The Greek-FYROMacedonian name dispute dates back to the 1990’s, gradually distancing the two neighbouring countries from any kind of exchange or collaboration, leaving vast space for misconceptions about each other. Recently, there seem to be a political will for reconciliation, but the knowledge gap created in the meantime, occurs as an obstacle. Artists and researchers, aided by critical thinking,will use the political momentum to create a platform for working together, exchange, research, ref

Berlin, Germany - first meeting
Skopje, FYROMacedonia - phase two
Athens, Greece - phase three

Free movement of citizens and ideas is the core of democracy. Interweaving aesthetics, politics, and participants' experiences, we aim to set a framework for movement, meetings and collaborations between people from these two regions, focusing on practicing democracy by using cultural means.

A platform where one could openly discuss nationalism, politics, memory, identity, history, and media representation. A long-term intercultural and intersectoral exchange based on trust, that will result in deeper collaborations. Communication channels for spreading the knowledge about each other.

The first meeting consists in a laboratory in Berlin. Participants from both countries will get to know each other, work together and plan the next steps in Skopje and Athens (workshops, lectures, discussions, exhibitions, papers). We will work between critical analysis of the political circumstances, shared experience, art, and ethnography. Learning and production will be collaborative, emphasizing the transnational approach, that is scarce in the official political discussions on both sides.

Organising CRIC - Festival for critical culture in Skopje encouraged us to work towards opposing the culture of silence, and the necessity to create a space that brings people together in critical dialogue. In the name dispute, a lot of space is given to misinformation and very little to discussion.

The project will directly involve: students, artists, cultural workers, researchers and professionals in humanities, journalists, historians, curators, cultural theorists, anthropologists, sociologists. It will be also open to: activists, political scientists, opinion and policy-makers and citizens.