The Art for Public Speech and Regional Promotion project is a regional artistic initiative focused on increasing the mobility and visibility of cultural products in the Western Balkans. By bringing together artists from Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the project promotes co-creation and regional exchange through a unique poetic-musical cabaret format.
The cabaret was developed as a collaborative effort among artists from diverse modes of artistic expression, and offered a participatory format where audiences were invited to join the conversation, both literally and creatively, on the most pressing social and cultural challenges in the region. The performances highlighted the voices of young women artists and people with special needs and aimed to foster greater inclusion and cultural understanding. This proved to be one of the most significant achievements of the project - the successful creation of a unique poetic-musical cabaret that blends art with civic participation.
Seven artists, including four young women and one visually impaired performer, took part in the production and performed in multiple cities, reaching new audiences beyond their home countries. The performances, held in Belgrade, Skopje, Kotor, and Banja Luka, were seen live by over 500 people, most of whom were attending a cabaret performance for the first time. Audiences were also given the chance to go on stage and express their views on the region’s future. By inviting the audience to actively contribute their thoughts and reflections during the show, the project bridged the gap between performers and the public, transforming traditional spectatorship into a shared creative experience. This format allowed citizens to engage directly with themes relevant to the future of the Western Balkans, making the cabaret both a cultural and social platform.
Another important success lies in the project’s ability to connect artists across borders and foster long-term regional cooperation. By bringing together seven artists from four Western Balkan countries, the project laid out the groundwork for future collaborations and cultural dialogue. These relationships, built during rehearsals and performances, form a small but promising artistic network that has the potential to grow into future joint initiatives.
The project also prioritised broad regional visibility, both through in-person events and digital outreach. A total of 16 short videos were produced from live recordings of the cabaret performances and shared online via social media and video platforms. These clips extend the reach of the project beyond the physical stage, allowing wider audiences to engage with the content and ensuring the work remains accessible in the long term.
In addition, two cultural organisations gained valuable experience in cross-border co-productions, while a high school student participated in a shadowing programme, gaining practical insight into cultural event planning and promotion.
Implementing partners: Center for Creative Work - Dobri medo (BiH) and Association of Artists Macedonian Center of the International Theater Institute / PRODUKCIJA Skopje (MKD).
The Art for Public Speech and Regional Promotion project is supported by the British Council through the “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” project, funded by the European Union. CC4WBs aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.