Ljudi iz Srbije i sa Kosova treba da gaje više empatije (ENGLISH)

To kaže Lulzim Hoti, izvršni direktor i osnivač neprofitnog kulturnog udruženja „7Arte“, i koji trenutno predaje na „Kosovo Leadership Academy“. Ovo udruženje podržava mlade kosovske umetnike, posebno filmske stvaraoce, ali i umetnike iz drugih kulturnih branši, u cilju promovisanja i razvoja zajedničke evropske kulture.

Učestvujući u Danasovom online projektu „Druga strana Kosova“, koje ima za cilj da poveže srpsku i kosovsku kulturnu scenu, ali i da informiše čitaoce o nepolitičkim temama u koje šira javnost nema dovoljno uvida, Hoti je odgovarao na pitanja Danasa.

On je odgovarao i na pitanja Sofije Todorović, koordinatorke programa u Youth Initiative for Human Rights, u cilju povezivanja srpskih i kosovskih organizacija koje se bave sličnim kulturnim aktivnostima, ali i na pitanja koje su postavili naši čitaoci na društvenim mrežama.

Šta bi, prema Vašem mišljenju, trebalo najpre učiniti kako bi se odnosi Srbije i Kosova normalizovali?

– Ljudi sa obe strane, treba više da razmišljaju o sebi, da gaje više empatije, da grade poverenje i da misle o dobrobiti budućih generacija.

Kako ocenjujete proces normalizacije koji trenutno vode vlasti u Prištini i Beogradu?

– Kao građanin Mitrovice, smatram da je mnogo više moglo da se uradi da bi se normalizovala situacija na ovom polju. Određeni dogovori u praksi nisu ispunjeni i sada situacija deluje mnogo komplikovanije. Taj proces treba da se završi, a kraj tog procesa treba da bude početak procesa normalizacije.

Da li je moguće da normalizaciju odnosa Kosova i Srbije okončaju političke elite koje su bile aktivne tokom sukoba devedesetih?

– Balkan ima jedinstvenu kulturu među političkom elitom; već su razvili instinkt preživljavanja na političkoj sceni ili dok ne umru ili dok sud ne donese konačne odluke.

* Sofija Todorović, koordinatorka programa u Youth Initiative for Human Rights, u okviru Danasovog projekta, postavljala je pitanja našem sagovorniku.

Kako biste opisali kosovsku kulturnu scenu?

– Kosovska kulturna scena se bori sa različitim izazovima, ali svakako napreduje i pokušava da se „spoji“ sa ostatkom sveta. Za sada, pojedini umetnici i nezavisne kulturne organizacije igraju ključnu ulogu u razvoju i promovisanju kulturnog života na Kosovu.Vizuelno, kosovska kulturna scena se može uporediti sa performansima slavuja koji će ili nastupati u kavezu ili imati kratko vreme da izvedu nastup van njega, da bi potom bili vraćeni u kavez. Ali ako izuzmemo tu situaciju, mislim da glas kosovskih umetnika postaje sve popularniji na Balkanu i širom sveta.

Da li kulturna asocijacija 7Arte radi na povezivanju umetnika/ca unutar Kosova a koji pripadaju različitim etničkim skupinama?

– „7Arte“ organizuje zajedničke radionice i aktivnosti za mlade umetnike od 2006. godine. Pozivamo i sarađujemo sa lokalnim umetnicima, iz različitih etničkih grupa, koji žive na Kosovu. Mislim da umetnici imaju zajednički jezik i ne treba mnogo vremena da nađu obostrane interese i ideje za saradnju. „7Arte“ je uključivao sve etničke grupe koje žive u Mitrovici u svoje kulturne projekte, iako je to izuzetno težak proces, posebno u održavanju koherentnih projekata.

Zbog čega vam je fokus na promociji zajedničke evropske kulture?

– Kao organizacija verujemo u evropsku kulturu i njene vrednosti. Balkanske zemlje geografski pripadaju Evropi, stoga, promovišući naše vrednosti verujemo da obogaćujemo kulturni i jezički kaleidoskop Evrope.

Koliko, prema Vašem mišljenju, dešavanja i predrasude na Balkanu utiču na percepcije umetnika i umetnost uopšte?

– Veoma je teško pobeći od događaja koji se dešavaju na Balkanu i od uticaja tih događaja. Postoji nada da će nove generacije i društveni mediji „slomiti“ granice i stereotipe u pogledu percepcije umetnika i umetnosti uopšteno, ali nas, u tom pogledu, čeka dug put.

Na šta ste najviše ponosni kada pogledate svoj dosadašnji rad?

