grantees and selected nominees from the ICH field insights into the safeguarding approaches to our living heritage.

Through initiatives like these, the CC4WBs project is nurturing a community of passionate individuals dedicated to fostering dialogue and a deeper understanding of the importance of living heritage.

Links:

Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans - CC4WBs