In April 2024, the vibrant city of Sofia hosted the first residency of the Re-Imagine project, titled Climate Literacy, organized by Arte Urbana Collectif. This event brought together 24 participants, professionals in the performing arts field, from 12 organizations and informal collectives across four partner countries of the project – Serbia, Bulgaria, Hungary, and North Macedonia, selected through an open call. These selected tandems embarked on a year-long journey of learning, collaboration, and transformation, aiming to green the production and distribution processes in the performing arts sector in the region.
The residency program was meticulously designed to provide participants with a concentrated understanding of the climate crisis and related issues and to present the contributions of the arts and culture fields in addressing them. The program included a series of lectures on a wide array of topics, starting with an introductory lecture on the climate crisis by climatologist Dr. Vladimir Đurđević, professor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Belgrade, and one of the co-founders of the Green Art Incubator. This session laid the foundation for understanding the issues we face, offering insights into the science of climatology, understanding climate data and indicators, human activities contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, the far-reaching impacts of climate change, and the landscape of global climate policies and agreements. Additionally, the program explored the social dimensions of the climate crisis through a lecture by artist and environmental activist Luka Tomac, who analyzed the complex social aspects of the climate crisis and how this phenomenon affects different communities and cultures.
As part of the program, an Open House event was organized, facilitating exchanges between residency participants and representatives of the local cultural scene, providing a unique platform for dialogue, networking, and sharing ideas and best practices.
A key component of the residency was the presentation of project ideas that participants would develop throughout the entire residency program. Each tandem had the opportunity to present the concept they will be working on in the upcoming period, receiving constructive feedback from colleagues and mentors on the project.
The next residency is planned for July 2024, with more detailed information available on the project’s website and YouTube channel.
