All Inclusive
Fostering empathy and understanding, ALL INCLUSIVE transcends conventional official narratives and integration approaches. In the realm of culture in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where few examples address these critical issues, the project fills a significant gap in cultural initiatives. It not only creates space for artistic expression and empowerment but also establishes new collaborations among cultural and civil society organisations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, contributing to advocacy.
ALL INCLUSIVE goes beyond conventional integration approaches by collaborating with local and international partners to amplify the voices of often-overlooked individuals and promote transdisciplinary cooperation. It fills a significant gap in the cultural landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina, fostering new models of social integration.
The project aims for a lasting impact on both participants and audiences by cultivating awareness, unity and appreciation for diversity, creating a cultural shift towards a more inclusive and just society.
ALL INCLUSIVE kicks off with a special program at the International Theatre Festival MESS 2024, showcasing guest performances from Germany, France, Romania as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina that highlight issues of exclusion and social justice, fostering empathy and understanding.
Following the festival, workshops and community activities will empower marginalized groups, allowing them to address specific challenges and develop creative solutions. Talent from these communities will be sought for the final production, reflecting their diversity and creativity.
The project will culminate in an integrated, interdisciplinary performance featuring theater, dance, music, audiovisual installations, and costumes created by community representatives and produced by Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR. This artistic outcome will premiere at the next MESS Festival 2025, aiming to cultivate awareness of diversity and pave the way for a more inclusive and just society.
ALL INCLUSIVE is a project of the EUNIC Cluster Bosnia and Herzegovina organized by the Goethe-Institut, the Institut Français, the Austrian Cultural Forum, the Romanian Embassy and the EU Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina in cooperation with the Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR and the International Theatre Festival MESS, funded by the EUNIC programme European Spaces of Cultures 2024/2025.
The ALL INCLUSIVE Special Program highlights the stories, struggles and successes of marginalized communities, such as Roma, people with disabilities, and people on the move.
By showcasing guest performances from Germany, France, Romania as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina it invites the audience to reflect on the urgency of exclusion, social justice and human rights, while recognizing the experiences of those often overlooked in mainstream narratives. Each production serves as a compelling testament to resilience, creativity, and supports dialogue and understanding within our diverse communities. Audiences can look forward to moving stories and impactful portrayals that inspire reflection and foster empathy.
Following the performances, interactive panel discussions with the participating artists, representatives of the marginalized communities and experts will provide space for dialogue on these themes. These discussions offer the audience an opportunity to engage more deeply with the societal issues presented and gain new perspectives.
Performances/Panel Discussions:
Wednesday October 9th, 6:00 PM, SARTR:
Invisible Game
Heimathafen Neukölln / DEU 2023 / 145 min
Director: David Stöhr
Panel discussion:
Participants: David Stöhr (Director “Invisible Game”, Moshin Raja (Balkanroute survivor), Milena Zajovic (Are You Syrious, BVMN)
Moderator: Matija Vlatković
The performance and panel discussion are additionally funded by European Migration Policy Program of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (Thessaloniki/ Greece) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany.
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Thursday October 10th, 6:00 PM, Europe House:
Petite fille
La baleine-cargo / FRA / 40 min
Directors: Solenne Roche, Jeff Zimmer
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Friday October 11th, 6:00 PM, Chamber Theatre 55:
The Best Child in the World
National Theatre Bucharest / ROM / 60 min
Director: Alina Șerban
Panel discussion:
Participants: Alina Șerban (Director and actress “The Best Child in the World”), Larisa Kovačević (Bolja Budućnost, Tuzla), Aida Vehabović (Actress), Dervo Sejdić (President of Kali Sara, Roma Infomation Center)
Moderator: Rubina Čengić (Journalist, activist).
The performance is additionally funded by the Romanian Cultural Institute (Bucharest/Romania)
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Sunday October 13th, 6:00 PM, SARTR:
Up and Down
SARTR / BIH / 65 min
Director: Ermin Bravo
UP AND DOWN is a documentary performance born from months of collaboration with young performers with Down syndrome. Through shared experiences, we explore their feelings, dreams, frustrations, and aspirations, creating a space where it's okay to be both high and low. The project involved improvisation, writing, dancing, and singing, blending roles and perspectives to redefine the theater stage as a place of freedom and creativity. Together, we crafted every aspect of the performance—text, choreography, photography, and costumes—celebrating the richness of diverse voices and experiences.
