From 16th to 18th June 2023, the streets of Banja Luka came alive with the vibrant TrotoArt Festival of street entertainers. This captivating event featured extraordinary performances by 34 groups and individual artists, captivating the audience with their rarely seen talents. The EU Delegation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in collaboration with the City of Banja Luka and City Tambourine Orchestra, provided co-funding for the festival, which showcased more than 240 performers across seven different locations in the city.

The Festival was part of the “Banjalučko proljeće 2023” program initiated by the City of Banja Luka. It brought together a diverse array of local, regional, and international amateur and professional artists from Serbia, Croatia, North Macedonia, Switzerland, and France. The festival aimed to invigorate the city’s cultural scene after a two-year period of restricted events due to the pandemic, offering an opportunity for all citizens to enjoy a wide range of cultural, tourist, and sporting activities.

Not only did this event foster artistic collaboration in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, but it also contributed to promoting cultural exchange in the Balkans and beyond. It encouraged local artists to explore new forms of artistic expression. Moreover, the festival provided the audience with a taste of European experiences and cultures. Visitors had the chance to indulge in three distinct programs – international, local, and a specially designed children’s program. The local program included various participants such as “Baba Djex tribe,” Ensemble “Banjaluki vez,” City Brass Orchestra, Theatre and Dance Club “Dankan,” Đorđe Trninić (harmonica), Milica Cvijić (SFX make-up and 3D painting), “Padiosavijen Kvarting,” Dance Ensemble “Opušteno,” Ensemble “Lira,” Viktor Janković (guitar), Ensemble “Vrbaska svita,” “The Fandangos,” City Tambourine Orchestra, painters from the Art School (NUBL), Olenjuk (with Lidij), Aerial Silk – silk aerial dancing, and others.