– Ponosnim me čini upornost i tendencija u održavanju kulturnog života grada koji je patio i još uvek pati. Pored toga, nedavno je „7Arte“, u saradnji sa zajednicom i lokalnim institucijama opštine Južna Mitrovica, osmislio i usvojio svoju prvu Strategiju za kulturu i turizam 2018-2022, koja je za mene put koji može izlečiti i pozitivno razvijati ovaj deo regiona.

* Naši čitaoci su bili u prilici da postavljaju pitanja Hotiju na društvenim mrežama, prenosimo neka od njih.

https://www.facebook.com/www.danas.rs/videos/1040387092812375/

Prema Vašem mišljenju, kako može doći do pomirenja dve kulture, bez stvaranja neke vrste hibridne kulture?

– Ideja o stvaranju neke vrste hibridne kulture počela je na Kosovu pre nekoliko godina, posebno sa ujedinjenjem svih kultura u novu naciju, poznatu kao „Kosovar“, barem tako zovu građane Kosova, u Tirani i Beogradu. Iz šire perspektive, pomirenja između Kosova i Srbije, jedina „hibridna“ kultura, koja treba da bude usmerena na prihvatanje evropskih vrednosti i integracija u evropsku raznolikost.

Da li bi „7Arte“ bio zainteresovan za učešće u Evropskim partnerskim projektima sa Zmuc radionicom  Zmuc Radionica ?

– Da, bićemo u kontaktu i istražićemo potencijalne ideje za saradnju.

Šta mislite da li su kulturna dostignuća rezultat rada malih grupa entuzijasta?

– Mislim da generalno Internet i društveni mediji imaju uticaj na naš kulturni život, naravno, među ostalim efektima. Imamo mnogo više subkultura i manje publike, ali tako je svuda. Svi se nadamo da ćemo povećati broj entuzijasta i učiniti život boljim, a nikad ne zna ko bi mogao biti inspirisan organiziranjem projekata.

Lulzim Hoti je 2006. godine osnovao “7Arte”. Ovu kulturnu asocijaciju podržala je Evropska kancelarija u Prištini, realizovala je neke međunarodne aktivnosti u partnerstvu sa mrežom “NISI MASA” i drugim partnerima. “7Arte” organizuje događaje kao što su audio-vizuelne radionice, muzički festivali, projekcije na otvorenom, ulična umetnost, večeri poezije, sajmovi i programi razmene.

Neki od događaja koje je udruženje „7Arte“organizovalo, kako bi inspirisalo mlade da pokrenu i razviju kreativne ideje, su „Kreativni kutak“, biblioteka-kafić, DOKO YOMI – filmska radionica čiji je cilj zagovaranje društvenih i ekoloških pitanja kroz video produkcije i projekcije kratkih dokumentarnih filmova. „Shala la la la“ je radionica za decu iz ruralnih područja, „GREEN Open Air Cinema“ i „Green Music Festival“ fokusiraju se na podizanje svijesti javnosti o zaštiti i očuvanju životne okoline. „Mitro je ‘aime’ je projekat koji promoviše kulturnu raznolikost u Mitrovici koristeći različita gledišta svojih građana. „Šta je (moja) kultura?“, projekat koji ima za cilj da diskutuje o kulturi, politici i potencijalnim urbanim intervencijama, promoviše kulturnu raznolikost među učesnicima iz različitih etničkih grupa sa posebnim fokusom na pitanja životne sredine, kao i mnoge druge događaje koji pokrivaju slične teme.

ENGLISH VERSION

Lulzim Hoti, Executive Director and founder of „7 Arte“, in an interview for the Danas project „The other side of  Kosovo“

“People from both sides, Kosovo and Serbia, should reflect more on themselves, should have more empathy, build trust and think for the sake of new generations” says Lulzim Hoti, the executive director and founder of the non-profit cultural association „7Arte“, who is currently teaching at the „Kosovo Leadership Academy“. „7Arte“ is supporting young Kosovo artists, especially filmmakers, as well as artists from other branches, with the idea to promote and develop a common European culture.

Hoti participated in Danas’ online project „The other side of  Kosovo“, which aims to link the cultural scenes of Kosovo and Serbia and inform readers about non-political issues that are not well known to the general public .Hoti answered our questions, as well as the questions of Sofija Todorović, Program Coordinator from the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, organization that deal with similar activities as “7Arte”, and also on the questions from the readers of  Danas.

In your opinion, what should be the priorities in order to normalize relations between Serbia and Kosovo?

– All what I can say from my perspective is that people from both sides should reflect more on themselves, should have more empathy, build trust and think for the sake of new generations.

What do you think about the process of normalization that is currently being held by the authorities in Pristina and Belgrade?

