Topology of Space of the Independent Scenes in Serbia and Macedonia

Abstract

The map based on observations of existing venues and cultural actions/activities that lack a venue, aims to shed light on spatial topology of independent performing arts scenes in two post-Yugoslav countries, Macedonia and Serbia. These contemporary performing arts scenes are similar on the level of development and are marked by ad-hoc production of works, the lack of proper venues for work and presentation, insufficient public visibility, ignorance from the public authorities and non-supportive cultural policies. And while the cultural system in the two countries is dominated by state-funded cultural institutions, largely inherited from Yugoslav socialism, the current political establishments reinforce nationalistic, conservative and patriarchal values as well as populist discourse, which makes the contexts for the development of a independent scene extremely difficult, but challenging at the same time. What's more, while the situation for the independent cultural sector is becoming unbearable (still struggling to establish basic working conditions), the governments of both countries initiate megalomaniac reconstruction projects of both capitals. Following the logic of the heritage of independent cultural actors, being a counter agent to state cultural institutions, the continuous struggle for space appears to be more a struggle for making the invisible and the socially unacknowledged cultural and political practices and ideas visible and thereby approving their existence.The selection of examples appearing in the map covers heterogeneous statements on the necessity of space, while trying to tackle the notion of space as multifaceted in order to allow us to propose a set of hypothesis on how the availability of spaces might affect the development of independent performing arts scenes.