SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY
SCHOOL FOR CARING FUTURES IN SKOPJE 2026

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The School for Caring Futures in Skopje initiates the first phase of multi-year project SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY—Artistic Practices and Ecofeminist Alliances for a Caring Future, an interdisciplinary artistic-curatorial initiative dedicated to exploring care as a feminist, ecological and artistic practice across South and Eastern Europe in dialogue with Austrian partners. As the starting point of a long-term process structured through the cycle of sowing, caring, growing and sharing, the project brings together art initiatives, cultural institutions, researchers and communities to establish translocal collaboration, joint learning and the development of sustainable alliances grounded in ecofeminist thinking and relational ecologies of care. In this sense, the School for Caring Futures in Skopje initiates a shared process of situated learning, embodied practice and collective knowledge production that will unfold across the coming years.

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SCHEDULE OVERVIEW

10.09.2026 / for general public
19:00: opening of the School for Caring Futures in Skopje
at Socio-Cultural Space “Centar-Jadro” with a welcome note by Hristina Ivanoska, Margarethe Makovec and Yane Calovski

and of the exhibition Thinking with the Matter: Four Lessons from the Water and the Earth, introduction by curator Jovanka Popova; participating artists: Valbona Fejza, Hristina Krsteska, Viktorija Poposka, Ivana Samandova

11.09.2026 / for scholars
Morning and early afternoon: THE MOUNTAIN
Virginia Was Not Fun At All, a performative walk at Mount Vodno with Hristina Ivanoska
Moderated session by Margarethe Makovec: Listening to the Mountain

Afternoon and early evening: THE GARDEN
“Stop for Usje”, insight into the citizens’ initiative
Tea under “Receptive Bodies”, a guided garden walk at Community Garden “Bostanie” with Zorica Zafirovska
Moderated session by Ajete Kërqeli: Gathering Like a Garden

12.09.2026 / for scholars
Morning and early afternoon: THE RIVER
Almost, a Life, a walk along the Vardar River with Kalia Dimitrova
Moderated session by Elke Krasny: Writing with Water

Afternoon until early evening: THE PARK
Our Common Memorial, a performance in the “Vera Jocić” Park by Kumjana Novakova and Jana Kocevska
Moderated session by Vida Knežević: Caring as Resistance

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SCHOOL FOR CARING FUTURES IN SKOPJE 2026

Host institution and programme concept:
Press to Exit Project Space, Skopje

Project lead:
< rotor > Centre for Contemporary Art, Graz

Conceptual team:
Hristina Ivanoska and Jovanka Popova (Press to Exit Projekt Space, Skopje), Ajete Kërqeli (Shtatëmbëdhjetë / Foundation 17, Prishtina), Vida Knežević (Kontekst Kolektiv, Belgrade), Elke Krasny (Academy of Fine Arts Vienna), Margarethe Makovec (< rotor >, Graz)

Transnational network partners:
Dicle Beştaş, Milica Bezmarević, Andreja Dugandžić, Ivana Marjanović, Resina Meçani, Ivana Meštrov, Bojana Piškur, Başak Şenova, Vasiliki Sifostratoudaki, Martina Yordanova

Skopje team:
Yane Calovski, Hristina Ivanoska, Jovanka Popova, Danche T. Chalovska, David Ilieski, Paul Houthuijzen

Graz team:
Margarethe Makovec, Anton Lederer, Iris Kasper, Milda Bernotaite, Polina Ratkina

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The School for Caring Futures in Skopje 2026 takes place in the frame of SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY – Artistic Practices and Ecofeminist Alliances for a Caring Future, an interdisciplinary artistic-curatorial project initiated by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and the Cultural Department of the Province of Styria, which contributes its St.A.i.R. (Styria Artists-in-Residence) network, offering artist residency programs in both the Balkan region and Styria.

Main sponsor:

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