Creative Europe is an EU Programme for support to the sectors for culture and media. The Programme consists of two sub-programmes: Culture – for promoting the sector of culture and the Media Programme – to support the audio-visual sector. Creative Europe, with a budget of EUR 1.46 billion supports Europe’s cultural and creative sectors providing funding for 2,500 artists and cultural professionals, 2,000 cinemas, 800 films, 4,500 book translations and financial guarantee facility of up to €750 million for small businesses active in the sector. Notably, Creative Europe has also extended its reach to cultural institutions and artists in the Western Balkans, including those in Serbia, in recent years.
“Both of these experiences were very valuable for my artistic portfolio. Besides the professional fulfillment, I also had the opportunity to forge new friendships and connections. All in all, it was a rewarding learning experience”
Damjan Jovičin, composer and pianist
Damjan Jovičin is a talented Serbian composer and pianist based in Belgrade. He is a prominent figure among the emerging generation of creative artists and composers in the Balkans. Damjan boasts an extensive body of musical compositions, and his works have been performed by esteemed ensembles such as the RTS Orchestra and Choir, Hermes Ensemble, Mivos Quartet, Manojlović Quartet, Zagreb Flute Ensemble, String Orchestra of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Belgrade Guitar Duo, and numerous others.
His compositions have been showcased at prestigious events and venues, including the Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, the International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Finland’s Time of Music festival, the Walden Creative Music Retreat in New Hampshire, USA, and the Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS).
Damjan is among the Serbian artists who have reaped the benefits of the Creative Europe program. His artistic creations found a stage in the EU-funded Balkan Youth Jazz Orchestra and formed part of the “Opera: Past present Perfect!” project. In his own words, “Both of these experiences were very valuable for my artistic portfolio. Besides the professional fulfillment, I also had the opportunity to forge new friendships and connections. All in all, it was a rewarding learning experience,” Damjan reflects.
The international initiative, “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!”, was initiated under the Creative Europe-Culture: European Cooperation Projects in 2020. The project run from September 2020, to February 2023. Alongside MOTO – Music, Opera, and Theater Organization, which serves as the project lead, collaborators include Nieuw Geneco from Amsterdam (Netherlands), Young Musician International Association of Georgia from Tbilisi (Georgia), University of Donja Gorica in Podgorica (Montenegro), and the Little Theatre “Duško Radović” in Serbia.
“We were provided with online tutoring sessions on opera composition, which also included valuable feedback on our musical compositions. Receiving guidance from experienced composers was an exceptionally enriching and meaningful experience.”
Damjan Jovičin, composer and pianist
The primary objective of the “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!” project is to foster connections and offer education to young professionals, aiming to facilitate cross-sectoral, cross-national, and intergenerational dialogues (particularly between young professionals and mentors). The project seeks to promote collaboration and the exchange of expertise, ultimately repositioning opera as an interdisciplinary and genuine European art form.
Within the framework of this project, Damjan Jovičin’s opera “Mercy Street” was performed in Belgrade, in theater Duško Radović. However, in addition to the opportunity to showcase his work, Damjan also took advantage of mentoring opportunities made available through the Dutch Composers’ Union, thanks to the project’s support. In his own words, “We were provided with online tutoring sessions on opera composition, which also included valuable feedback on our musical compositions. Receiving guidance from experienced composers was an exceptionally enriching and meaningful experience,” Damjan acknowledges.
About the programme
The Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 has a budget of € 2.44 billion, compared to €1.47 billion of the previous programme (2014-2020). Creative Europe invests in actions that reinforce cultural diversity and respond to the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors. The main objectives of the programme are to safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage and to increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular the audiovisual sector The novelties of the programme will contribute to the recovery of these sectors, reinforcing their efforts to become more inclusive, more digital and environmentally more sustainable.
Photo credits: Damjan Jovicin
Damjan Jovičin is a talented Serbian composer and pianist based in Belgrade. He is a prominent figure among the emerging generation of creative artists and composers in the Balkans. Damjan boasts an extensive body of musical compositions, and his works have been performed by esteemed ensembles such as the RTS Orchestra and Choir, Hermes Ensemble, Mivos Quartet, Manojlović Quartet, Zagreb Flute Ensemble, String Orchestra of the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, Belgrade Guitar Duo, and numerous others.
His compositions have been showcased at prestigious events and venues, including the Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, the International Summer Academy of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, Finland’s Time of Music festival, the Walden Creative Music Retreat in New Hampshire, USA, and the Belgrade Music Festival (BEMUS).
Damjan is among the Serbian artists who have reaped the benefits of the Creative Europe program. His artistic creations found a stage in the EU-funded Balkan Youth Jazz Orchestra and formed part of the “Opera: Past present Perfect!” project. In his own words, “Both of these experiences were very valuable for my artistic portfolio. Besides the professional fulfillment, I also had the opportunity to forge new friendships and connections. All in all, it was a rewarding learning experience,” Damjan reflects.
The international initiative, “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!”, was initiated under the Creative Europe-Culture: European Cooperation Projects in 2020. The project run from September 2020, to February 2023. Alongside MOTO – Music, Opera, and Theater Organization, which serves as the project lead, collaborators include Nieuw Geneco from Amsterdam (Netherlands), Young Musician International Association of Georgia from Tbilisi (Georgia), University of Donja Gorica in Podgorica (Montenegro), and the Little Theatre “Duško Radović” in Serbia.
The primary objective of the “Opera: Past, Present, Perfect!” project is to foster connections and offer education to young professionals, aiming to facilitate cross-sectoral, cross-national, and intergenerational dialogues (particularly between young professionals and mentors). The project seeks to promote collaboration and the exchange of expertise, ultimately repositioning opera as an interdisciplinary and genuine European art form.
Within the framework of this project, Damjan Jovičin’s opera “Mercy Street” was performed in Belgrade, in theater Duško Radović. However, in addition to the opportunity to showcase his work, Damjan also took advantage of mentoring opportunities made available through the Dutch Composers’ Union, thanks to the project’s support. In his own words, “We were provided with online tutoring sessions on opera composition, which also included valuable feedback on our musical compositions. Receiving guidance from experienced composers was an exceptionally enriching and meaningful experience,” Damjan acknowledges.
About the programme
The Creative Europe programme 2021-2027 has a budget of € 2.44 billion, compared to €1.47 billion of the previous programme (2014-2020). Creative Europe invests in actions that reinforce cultural diversity and respond to the needs and challenges of the cultural and creative sectors. The main objectives of the programme are to safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage and to increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative sectors, in particular the audiovisual sector The novelties of the programme will contribute to the recovery of these sectors, reinforcing their efforts to become more inclusive, more digital and environmentally more sustainable.
Photo credits: Damjan Jovicin
Please wait while your video is being uploaded...
Don't close this window!
