Our lungs are burning. With Covid. With pollution. With poison – exhaust gases from cars, buses, trucks; tobacco smoke; grime. Our lungs are burning with anxiety, fear, panic. With politics. For some, their lungs are burning with frustration. With hatred. Is there a cure?

In early December last year, we organised the First Sarajevofest – Arts and Politics. We began with a modest ambition, however the public’s reaction to the Festival and the media echoes exceeded our expectations. Theatre plays, films, concerts, politics debates, public forums, mentor workshops with young people from the region had proven to be a “hot ticket” in Sarajevo.

This year two circumstances have defined the Festival’s form. We were unable to organize Sarajevofest “live” due to a poor epidemiological situation in BiH capital. Additionally, the outgoing Canton Sarajevo Minister of Culture decided to punish us for no reason and strip away 80% percent East West Centre’s funds, although there is not a single gym near the Centre. The unfortunate minister, a sportsperson, had stated earlier that he was acquainted with the work of the Children’s Museum, because he trained in the Museum’s vicinity, “but to state that I ever visited it would be false”. One might assume that on basis of training near a museum building, he decided that he should never support it. In our case, he never even trained near us. Nevertheless, the minister “danced for only one summer”. The government, in which he just happened to find his spot by chance, has fallen. Ministers come and go. We live on.

This very December the East West Centre is marking the 15th anniversary of its independent operations and is organizing the 2. Sarajevofest – Arts and Politics from 5th till 14th December 2020. The Festival is divided into three programmes – Forum, Art Forum and Youth Forum, which will feature fascinating guests.

All individual programmes are available on the website of Sarajevofest – Arts and Politics 2020