The fulfillment of such a common need went in the direction of holding an informal meeting of artists and cultural workers at the state level. In order to exchange the experiences of professional artists with younger people, but also the presentation of future projects and exhibitions.
Mirela i Bahrudin
Mirela Kulović,the painter from Gračanica, residing in Boston, considered that the scene of fine artists and painters should be strengthened, as well as that they connect with art historians and that the written trace of Bosnia and Herzegovina artists working in this field should be increased.
Bahrudin Srebrenica wanted to meet young videographers, actors and producers in order to get involved in his own future projects.
"We spontaneously came up with the idea that this could be an event in the form of a forum whose meaning goes in the direction of a public gathering where ideas and views are exchanged. What our opinions overlap is that the Forum should focus on changing previous experiences, especially by individuals who have already implemented some significant projects in culture, and the emphasis on potential future events "- says Bahrudin, a director from Sweden.
On the same topic, Mirela expresses her view: “We want to focus our ideas on a clear strategy for the art and cultural scene, with special emphasis on young artists who are starting their careers and have fresh ideas. In the desire to approach some serious partners and organizations on the world art scene with a clearly defined plan.
She adds that all this could be discussed at the Forum, and they want the Forum to expand to every small town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Acting towards this goal, we want to invite cultural workers and artists from every city to join us, either as active participants in the presentation or as an active part of the audience at the Forum" - says painter Mirela Kulović.
“Culture is the way we live, the way we reflect and the way we experience both good and bad things in many different ways. Culture and art are also old crafts, handicrafts, storytelling and generally everything that makes up an individual's identity in this complex world. ” - adds a native of Tuzla.
"Our goal is to empower the art scene. The Forum will allow each initiator of new ideas to find collaborators and accelerate the development of their idea. The forum serves as a continuous platform throughout the year. The Forum is a source of human resources and a kind of place for discourse and exchange of ideas and knowledge "- says Bahrudin Srebrenica.
Realization of the First BiH Art Forum
The Forum was opened by the documentary "Ulica snova" ("Street of Dreams"), by young BiH author Aida Vehabović. This film won the “Kultura i moj grad” ("Culture and My City") competition, hosted by Bahrudin Srebrenica.
The First BiH Art Forum presented the most successful cultural initiatives in the last ten years, those that have affected the largest number of people, including young people and children. In addition, these initiatives have brought the most innovations in the environment, where they have been implemented.
The following presented themselves at the Forum:
Marina Đapić, who spoke about the Street Arts Festival Mostar, an initiative that has become a brand of the city of Mostar, but also of BiH;
Aida Šarac, whose initiatives Plavi artizam (Blue Artism) and Alternativna učionica (Alternative Classroom) within the National Gallery of BiH deserved the greatest attention and praise of the audience;
Mak Hubjer, who presented the Brodac Gallery, and Jasminko Halilović, who spoke about the Museum of War Childhood.
During the forum, participants tried to answer the basic question that was the guiding principle for starting and implementing this event, and that is: "Why do certain people succeed in implementing initiatives, and why do others fail?".
“By launching the BiH Art Forum, my goal was to develop a platform that would give rise to a new movement of creative action, where could, by combining different resources, people, facilities and processes, fantastic results be achieved. BiH Art Forum is almost completely organized and realized by phone, email and video calls, with minimal investment. I believe that in just a few years, many cities in BiH can be the leading centers of cultural events in this part of Europe. I am not thinking here primarily of red carpets, but of concrete realizations that will offer many artists the opportunity to show what they can do, enable them to receive fees and recognize their initiatives in the world, "says Mirela Kulović, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian painter in Boston.
The First BiH Art Forum was organized by young artists from BiH and the diaspora, and besides the painter, Mirele Kulović (Boston), also Master of Directing and Film, Bahrudina Srebrenica (Malmo) who are the conceptual creators of the Forum, the organizing team included other well known personnel from our scene: Nikola Burić, CEO i-Platform (Bern), Husnija Ćoralić, actor (Tuzla), Srđan Ćalija, pedagogue (Sarajevo), Vanja Šunjić, journalist (Sarajevo), Tomislav Tadić, jurist (Tuzla), Aldin Vrškić, pedagogue (Zenica), Aida Suljaković, writer and artist (Bazel). The project will be realized in partnership with CreatiWe art company, and two organizations from Switzerland, i-platform and BEBOSNIAN, whose visions and ideas overlap with the ideas of the forum.
The BiH Art Forum will continue to empowers art as a profession in Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out the potential of art and culture for the development of BiH as a destination for intellectuals and various curious people, and inspiring young people to actively participate in the development of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Source: klix.ba; hayat.ba; novasloboda.ba; RadiYo Active Zenica;