This week, the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO) Local Branch Office in Serbia organized the event “Culture in Action: What Are Young People Creating in the Western Balkans?” at the Centre for Cultural Decontamination (CZKD) in Belgrade.
The event gathered young cultural practitioners, civil society actors, artists, and partners to present projects supported through the Western Balkans Youth Cultural Fund (WBYCF), highlighting the role of culture as a space for dialogue, inclusion, and meaningful youth participation.
The event was officially opened by Pawel Voronin, First Secretary of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Serbia, and Davor Džakula, Program Officer at RYCO Local Branch Office in Serbia. Designed as a curated, festival-like format, the event combined panel discussions, audiovisual presentations, exhibitions, and performances, creating a dynamic environment for exchange and interaction.
Visitors were able to explore exhibition installations and a dedicated video room featuring works such as SVI MI, FRAME, and Moj Krupni Plan, allowing for continuous engagement with the projects throughout the event.
Culture as a space of care, solidarity, and resistance
The central program opened with a panel discussion under the theme “Culture as community and resistance”, bringing together Đorđe Živadinović Grgur (KROKODIL), Jelena Balević (If the Girls Are United), and Dunja Jeremić (Ruke su mostovi).
The discussion addressed a key question: How can culture create spaces of care, solidarity, and mutual support?
Through their experiences, speakers highlighted how cultural work with young people can challenge social exclusion, build inclusive communities, and foster empathy across differences.
Throughout the event, projects were presented through structured pitching sessions, offering concise insights into their goals, approaches, and impact.
The first pitch round focused on inclusion and youth engagement, featuring initiatives such as Ruke su mostovi, The Gift of Diversity, and Moj Krupni Plan, emphasizing the importance of culture in working with diverse and marginalized groups.
The audiovisual segment further highlighted the role of film and multimedia in youth expression, with selected excerpts from FRAME and Moj Krupni Plan, followed by reflections from project representatives.
A key moment of the event was the discussion on sustainability, addressing the question: What remains after the project ends?
This conversation brought together representatives of projects such as Spomeniks and The Gift of Diversity, alongside donor perspectives, opening a dialogue on continuity, long-term impact, and the potential of cultural initiatives to evolve beyond project-based funding. Participants reflected on how projects can grow into platforms, strengthen communities, and contribute to broader social change.
Culture as participation
The event concluded with a performative segment, including a musical performance by The Gift of Diversity and a poetic or audiovisual contribution from SVI MI, reinforcing the idea of culture as a living and participatory space.
Overall, “Culture in Action” demonstrated that young people in the Western Balkans are actively shaping cultural narratives, creating inclusive spaces, and addressing social challenges through creative expression.
By supporting such initiatives, RYCO continues to foster meaningful youth participation and strengthen regional cooperation through culture.
