Twenty years of artistic innovation and global connections
The story of ArtLink is my personal artistic story and journey through the development of a music association and festival that had a clear vision from the beginning—to serve artists, particularly young artists, on their path of growth and career development. That vision also included linking artists from across the world and creating meaningful and creative partnerships that serve the artists and art itself.
After twenty years of devotion to that vision, I can proudly say that ArtLInk has become the link and inspiration for many young talents and the creative lab for exceptional artistic projects, programs, artists, artistic coproductions and interesting, unique programs.
Linking cities and festivals through the platform Festival Cities with European Festival Association, young artists in the orchestra Camerata Balcanica, artists from different continents in East, West, North, and South, and many other musical connections, ArtLInk has positioned itself on the art map as a synonym for powerful and inspiring connections through music and art.
Our latest music program connects two cities, Belgrade and Vienna, in the Cycle—Vienna. We organise Belgrade Musical Connections in the city of Vienna with the support of UNESCO and in cooperation with the partners from Austria—Wiena International Soloists.
Our program Mozart – Mokranjac was premiered in Vienna this month. For this program, as pianist and artistic director, I performed and presented Choir LOLA with Maestro Milovan Pančić and the string quartet Camerata Balcanica with Andrea Nikolić, a violist, as a guest.
How did this story start?
It all started with a great love for music and admiration for the profession of a professional musician and pianist. It all started with my curiosity and a huge desire to learn and grow and to meet the world of performing arts and the world of great musicians. Music provides unlimited opportunities for talent development, personal and professional development, and beauty to audiences.
What activities marked 20 years of ArtLink?
This year, the artLink festival has been recognised and supported by UNESCO and the UNESCO National Commission for its high-quality programs that promote cultural heritage, women artists, and regional cooperation through music. Artists from all continents have performed at the ArtLink festival over the past twenty years, and ArtLink has achieved significant long-term partnerships with the European Association of Festivals, Ljubljana Festival, festivals in the region, and a unique collaboration in the previous year with artists from Korea, Portugal, France, the United States, Australia. ArtLink is a pioneer in the region in promoting and nurturing young musical talents, for which several thematic programs have been created, such as Brasiliana, in which young artists performed the music of the greatest Brazilian composer, Villa Lobos, in the region.
As a long-standing member of the European Festival Association and Platform member of several platforms, ArtLink became a partner in the Creative Europe cooperation project, which involved two festivals from Hungary and Portugal.
The second consecutive Women ArtLinks Forum was held at the Madeleine Palace of Art. It is dedicated to women in art, women artists, and women who make art a business. The forum was held in October, which is the month dedicated to raising awareness about breast cancer.
We launched the Music for Health initiative, through which we held several concerts to raise funds for oncology clinics in Belgrade and Niš.
I am thrilled to have made my piano appearances as an artist this year in Portugal at the Algarve festival with cellist Isabelle Vaz, premiered in Serbia with an ensemble from Korea, and performed in piano duo with French Australian pianist Dee Penicaut.
As a pianist and artistic director with Camerata Balcanica Ensemble in Vienna, I started the Musical Connection Belgrade and Vienna cycle with the Wise Ensemble from Vienna and the Salon of the Austrian Bank.
ArtLink was presented at the Directors Panel at the International Shanghai Festival, where it was given to important stakeholders in the Music and Festival Industry from the US, Asia, and Europe. At the end of the year, we participated in the American Black Oak Ensemble tour. Also, we prepared the Saint Lucia celebration at the White Palace in cooperation with the Swedish Embassy and the wonderful LOLA Choir, conducted by Milovan Pancic.
ArtLink has become an inspiration for young talents and a creative lab for exceptional artistic projects.
Who have been the key supporters and partners in the last 20 years?
After the first project of the Nordic—Balkan Orchestra, supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers, the First Summer Art School of ArtLink was realised with the support of the Culture Secretariat of the City of Belgrade and the current Trag Foundation. The first round table on Art and Business was held, marking the beginning of the philanthropy program in Serbia.
The Porsche company and Audi became sponsors of the ArtLink award, and a few years later, Societe Generale Banka in Serbia concluded a multi-year sponsorship agreement for the ArtLink Societe Generale Young Talents Music Cycle that was created as a first of that kind in the region.
This program laid the foundations of the career development program for young talents in Serbia, and the French Ministry of Culture awarded me the Order of Knight as artistic director of this program. In addition to music, young talents and festivals, ArtLink has since its foundation worked on community investment programs, not only in the capital but also in smaller towns such as Majdanpek, Kučevo, Zaječar, Kragujevac, and raising awareness on the topic of nature protection, energy saving, We have we implemented programs in cooperation with GIZ, the Mitsubishi company in the entire region, the Ardagh Group, and UNIQA Insurance and the Zepter International company.
We have built regional cooperation with the Kamerata Balcanica musical ensemble with the support of the International Visegrad Fund and the Fund for the Western Balkans. With Camerata Balcanica for UN Serbia, ArtLInk organised the Concert for Peace while simultaneously being a regional hug for the Western Balkans in the European Association of Festivals.
In recent years, the ArtLink festival has been held outdoors – at the Belgrade Fortress as well as at fortresses in Serbia and the region, which contributed to the promotion of the city and the region in cooperation with local partners such as the Zaječar Theatre, Felix Romuliana, Golubac, and partners from the entire region. Performances by top artists included the Janoška ensemble, John Malkovih, the Vienna Academy Orchestra and many others. The ArtLink festival connected the most beautiful destinations in the region. It even held a musical Bach marathon on the banks of the Sava River.
A world with more beauty is a better world, and through music and art, we bring that beauty to life
What is your vision for the future?
We aim to continue being innovative and creative and to continue being pioneers in bringing the spotlight to emerging artists and artistic interventions needed in society. We will remain an incubator for the career development of musicians and musical connections.
As the motto of our Women Forum was “Beauty will save the world,” we will intentionally bring this beauty to the world around us through music and art.
Finding the beauty and light surrounding us and sprinkles the beauty of the world and the light of our hearts will be our permanent mission. A world with more beauty is a better world.
