The Call for proposals titled “Art for Reconciliation – Public Call for Socially Engaged Projects”, intended for civil society organizations in the field of arts and culture operating across the Western Balkans, has been successfully concluded with the selection of 15 project proposals distinguished by their strong social engagement and artistic approach. Their premieres will take place in local communities by June 2026, after which they will participate in the regional “District of Reconciliation” festivals to be held in five Western Balkan countries.

A total of 79 applications were received from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. The aim of the Call was to support artistic projects that, through participatory and socially engaged artistic practices, promote regional dialogue on reconciliation, peacebuilding, intercultural dialogue, as well as intergenerational and interethnic cooperation. The total budget of the Call amounted to 300.000 EUR, while individual projects could apply for grants ranging from 10.000 to 25.000 EUR.

List of selected projects:

1. “Repair the Fabric: Healing Patterns and Voices Across Generations” – Anonymous Said

2. “Hammam Internationale” – Udruženi umetnički rad

3. “Voices of Reconciliation – Festival ARTivism for the Balkans” – Bosniak Cultural Community Preporod

4. “The Guilty Drina” – TAJJ

5. “Railway Worker at the End of the World” – Jednostavno rečeno

6. “Memory Blocks” – Days of Urban Culture – DUK Festival

7. “Women Build Peace” – Independent Film Centre Kino Klub Novi Sad

8. “FUN FACT: Art and Media Literacy in Building Reconciliation in the Western Balkans” – Center E8

9. “Sworn on Mother (Family Secrets)” – Dis Youth Theater

10. “Echoes of the Past, Whispers of Today” – Centre for Theatre Research

11. “Frames of Flavours: A Photographic Journey Through Balkan Kitchens, Memories, and Identities” – Photography Development Centre

12. “The Bridge Cantata – A Dialogue Between Centuries” – Vojvodinian Early Music Association

13. “Dance of the Dead Chicken” – Roma Cultural Centre

14. “The First Macedonian in Space – Building Peace Through Theatre” – Schtrich Collective

15. “Voices of Reconciliation – Journalists’ Monologues and Community Dialogue” – QMÇSH Center for Media and Social Issues

The Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) programme is implemented by the Local Democracy Agency – LDA Subotica in cooperation with the Novi Sad Foundation – European Capital of Culture, the coordinator of the “District of Reconciliation” project. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the IPA III Civil Society and Media Programme for the Western Balkans.