The New Normal: ReViewing / ReThinking / ReModeling the Role of Arts and Culture after Covid-19 project
The New Normal: ReViewing / ReThinking / ReModeling the Role of Arts and Culture after Covid-19 project was initiated and implemented by the Don Branko Sbutega Foundation in 2021, with the aim of encouraging intercultural and intersectoral dialogue, as well as understanding the position, influence and importance of culture and arts in times of crisis.
Supported by the UNESCO participation program, the project was aimed towards rethinking, reviewing and remodeling the role of culture and the arts, with a special focus on the importance of culture as a basis for sustainable development. This project also considered the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the culture and cultural tourism sector through the analysis of possible mitigation strategies, as well as finding possible measures to strengthen the resilience and protection of the cultural sector in turbulent times.
The central event of the project was a five-day conference realized in the period from 15 to 19 July 2021, as part of the XI KotorArt Philosophers’ Square. This event brought together ambassadors from many countries, as well as eminent experts in the fields of art, culture, cultural policy, cultural tourism and sociology, who presented their views to interested audiences through carefully designed thematic panels – A Global Overview, ReView, ReThink, ReModel and The New Normal.
The moderators of the conference were Milica Nikolić, Secretary General of the Montenegrin National Commission for UNESCO and Anka Radović, RTCG journalist. All panels were broadcast live on the internet platforms of the KotorArt International Festival, while videos of all conference evenings are available on the YouTube channel of the Festival, as well as in the form of a podcast on the KotorArt website.
1. A Global Overview
The conference began with A Global Review panel, during which the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and strategies to mitigate its effects on the cultural sector in countries around the world were presented by the ambassadors of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the European Union to Montenegro, the Republic of France, the Republic of Croatia, the People’s Republic of China, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Russian Federation, the United States, the Republic of Slovenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as the Deputy Head of the Diplomatic Mission and Consul of Austria in Montenegro and the Head of the UNESCO Antenna Office in Sarajevo.
2. ReView
The second panel entitled ReView was an opportunity to look at the impact of new socio-political and technological dynamics on culture, cultural tourism and cultural heritage. The topic was approached by Darija Andovska, composer, University professor and artistic director of the Days of Macedonian Music Festival, Vladimir Maraš, composer and director of the Made in New York Jazz Festival Montenegro, and Ana Vukotić, theater director and FIAT Festival director.
3.ReThink
Milena Dragičević-Šešić, Professor emerita of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Boris Liješević, theater director and University professor, Nenad Vujadinović, University professor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Donja Gorica and Sehad Čekić, director of the Film Center of Montenegro spoke at the ReThink panel about understanding, adapting and strengthening the resilience of art and cultural sector in turbulent times.
4. ReModel
Violeta Đerković, sociologist and coordinator of the Cultural Stations Network for the Novi Sad European Capital of Culture project, Antonije Pušić, musician, graduate tourismologist and environmental lobbyist, Irena Kregar Šegota, director of the Rijeka 2020 project and Ivo Županović, tourismologist and University professor, spoke at the fourth panel entitled ReModel on challenges in the cultural tourism sector.
5. The New Normal
The final panel entitled The New Normal was a summary of all previous discussions, while its participants were the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Vesna Bratić, Milena Dragičević-Šešić, Professor emerita of the University of Arts in Belgrade, Violeta Đerković, sociologist and coordinator of the Cultural Stations Network for the Novi Sad European Capital of Culture project and Ana Vukotić, theater director and FIAT Festival director.
