Last weekend, on October 19 and 20, the Chamber Orchestra Muzikon performed two remarkable concerts at the Faculty of Forestry and the Center for Youth Integration in Zvezdara, as part of the Belgrade Urban Oases project. This project aims to revitalize neglected urban spaces in Belgrade through art and community engagement.
Miloš Jovanović, director of the Chamber Orchestra Muzikon, said of the orchestra’s participation in this project:
“We are honored and delighted to participate in projects that bring together different communities and open new points of connection. Urban oases are places where, in addition to cultural events, people join forces to improve our environment. Music has proven to be an excellent catalyst for such gatherings and for fostering social engagement.”
The concert program featured prominent classical works for string and mixed chamber ensembles, including solo songs for soprano and mezzo-soprano with piano accompaniment.
Zorica Milisavljević, project coordinator on behalf of EUNIC Serbia, reflected on the activities carried out at the end of summer and the beginning of autumn:
“After the completion of construction works, the Belgrade Urban Oases became spaces where the local community could finally gather and actively participate in their use. Activities such as workshops, theater performances, and concerts have breathed new life into these spaces.”
To date, the project has brought together more than 2,000 participants, visitors, members of local communities, and nature and culture enthusiasts.
Belgrade Urban Oases is a project by EUNIC Serbia, in collaboration with the Belgrade International Architecture Week (BINA), the University of Belgrade’s Faculty of Architecture and Faculty of Forestry, the Center for Youth Integration (CIM), and the Center for the Placement and Day Care of Children and Youth with Developmental Disabilities. The project involves cultural institutes from several European countries, including the Goethe-Institut, Polish Institute, Embassy of Sweden, Austrian Cultural Forum, Italian Cultural Institute, French Institute, Czech Center Belgrade, Collegium Hungaricum, and the Embassy of Slovenia.
