SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Sunday 26 & Monday 27 November  2023

At the invitation of Sarajevo Fest (East West Center Sarajevo) and the European Festivals Association 

Working together means connecting, getting to know each other, sharing time, ideas and tapping into each other's energies. Ideas, proposals, needs, and opportunities arise when we stick our heads together. International collaboration, new ways of touring more sustainably, supporting and offering emerging artists a chance to develop their work under the wings of festivals are in the DNA of EFA’s projects.

In this context, we invite: arts festivals programmers, in particular those working in the field of performing arts in the region and internationally, those interested in visiting Sarajevo and embracing this artistic and historical place in Europe, and those who want to think more about how to increase collaboration with the arts scene in the Western Balkan countries for two days of conversation. We will reflect on the need of the arts for internationalisation, cross-border cooperation and the responsibility of programmers and throw light on challenges, concrete examples, best practices, and funding opportunities.

• Which systemic or global challenges are programmers are facing?
• Where are good examples and opportunities of trans-national collaboration on a European level (e.g. EFFEA, Perform Europe, Culture Moves Europe, etc.) to face the East West gap?
• What are the challenges and the examples of projects bringing east to the west locally in the Western Balkan countries (with insights and examples of EU granted projects)?

SUNDAY 26 NOVEMBER
Arrival day

14.30 Meet up at Hotel Europe

15.10 Departure to Mozaik Start Up Studio from Hotel Europe

Working day at Mozaik Start Up Studio

15.30-16.00 Welcome by Haris Pašović (Director of Sarajevo Fest and Chair of the EFFEA Jury), Jan Briers (President of EFA), Kathrin Deventer (Secretary General of EFA), and Peter Florence (Initiator of the European Festivals Forest)

• Setting the agenda: What are the most important needs and challenges of programmers in today’s world?
  Participants will be asked to write down two needs or challenges on a paper. They will be collected and grouped together, in order to define the agenda into three conversation rounds for the following two days.

16.00-17.00 Conversation round 1
17.00-17.15 Coffee break
17.15-18.15 Conversation round 2
18.15-18.45 Keynote by Edin Zubčević, Artistic Director of Jazz Fest Sarajevo

Evening programme

19.00-20.15 Concert offered by Sarajevo Fest at Chamber Theatre 55

• Dogmatik
  Chamber Choir of the Academy of Music – University of East Sarajevo
  Conducted by: Rade Radović
  More info: sarajevofest.com
  

• Ivana Đurić & Zanin Berbić
  Classic Bosnian songs in a unique arrangement for two violins and More info: sarajevofest.com
  

20.45 Dinner at Hotel Europe

MONDAY 27 NOVEMBER

9.10 Departure to Mozaik Start Up Studio from Hotel Europe
9.30-11.00 Warm up and conversation round 3 at Mozaik Start Up Studio
11.00 Guided tour of the city of Sarajevo by Haris Pašović
13.00 Lunch at Ferhatovic
14.00 Reception at City Hall with Benjamina Karić, Mayor of Sarajevo
15.30-18.00 Pitch your project connected to the performing arts and/or Western Balkans at Mozaik Start Up Studio
In parallel: 15.30-18.00 EFA Board meeting (for EFA Board Members only)

Evening programme

19.00-20.30 Theatre show offered by Sarajevo Fest at Sarajevo War Theatre

• Neoplanta
  Directed by Andraš Urban
  Produced by Ujvideki Shinhaz Novi Sad
  More info: sarajevofest.com
  

21.00 Dinner at Restaurant Tavola

TUESDAY 28 NOVEMBER
Departure day 

Hotel Europe
Vladislava Skarića 5
71000 Sarajevo
Bosna i Hercegovina

There are many confortable and affordable hotels and airbnb throughout the city of Sarajevo.

Mozaik Start Up Studio (Working days 26 & 27 November)
Maršala Tita 54/II
Sarajevo 71000
startupstudio.ba

Chamber Theatre 55 (Concert 26 November)
Maršala Tita 56
Sarajevo 71000
www.kamerniteatar55.ba

Sarajevo War Theatre (Theatre show 27 November)
Gabelina 16
Sarajevo 71000
www.sartr.ba

Restaurant Tavola (Dinner 27 November) 
Marsala Tita 50
Sarajevo 71000
www.tavola.ba

EFA's Denis de Rougemont Forum Live is hosted by Sarajevo Fest (East West Center Sarajevo) and co-funded by the European Union.