Introduction

The Mostar Intercultural Festival is a project of MIFOC (Mostar Intercultural Festival Organizing Commitee) which is a federation of European independent socio-cultural organizations comprising of organizations from Mostar (Alternativni Institut, Mladi Most, Skart, L'Ateneu, Pavarotti music center), Sarajevo (Zasto ne?), Grenoble (Drugi Most, l'autre pont vers la Bosnie Herzegovine), Toulouse (Guernica) and Barcelona (RAI Balkan Commission). These nine organizations have been collaborating together since 1997, with the primary goal of restoring the socio-cultural and civic environment in Mostar, and have united in a common non-profit organization, registered in Mostar as a citizens' association MIFOC in November 2001. The federation was established in order to increase the efficiency and impact in attaining our common goals and objectives, and is structured so that the projects benefit from the contributions of all its members, whether its material, human or other resources.

The aim of the MIFOC federation is developing an independent and sustainable network, permitting the involvement of the youth of Mostar as well as allowing the artistic and civic collaboration outside of its borders, i.e. former Yugoslavia and Europe, thus promoting the universal value of culture, tolerance, reconciliation, upholding the universal democratic principles and the ideal of European citizenship. MIFOC’s activities primarily target the younger population of Mostar and BiH, but impact the wider population of the region of all ages.

Background

During the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina (1992-1995), the city of Mostar was torn apart by the warring sides. As a result of this conflict - especially between Bosnian Croat and Muslim forces - the city is now both politically, economically and socially divided. Since the Dayton Peace Agreement (November 1995), Mostar has become one of the ultimate key areas where the success or failure of the post-war peace order is being decided.

Only now, six years after the war, are the former political adversaries slowly beginning to co-operate with each other on the local level. Nevertheless, destruction as well as a lack of political and economic reforms are still preventing any considerable progress. Social groups within Mostar are still divided, especially between Mostar's so-called East and West parts. Although the physical borders in Mostar were removed five years ago, the separation is still felt in all spheres of everyday social life -- down to the family-level. This situation is especially affecting the young people who grow up in an atmosphere of tension and division.

Young people play a major role in defining the future of Mostar. It is still unclear whether they will continue the confrontations of the past or will strive to change the current political and social divisions. If Mostar is to have a better future, its major problems like unemployment, the widespread apathy and lack of motivation here have to be overcome. In a place of the current massive "brain drain" -- i.e. young people leaving Mostar for foreign countries, and the prevailing café bar culture as the main point of social and cultural life, MIFOC federation is the only one providing the frame and opportunities for the active involvement of youth of the Mostar region to propose and implement their ideas and responsibly participate in the reintegration of their society and building of their future.

Project description

MIFOC activities are implemented through its two main programs: socio-cultural program and the program of civil society development. The socio cultural program uses different artistic and cultural means (e.g. Mostar Intercultural festival, artistic exchanges, cultural activities throughout the year in Mostar and Herzegovina region, Du Monde aux Balkans, an artistic and civic exchange taking place each winter in French cities of Grenoble and Toulouse, workshops with children) in order to subtly create the ground for the social reintegration of Mostar and the region, as well as to promote the artistic initiatives free of ethnic and political influence. The civil society development program more directly targets the burning issues in the society (voting, role and responsibility of the local authorities, education, citizen responsibility, ecology, conscientious objection) through different means (campaigns, radio shows, seminars, conferences, newsletters, work in schools and local communities) in order to raise the level of awareness of the citizen responsibility for the societal and political progress.

However, the Mostar Intercultural Festival with its five-year standing tradition, remains the main and most comprehensive activity developed and implemented by the MIFOC federation.

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MIF 2002 – The Sixth Edition

Concept :

The Mostar Intercultural Festival has been taking place in Mostar for five years now and has brought in more than 400 artists from different parts of Europe, Mostar and the countries of former Yugoslavia to exchange and perform for and with the population in Mostar and different isolated or segregated places in Herzegovina (e.g. Nevesinje, Trebinje, Siroki Brijeg). Over the past five years, the MIF has attracted a large number of spectators and sympathizers, as well as over 30 young individuals of Mostar who have joined the MIFOC organizations in the all year long preparation of the annual, now traditional Mostar festival.

Dates and Cultural program :

This year, the Sixth Edition of Mostar Intercultural festival will take place from July 3rd to July 16th (there is a possibility that it starts three to seven days later) and will involve a great number of artists from France, Spain and countries of former Yugoslavia who have chosen to participate free of charge in order to support the reintegration processes in the region as well as the revival of the cultural values in the politicized environment of Mostar and BiH. The events will take place in the indoor and outdoor places in both sides of Mostar, in the central zone locations, marking the former demarcation line as well as in the above mentioned places in Herzegovina. In this way, MIF acts also as a “mobile” festival, not just inviting people to the events, but also taking the festival to the people.

The MIF (Mostar Intercultural Festival) is presented through four artistic sectors: music, exhibitions, theater and street spectacles, cinema and video, and the sector of civil society action (NGO stands, environmental/cleaning actions etc.).

Point of exchange :

The MIF is not a festival like all others. Its aims are both artistic performances and exchanges. Based on this principle, artists, technicians, organizers, audience and all people involved come to MIF to create and enjoy the possibility to meet, to share and to exchange. Exchange means to create, to do, to provide, to ensure, to discover and to promote the common work. This point of the festival is greatly defined by the different projects but it means that there will be time to have workshops, music sessions and the common time to create with the local people, artists, organizers, partners…

Furthermore the socio-political situation and the location of the festival (the “divided” city of Mostar in the post war situation of Bosnia Herzegovina) give to this cultural event a different approach and a different dimension and the exchange is here to ensure the greater understanding of everyone’s participation and contributions.