– As a citizen of Mitrovica, I think that a lot more could have been done to normalize the situation in this area. Some of the agreements were not followed through in practice and now the situation seems to be more complicated. This process should have an end, and that end should be only the beginning of accommodation and normalization.

Is it possible that this process of normalization will end political elites that were active during the 1990’s conflicts?

– The Balkans have a unique culture among the political elite; they already developed the instinct of surviving in a political scene, either untill they die or untill the court makes the final decisions.

* Sofija Todorović, Program Coordinator from the Youth Initiative for Human Rights, also asked Hoti some questions within the project.

How would you describe Kosovo’s cultural scene?

– I think that Kosovo’s cultural scene is struggling with different challenges, but it is certainly progressing and trying to merge with the rest of the world. So far, individual artists and independent cultural organizations have been playing a crucial role on developing and promoting cultural life in Kosovo. Visually, Kosovo’s cultural scene can be compared with the nightingale’s performances that either will perform inside the cage or will have a short time to perform outside and turn back on their cage. Beside this situation, I think that the voice of Kosovar artists is becoming popular more and more in Balkan and worldwide.

Does the cultural association “7Arte” work on connecting artists within Kosovo that belong to different ethnic groups?

– „7Arte“ has been organizing joint workshops and activities for young artists since 2006. We have been inviting and cooperating with local artists from different ethnicities living in Kosovo. I think artists have a common language and it doesn’t take much time to find mutual interests and ideas for cooperation. „7Arte“ has been including all ethnic groups living in Mitrovica in it’s cultural projects, even though it is an extremely hard process, especially in keeping these projects sustainable and coherent.

Why are you focusing on promoting a common European culture?

– As an organization we believe in European values and culture and Balkan countries geographically belong to Europe, so by promoting our values we believe that we are enriching and completing the cultural and linguistic kaleidoscope of Europe.

How much do the events and prejudices in the Balkans affect the perception of artists and art in general?

– I think that it is very hard to escape from the events that are happening in the Balkans and to be unaffected by that. There is hope that new generations and social medias will break borders and stereotypes, regarding the perception of artists and art in general, but there is a long way for all of us to go.

What are you most proud of when you look at your previous work?

– The persistence and tendency to keep the cultural life of a city which has suffered, and is still suffering makes me proud. Other than that, recently „7Arte“, in cooperation with the community and local institutions of the Municipality of South Mitrovica, designed and approved their first Strategy for Culture and Tourism 2018-2022, which for me is a path that might cure and positively develop this part of the region.

* Our readers had the opportunity to ask questions to Hoti on social networks, these are some of them.

In your opinion, how can the reconciliation of two cultures be done without creating some kind of a hybrid culture?

– The idea of creating a kind of hybrid culture started within Kosovo several years ago, especially with the unification of all cultures into a new nation, known as Kosovar. At least that is how we, the citizens of Kosovo, are called in Tirana and Belgrade. From a wider perspective of reconciliation between Kosovo and Serbia, the only “hybrid” culture that should be aimed for is the embrace of European values and the integration into European diversity.

Would „7Arte“ be interested in participating in European partnership projects with Zmuc Workshop – Zmuc Radionica?

– Yes, we will be in touch and look into potential ideas for cooperation.

What do you think, are cultural achievements just the result of work put in by small groups of enthusiasts?

– I think, in general, we are living through the impact of the internet and social media on our cultural life. Of course, among other effects, we have many more sub-cultures and smaller audiences just like everywhere else. I think we’re all hoping that we are going to raise the number of enthusiasts and make life better, and you never know who might be inspired by organizing small projects.

Lulzim Hoti founded “7Arte” in 2006. The cultural association is supported by the European Office in Pristina, realized some international activities in partnership with “NISI MASA” network and other partners. “7Arte” organizes events such as audio-visual workshops, music festivals, open-air projections, street art, poetry evenings, trade fairs and exchange programs.

Some of the events organized by „7Arte”, in order to inspire young people to start and develop creative ideas, are „Creative corner“, a library-café; DOKO YOMI- a film workshop aimed at advocating for social and environmental issues through video production and the projection of short documentaries. „Shala la la la“ is a workshop for children from rural areas. “GREEN Open Air Cinema” and “Green Music Festival” focus on raising public awareness on environmental protection and conservation. „Mitro je t’aime“ is a project that promotes cultural diversity in the city of Mitrovica using different viewpoints of its citizens. „What is (my) culture?“, a project aimed at discussing culture, politics and potential urban interventions, promotes cultural diversity among participants from different ethnic groups with a particular focus on environmental issues, as well as many other events covering similar subject matter.