Panel discussion:
Participants: Sevdija Kujović (President of the association ‘Life with Down Syndrome’) Selma Hodžić (actress) and Ermin Bravo (director and actor)
Moderator: Arma Tanović - Branković
For more information about the plays, please visit the MESS Festival website.
In collaboration with the VII Academy Foundation, participants from all communities will come together in a mixed storytelling workshop. This workshop, also led by expert mentors, will provide a space for exchanging ideas, fostering mutual understanding, and amplifying personal and collective narratives.
The process will culminate in an integrated workshop that unites representatives from all communities, creating an environment for intercultural dialogue and artistic collaboration. Building on the skills and confidence gained, selected participants will contribute to a final interdisciplinary performance, produced by Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR.
Through these workshops and performances, participants will refine their talents while emerging as catalysts for change and inspiration within their communities.
- December 7 & 8: Workshop with the Roma community
- January 25 & 26: Workshop with the migrant community
- February 1 & 2: Workshop with people with disabilities, featuring actress and dancer Neele Bremen as an assistant coach
All workshops will take place at the Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR), Gabelina 16.
Detailed workshop descriptions available here:
Mentors
- January 18 & 19: Workshop with the migrant community
- January 25 & 26: Workshop with the Roma community
Detailed workshop descriptions available here:
Mentors
- January 18 & 19: Mixed group (Roma, migrants, and people with disabilities)
- January 25 & 26: Mixed group (Roma, migrants, and people with disabilities)
Detailed workshop descriptions available here:
Mentors
STORIES THAT MATTER
Photo Narratives Against Marginalization and for Social InclusionAs part of the projectALL INCLUSIVE – Performing Arts for Diversity and Social Inclusion, organized by the EUNIC Cluster Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Goethe-Institut, in collaboration with the VII Foundation Sarajevo, presents an exhibition showcasing photographic works that document the lives of individuals from marginalized communities. Mitar Simikić's series"Every Day Anew"portrays the Salihović family living in the Roma neighborhood of Tombak in Bijeljina, while Bahrudin Bandić portrays Azra Dedić, a young judo athlete with Down syndrome. Additionally, the exhibition features photos from the"Dispatches in Exile"project, in which migrants document their own stories under the guidance of Ziyah Gafić. The opening event will include a concert by Pakistani singer Nouriez Javed Noor from Tuzla and guitarist Mejdi Sulejmani from Brčko.
About the Exhibition:
Mitar Simikić (Bijeljina, Novi Sad) presents his latest series, "Every Day Anew", which chronicles the lives of the Salihović family. For over 27 years, the family has earned their livelihood by collecting and selling scrap. Although they are not part of the Roma minority, they reside in the Roma neighborhood of Tombak in Bijeljina. Simikić's photographs highlight their daily struggles and the strong familial bonds that help them navigate societal exclusion.
Bahrudin Bandić (Sarajevo) profiles Azra Dedić, a young, accomplished judo athlete with Down syndrome. She became the first person with Down syndrome in Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure full-time employment and won a gold medal at the European Judo Championships for athletes with Down syndrome. Bandić captures Azra's daily life, documenting her journey toward professional and athletic recognition. His work emphasizes the importance of social inclusion, showcasing the talents and abilities of individuals with Down syndrome.
Ziyah Gafić (Sarajevo), regional director of the VII Academy and head of VII Photo, launched and led the "Dispatches in Exile" educational project in 2021. This initiative provided migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina with a platform to tell their own stories. In collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), participants received basic training in media production, including photography, ethics, and narrative storytelling. The result is a collection of striking photographs capturing the experiences of people on the move along the Balkan route, offering firsthand accounts and perspectives. The project challenges fragmented and distorted narratives about refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fostering empathy and promoting an open society.
Concert:
The exhibition opening will feature a joint performance by Nouriez Javed Noor, a Pakistani singer who immigrated to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and guitarist Mejdi Sulejmani from Brčko.
Noor currently lives in Tuzla with his Bosnian wife and their son. In the summer of 2023, he participated in "Music in My Suitcase", a project organized by Kuma with other migrants from the Ušivak reception center, culminating in an album recorded with the BalkanEros Band & Travelers.
ORGANIZERS & PARTNERS