Engagement :

In order to establish real exchange and a successful preparation and implementation of the festival, a voluntary engagement is necessary from everyone. Consequently the festival is from and to everyone, all the people who will decide to give time, tools, work and part of their lives to the idea of the MIF.

During the year you will be in contact with foreign organizations as well as with MIFOC in Mostar. Due to the geographical distance, our work is functioning mainly through Internet. We ask everyone to be able to keep in touch via the Internet in order to follow development of their projects, situation in Mostar and evolution of the whole festival. In addition, we ask everyone to be able to communicate in English, as it is the main language of the festival, essential for following, exchanging and transmitting information.

In order to ensure more productive results it’s necessary to come on the ground in Mostar during the year. This time will be reserved for meetings with people, discovering places of performance, and concrete development of your project. You will also have people to follow the development and needs of your project here in Mostar but in France and Spain too.

Any kind of project will have a person responsible for it. This person could come from the project (a band, a theater company, a team…) or from the organization. In any case there will be one person in charge of each project. This person will be serve as a point of contact for the project, but as well as a link between MIFOC and the project.

Selection of the program :

Your project will be brought to Mostar by our foreign partners (France, Spain). They will serve as the intermediaries in the process of selection. They will help you to address your project to MIFOC for selection.

The selection is based on artistic value, human engagement, logistic and material needs. If the festival is not like others it above all because it is created by everybody, here and there. The question of your involvement is a big point. MIFOC is not working only to provide performance space to artists, but to engage artists in the elaboration of the festival and the exchange.

Basically we ask everyone to search for things necessary to implement their project, to come to Mostar during the year (April) and to really keep in their mind that they will completely be a part of the organization of their project inside the global cultural program.

This fact is going to play an important role in the selection process. It means that we will in priority choose more easily a project which requires less logistic support, and which decides to be really involved in the way the festival is organized (with and by the artists)

In order to enter your project in the selection process we would like to receive:

- presentation of your work (CD, pictures, video and whatever you have to be able to show us what you are doing)

- list of your logistic needs (sound and equipment, transport, space…)

- your motivation and interest in being a part of the MIF 2002

The application for MIF 2002 you can find at the end of this document.

Please also pay attention that the cultural program will be chosen in the middle of February, which means that you will have to dedicate yourself to the next MIF before 31th of January, 2002.

Role of the foreign partners :

The foreign partners are here to make sure that things are going well between projects and MIFOC. Our foreign partners (i.e. Drugi Most, Guernica and RAI) will be here to follow you, to organize preparatory travels, to introduce you to the Mostar team and help you to implement your project.

They will help if necessary in the search of your needs.

They will assure the preparation of the different participants (in order to know better what is MIF and MIFOC).

They will also be in charge of travels to Mostar (during the year to prepare and for the festival in July).

Logistic points :

The travel will be organized from France and Spain in the beginning of July 2002 in two buses, with all the participants and materials. If you are in position to bring your own vehicle and put it at disposition of the festival, this would be highly appreciated. MIFOC is paying for all your travel expenses inside the organized transport. Please keep in mind that the first three days upon arrival in Mostar will be used to get accommodated, meet the people, get to know the place, organize the final preparations etc. One or two days of break during the festival are also envisaged to provide an opportunity to evaluate the first days of the festival, settle the different problems that might occur and prepare for the last part of the festival. The last two days before departure will be used for all the participants to spend time together, evaluate what has been accomplished, cleaning up and packing. Please be aware that the daily schedule will also require you to assure certain preparation and presence, often earlier in the morning or late at night.

You will be further prepared by the MIFOC team in France and Spain (RAI, Guernica, Drugi Most) in your respective countries and by a MIFOC Mostar team in France in March / April 2002. During these meetings you will be able to receive basic information and elaborate better the preparation of your festival project. In addition, upon your arrival in Mostar, you will receive all the information sheets, program schedule, meetings schedule, list of tasks, accommodation list, rules of the schools, map of the city and places of performances etc.

Accommodation that we can offer at this time is at the local schools. So you are kindly asked to bring a “matelas” (a mat) and a sleeping bag, as the sleeping place will be the floor of the school gym. The showers (only few per school) will also be provided. During your stay in school, together with other participants and organizers you will be asked to respect the rules that are to be applied in each school (no smoking or drinking in the school, taking part in the cleaning and permanence presence schedules).

Unfortunately, we are not in position to compensate for your food and other expenses that you may acquire during your stay in Mostar. However, the prices of food and drinks in Mostar are generally very cheap. There will also be several common meals organized during your stay in Mostar for all the participants and organizers.

The weather in Mostar at this time of year is very hot, rising up to 40 degrees Celsius and more. Mostar is situated in the valley of Neretva, surrounded by hills and mountains, with Mediterranean climate. However, bring some warmer clothes for the day in the mountain which is scheduled for at least one day of the festival program.

For further information (pictures, sound, promotion materials) please contact :

Mostar : mostarinterculturalfestival@yahoo.com

Grenoble : drugimost@yahoo.fr

Toulouse : guernicaadpe@yahoo.fr

Barcelona : balkanix@hotmail.com

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