City
Capital of Macedonia, Skopje is in the lift.
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Skopje Beton by Darko Hristov (CC license) -
on the roof of the post office built by Janko Konstantinov
Characterized by the dynamic frenzy of pre-EU accession, all different kinds of art scenes are forming here.
Modernist Dream
After its destruction in the 1963 earthquake, the city of Skopje invited the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange to design a master plan for the city. Although it was only partially realized, some iconic modernist buildings appeared in the city, including by the Alvaro Aalto-trained Macedonian architect Janko Konstantinov. However it is not certain that the present authorities of the city are sufficiently aware of this architectural heritage.
Cultural bubble
With the independence of Macedonia in 1991 a number of foreign organizations came in to support the development of cultural life, which had been in effervescence since the 1980s. Soros' Open Society Institute spread millions among art professionals, which it saw as key to establishing an 'Open Society'. However by the early 2000s it considered this objective as (sufficiently) attained, and it closed the tap. Other organizations followed suit, seriously deflating Macedonian cultural life.
Skopje 2014 and beyond
Successive governments have not yet realized the importance of the independent creative sector, and prefer to implement their cultural projects through their own trusted partners and affiliates. However these adverse conditions have not deterred the independent scene from developing. From wine bars to project spaces, new media institutes and experimental biennials in nearby provincial towns, Skopje has a lot to offer besides good food and abundant cultural heritage sites.
This travel destination site was created as a collective effort during a Creative Cities workshop organized by Blesok and led by Robert Kluijver in March 2010
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(photo by Edwin Gardner)
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Organisation:SkopjeTOCKA
Cultural Centre Tocka functioning as a cafe, art bookstore and office space for creatives. We have cakes and huge choice of different teas…
1 Oct 2010 – 31 Dec 2010Event:Skopje, Skopje, Macedonia34 Tuned Cities
Independent Film and Visual Arts Festival
“4 Tuned Cities” is Skopje’s most off the beaten track festival, fully dedicated to independent film and visual arts. The manifestation…
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Organisation:Skopje1LOKOMOTIVA
Centre for New initiatives in Arts and Culture
LOKOMOTIVA-Centre for New initiatives in Arts and Culture is an NGO created in 2003 in Skopje by young individuals working as artists and…
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Organisation:SkopjePublic Room
The non- profit foundation Public ROOM it is active in the whole region and beyond. Our activities and program empower the non-profit sector…
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Organisation:SkopjeMladinski Kulturen Centar
MKC organizes concerts, music and dancing lessons, exhibitions and the MOT (Young Open Theater) festival. Home of the Frosina cinema. It was…
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Organisation:SkopjeLine Initiative and Movement
Line Initiative and movement was founded in 2006 as an independent platform for support of artists who work in the field of new media art and…
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SkopjeCultural Center CK
CULTURAL CENTER CK The Cultural Center “CK” is located in the old house (build 1903 and protected as a cultural heritage) in the center…
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Organisation:Skopje1MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SKOPJE
The Museum of Contemporary Art is the most competent and influential institution in the Republic of Macedonia in discovering, treasuring and…
13 Mar 2010 – 26 Jun 2010Event:Skopje, Nomad Dance Academy3NOMAD Educational Programme 2010
NOMAD Educational program starts in Skopje on March 13!!! NOMAD Educational program is dedicated to emerging artists in contemporary dance…
1 Jan 2011 – 31 Dec 2011Event:Skopje, MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART SKOPJE-
Organisation:SkopjeNomad Dance Academy
NOMAD Dance Academy is a common initiative of six regional partner organizations from Macedonia (Lokomotiva), Serbia and Montenegro (Stanica),…
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Organisation:SkopjeShadows and Clouds
shadow puppets theater
"Shadows and clouds" is a small shadow puppets theater group from Skopje, Macedonia. They exist almost 3 years now, and have many different…
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Organisation:SkopjeKanal 103
Independent radio channel
Kanal 103 is a unique, noncommercial, alternative, free radio station broadcasting on Macedonian air.
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1 Oct 2010 – 31 Oct 2010Event1SEAFair '10 - The Apparatus of Life and Death
SEAFair '10 will convey the story of artists attempting to navigate through the maize of the newly constructed global bio-political apparatus,…