Cultural Centre of Belgrade

Address: Knez Mihailova 6/I, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Website: www.kcb.org.rs

Contact: phone +381 (0)11 2621 469Ê/ fax + 381 (0)11 2623 853

Opening hours: Art gallery and Artget Gallery: Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am – 8 pm

Opened to the public: 1957

Brief history aims and objectives: The Cultural Centre of Belgrade was founded in 1957 as a multidisciplinary cultural institution, whose role as an informative and educational institution was crucial during the development of YugoslavÕs new society in the post-war years. During this time it was important to allow information on events from various international domains and culture into Belgrade, as well as sending information about its own nation to the world. Thus, the Cultural Centre began its work as a large and well-equipped public library, opening the Art Gallery in 1961, and its movie theatre, DKC (Cultural Centre Movie Theatre) in 1963. Due to the fact that the institution is not a museum or a cultural heritage protection institute, the Centre has been able to step forward into the unknown, to take on research and experimental projects through a diverse and unique programme. The Centre is a creator, organizer and partner to many national and international projects and institutions that significantly mark the contemporary scene of Belgrade and Serbia.

Aims and objectives (exhibitions): Through its long and rich history the Centre has continued to follow its original mission; to promote the highest artistic, cultural and social values, support creative aspirations, and research and experiment with the national and international artistic art scenes. It is a dynamic cultural institution within which numerous ideas, topics, poetics, forms and media from varied creative domains are united and contextualized. The Centre celebrates the present moment while relying on understanding the histories of past in order to prepare itself for the future. Together, these strands fuse together to form a unique programme of extraordinary vibrancy that gives the Centre its strong profile. The visual art programme of the Cultural Centre of Belgrade is known for its constant movement between classic forms of fine arts, design, architecture, photography, ambient installations and site specific projects. High aesthetic standards, an active attitude towards the Serbian and international contemporary art scene, respect for professional exhibiting demands, the diversity and quality of linked programmes and activities make the Centre one of the most respected places of contemporary art in both Belgrade and Serbia.

Distinct areas of programming (exhibitions): Although it is the CentreÕs oldest activity, the art programme has been always aspiring to valuable new issues. It continuously and bravely presents almost all new trends and relevant authors of the contemporary scene of Belgrade, Serbia and the former Yugoslavia from the mid-20th century to the present. It does so through exhibitions and interdisciplinary and multimedia projects that include, the Yugoslav Art Triennial; Jews in Yugoslavia; Vienna Fantasticks; and Contemporary Danish Architecture. Contemporary works of Serbian and foreign artists of different generations, poetics and creative media are presented, and modern and contemporary art phenomena are explored at two galleries Ð the Art Gallery and the ÒArtgetÓ Gallery Ð producing approximately 40 individual, group, thematic and monographic exhibitions a year. Art Gallery: the Art Gallery has been one of the most prestigious exhibition places in Belgrade over four and a half decades. Relevant visual contemporary art works from the local Belgrade art scene have been presented at the gallery since its inception, whereas the interest in international art production has been introduced only in recent years. In addition to exhibitions, key programming strands at the Art Gallery include; lectures, workshops and round table discussions on national and international phenomena and tendencies in the contemporary visual arts; and artistÕs and authorÕs presentations and demonstrations of work processes. The Artget Gallery is the sole exhibition space committed to the presentation of photography in Belgrade since it was established in 2002. It works with numerous Belgrade, Serbian and foreign artists within with photography in documentary and historical formats, to contemporary visual art photography. The Centre aspires to provide the best possible insight into the international artistic scenes through guest curated shows and programmes and international collaborations. The October Salon (organized by the Cultural Centre of Belgrade), as the largest and most relevant international festival of contemporary visual art, stands out as the most important example.

Number of projects exhibited yearly (total: 15 Art Gallery+15 Artget Gallery (plus October salon exhibition)

Most outstanding projects of the last 3-5 years: The October Salon / annual international exhibition of contemporary arts, based on the authorial concept of chossen foreign or local curator established in 1960 by the City of Belgrade. www.oktobarskisalon.org One Writer festival; The International organ Days; The Harphshichord livig art; World Poetry Day; Festivals of film national cinematographies; BINA Belgrade International Week of Architecture.

Distinct areas of programming: Programmes of lectures, workshops, panel discussions and courses, are valuable intermediaries provided by the Cultural Centre of Belgrade to guide its public and particularly its younger audiences through exhibitions and projects. These programs present insights into the exciting world of creativity, and specifically the contemporary concepts, forms, and media that the CentreÕs projects cover.

Program strands: The CentreÕs music programme offers the most talented performers, classical music composers, international and national award winners and renowned musicians have been appearing at the weekly ÒConcerts at the GalleryÓ, at the Centre and broadcasted by Radio Belgrade 202 ÒClassical Music DrugstoreÓ every Monday evening since 1986. The CentreÕs film programme complements its many other threads of programming and interdisciplinary projects. The film programme is therefore loosely thematic, and presents author festivals and cycles of national cinematography, lectures, workshops, panel discussions with film makers and experts, media conferences, informative print and visual material. Its dedication to film art and visual culture are characteristics of the Centre film programme that has stimulated and secured respect of both film experts and a wide audience from all generations and profiles. The CentreÕs special projects are conducted within a wide polygon of creative work and offer complete and/or different insights into various phenomena of contemporariness and heritage, urban culture, creative tendencies and practices. These are also places where research and intercultural dialogues take place. Due to their scope, these projects do not only occupy all premises of the Centre, but are often organized to include numerous other cultural institutions and facilities, as well as actions and interventions in spaces of the City.

Number of activities by type per year: around 300 programmes by year of different type

Academic: The Belgrade Cultural Centre presents literature and debate programs on current visual arts related subjects. These dialogue and education programmes are the most dynamic cycles of the CentreÕs programme. These deal with topics relevant to the world we live in through multi-voiced approaches and real dialogues. These are of vital relevance for the local and national scene, and at other times more relevant to global phenomena, including subjects such as human rights, global warming, globalization, and common standards, to look specifically at how to consider and comprehend, improve or resist these.

Publishing: All exhibitions are accompanied by a bilingual, Serbian-English, catalogue with illustrations and texts from critics, theoreticians and art historians, not just to simply document the exhibition, but also to build a valuable base for future studies of contemporary arts.

Surface area/capacity: Total, 2700 m_

Type: Art Gallery (120 m_); Artget Gallery (280 m_); movie theatre with a foyer and a cafŽ (747 m_); Belgrade Window (bookstore, cafŽ, souvenir shop) (565 m_); Touristic organization of Belgrade space (340 m_); studios and stock rooms (305 m_); offices and auxiliary premises (366 m_).

Director: Mia David / mia.david@kcb.org.rs

Organizer/ Head curator: Vesna Danilovic, Programmes and Events Manager, vesna.danilovic@kcb.org.rs / Svetlana Petrovic, Curator, svetlana.petrovic@kcb.org.rs / Zorana Djakovic, Project Coordinator, zorana.djakovic@kcb.org.rs

Public: The City of Belgrade