CULTURAL ANIMATION AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS

Text topic: Themes

Text author: Милош Ћирић

The cultural tradition of Belgrade, created over several millennia of rises and falls, is one of the major city resources. However, culture did not get its deserved place in the strategic plans of Serbia, nor of Belgrade. This fact must be changed as soon as possible through a series of synchronized and meaningful actions, including a revival of the idea of cultural animation, not only as a subject of research projects but as a real activity of all relevant public and cultural institutions. Initial activities should cover evaluation of the real state of culture in Belgrade, preparing a list of cultural institutions of all levels and orientations, and also through a wider survey of cultural needs and habits of the population of Belgrade. Such researches should be a basis for defining a list of appropriate actions to articulate and stream the interests of Belgrade population towards true culture, but also free of elitism. Bringing culture to the population through educational and inspirational programs for youth and organizing specific programs in rural and suburban areas should be the key element of the newly established animation programs. In addition to this, already well– established cultural institutions need to join or support the activities of cultural entertainment that would be coordinated at the level of city government.