Our lungs are burning. With Covid. With pollution. With poison \u2013 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?<\/p>\n
In early December last year, we organised the First Sarajevofest \u2013 Arts and Politics. We began with a modest ambition, however the public\u2019s 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 \u201chot ticket\u201d in Sarajevo.<\/p>\n
This year two circumstances have defined the Festival\u2019s form. We were unable to organize Sarajevofest \u201clive\u201d 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\u2019s 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\u2019s Museum, because he trained in the Museum\u2019s vicinity, \u201cbut to state that I ever visited it would be false\u201d. 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 \u201cdanced for only one summer\u201d. The government, in which he just happened to find his spot by chance, has fallen. Ministers come and go. We live on.<\/p>\n