ALL INCLUSIVE is an socio-cultural project designed to enhance diversity and social inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the performing arts. Focused on the at most marginalized groups - people with disabilities, the Romani minority, and People on the Move along the Balkan route, the project establishes platforms where their voices, stories, talents, and experiences take center stage. Through community engagement, capacity-building workshops, artistic productions, and audiovisual storytelling, ALL INCLUSIVE empowers individual community members to be multipliers and stronger actors of change, and raises awareness of their struggles against discrimination and dehumanization.
ALL INCLUSIVE is an exceptional socio-cultural project aimed at promoting diversity and social inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It harnesses the transformative power of the performing arts to connect communities, break down social barriers, and strengthen a solidarity-based society.
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 at 64th International Theatre Festival MESS 2024 marks the launch of an exceptional socio-cultural project of the EUNIC Cluster Bosnia and Herzegovina in collaboration with the Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR funded by the EUNIC European Spaces of Culture program 2024/2025 that aims to promote diversity and social inclusion in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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
INVISIBLE GAME exposes the dark reality of illegal pushbacks in Europe’s border regions. The play unravels the harrowing story of two Nigerian students, kidnapped by European police and dumped in a Bosnian refugee camp. Amidst a chaotic cover-up and ongoing human rights abuses, the narrative reveals a web of colonial legacies, economic interests, and systemic violence, reflecting a troubling crisis at the intersection of borders and human dignity.
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.
PETITE FILLE builds on La baleine-cargo's earlier work, “Ma Montagne”, which drew from testimonies of people with disabilities and their caregivers. This new project transforms those experiences into a musical tribute, celebrating the resilience and victories of extraordinary individuals. “Petite fille” offers a poetic and musical exploration of disability, shifting from restorative to emancipatory themes, and redefines the value of every life through a powerful blend of text and song.
THE BEST CHILD IN THE WORLD is the first play by a Roma woman director to join the permanent repertoire of The National Theatre of Bucharest. This autobiographical performance blurs the lines between life and theatre, offering a deeply authentic experience that invites empathy. Alina Șerban’s show recounts the journey of a Roma girl who, despite early encounters with racial and social differences, transforms her struggles into determination. It serves as a powerful therapeutic exploration of achieving the impossible and reconciling with one’s past, identity, and family.
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)
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
ALL INCLUSIVE builds connections and fosters collaboration through targeted workshops, taking place in community spaces across Bosnia and Herzegovina from November 2024 to April 2025. Initially, members of each marginalized community will participate in separate, community-specific workshops in fields like dance/theater, music, and audiovisual storytelling. Under the guidance of mentors – actress and dance professor Amila Terzimehić, dance assistant Dragana Seferović Pilav, and guitarist Mirza Redžepagić – these workshops will focus on developing creative skills, expression, and storytelling, allowing participants to shape the process based on their unique experiences.
The process culminates in an integrated workshop that brings together representatives from all communities, fostering intercultural dialogue and collaboration. Following this, talents from each group will have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills and confidence in the final interdisciplinary performance, produced by Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR.
Furthermore, the works created in the storytelling workshop will be presented in an multimedia exhibition.
These platforms provide the project participants with the chance to showcase their abilities, further solidifying their roles as change-makers within their communities.
VII Academy Foundation is committed to training and empowering emerging visual journalists from underrepresented communities. Through practical training and workshops, the organization equips participants with essential skills to document and share their unique stories and perspectives. As part of our project, the VII Foundation will facilitate storytelling workshops with individuals from diverse communities, amplifying their voices and experiences.
Workshop Dates:
7th & 8th December – Dance and acting workshop
11th & 12th January – Music workshop
18th & 19th January – Music workshop
25th & 26th January – Music workshop
STORIES THAT MATTER
Photo Narratives Against Marginalization and for Social Inclusion
As 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.
Amila Terzimehić is an actress and educator from Sarajevo, where she became the first actress to earn a Master’s degree from the Academy of Performing Arts. Her thesis focused on the performative body in inclusive theater. She has received multiple awards for her acting and movement work, including at the Sterijino Pozorje festival. Amila has collaborated on international projects, such as the Venice Biennale and the Pompidou Centre. Currently, she teaches Dance and Physical Conditioning for Actors at the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo.
Dragana Seferović Pilav is a dance educator and actress whose work also encompasses visual arts. In 2021, she held her solo exhibition at the Maka Dizdar Museum. As the deputy ballet instructor at "Novo Sarajevo" Elementary Music School and the ballet studio "Ars" in Zenica, she gained extensive experience in pedagogy. Currently, she is working as an actress in the play Here and Now, which deals with documentary stories about the future and the past. In the ALL INCLUSIVE project, Dragana assists Amila Terzimehić in leading workshops.
Mirza Redžepagić is a versatile musician rooted in the traditions of flamenco guitar, Balkan music, and maqam. With a Master's degree in Contemporary Performance and Production from Berklee College of Music, he combines various musical styles into contemporary compositions. Through his projects, he contributes to cultural collaboration and exchange within diverse communities.
Dalibor Tanić is a journalist and activist with nearly 20 years of experience. He is the editor of the Newipe portal, a platform dedicated to amplifying Roma voices in Bosnia and Herzegovina under the concept "Voice of the Roma, Voice for the Roma." Dalibor received the European Union Prize for Investigative Journalism in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014. As a member of the NARON network, he collaborates with journalists from the Roma community. He also participated in the Romani Translation Summer Institute at Concordia University in Montreal, where he was honored with the Ronald Lee Translator Award for Romani Journalism and Translation. As an advisor for the ALL INCLUSIVE project, he brings invaluable insights and experience to the team.
