Final Conference of the EPICA Project: “Life in the Block”

In the final project year, we organized a series of events that showcased the collaborative efforts of participants from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts, the Faculty of Architecture, the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Faculty of Sport and Psychology, the Institute of Economic Sciences, and our partner, the Committee.

The “Life in the Block” program included various participatory events in culture, art, and architecture, held from October 11 to October 20, 2024, in Block 45, outdoors and at the Sava Community Center.

Additionally, the final scientific conference of the EPIKA project (Empowering Participation in Culture and Architecture: Activating Public Resources for and with Communities) represented the scientific component of the “Life in the Block” program and took place on October 19, 2024, from 10 AM to 6 PM at the Sava Community Center, Block 45, Novi Belgrade.

Over the past three years, within the EPIKA project, we have actively researched concepts, practices, and policies of citizen participation in the defence, preservation, and management of public resources in Serbia. The EPIKA project aimed to strengthen the concept of participation, theoretically and practically, to foster a commitment to developing a democratic and sustainable society and improving the quality of life. The primary objective of the EPIKA project was to identify alternative, systemic solutions and decision-making models based on the principles of democracy, justice, solidarity, and care for people and the environment. Supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, our team of internationally recognized researchers and practitioners in contemporary art, heritage, architecture, and spatial planning in Serbia has gained numerous insights into participation processes and supported citizen communities engaging in their local environments.

At this final conference, we aim to offer important and intriguing insights and findings from our three-year research to all those interested in democratic systemic solutions based on direct citizen participation. During the final EPIKA conference, you will have the opportunity to:

• Learn more about various concepts of participation;
• Gain insights from those who have participated in or led participatory projects across Serbia over the past decade;
• Explore the specifics of citizen participation processes in urbanism, contemporary art, and cultural heritage—from defending the rivers of Stara Planina to initiatives in New Belgrade’s blocks, artistic actions in Stara Pazova, the revitalization of Almaški neighbourhood in Novi Sad, and the evaluation of the Cultural Landscape of Bač;
• Discover innovative methodologies used during participatory action research in New Belgrade’s Blocks 45 and 70, and what emerged from this “living laboratory” with the community;
• Understand mechanisms of citizen engagement and mobilization at the local level.