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Misija

The Youth Biennale is the most visible, horizontal platform for viewing the artistic production of young people in the visual arts in Serbia and the region, which contributes to the realization of self-reflexivity and self-criticism of the art world through dialogue between artists, audiences, curators and art theorists, as well as other actors. which in culture.

Relying on the tradition of the Yugoslav biennial exhibitions in Rijeka (1960-1991) and Vršac (1994-2004), as well as the Fund for the Advancement of Fine Arts "Moša Pijade" (1972-1992), the Youth Biennial creates a framework for:

(1) pooling the work of young people, which includes not only the production and performance of artistic works, but also the construction of discourse and the distribution of knowledge;
(2) critical reflection of the world of art, by questioning the position of artistic work in the dominant ideology;
(3) the development of social responsibility and solidarity, equality and justice, which is reflected in the organizational culture of the biennial;
(4) experimental action, by devising and performing different ways of affirming the artist and expanding the established boundaries of the field of art.

The Biennale is organized on the initiative and under the auspices of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia, with the intention of being a place of integration of new artists in the field, future members of ULUS. With the help of partner organizations from the region, the biennial is developing as a dynamic program unit open to improvement and the creation of alternative ways of acting in the future.

Organizational culture and regulations on the work of the Youth Biennale team

The organizational culture of young people working together to organize the first Biennale of young visual artists in Belgrade was defined within the program of Public Preparations of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia, held in August 2020. It is based on the common interest and recognized needs of active participants in this process, and it is conditioned by the values on which the mission of the entire initiative is based, among which the most important are: equality, inclusiveness, solidarity, transparency and openness to dialogue, fairness, social responsibility, criticality and modernity.

Accordingly, the basic guidelines that define the organizational model and culture of the organizational team are:

→ Values, needs, aspirations

- Improving the conditions for artistic work: as work on improving the position of new artists in the field of art, developing relationships with other actors and ensuring mutual equality (without highlighting individuals by rewarding them); questioning the conditions for creative work and the operation of cultural policy;
- Openness: as readiness for connection and cooperation, on a local and wider level; the desire to involve the audience in the process of creating a work of art; contribution to the decentralization and demetropolization of culture and art through the activation of passive and small cultural environments; more adequate perception of the environment in which we operate in order to empower individuals for critical thinking;
- Critical thinking of the world of art: through the acquisition of experiences and knowledge about the world of art; for the sake of expanding the field of activity and improving the position of the artist; in order to improve the conditions for artistic production and existing relations within the world of art; the questioning of the dominant order in society, which reflects on the world of art;
- Experimentality: in the way of production, distribution and reception of artistic works; devising new and reviewing established formats of presentation and performance of art; establishment of new relationships, appreciation of different points of view and affirmation of contemporary artistic expression.
- Transfer of knowledge and experience: as a superstructure of the formal education of artists (especially in terms of the economic functioning of artistic practice), professional training through activities in the field of art, affirmation of values that are based on common heritage;
- Solidarity and responsibility: among team members, but also in terms of social action; overcoming rigid nationalist frameworks through regional integration and advocacy of anti-war policy, contribution to equality (class, gender, national, age, etc.) through fair and transparent action.

→ Organizational team

- The work on the preparation of the biennial is carried out in a horizontal, transparent and democratic way, foreseeing the possibility that the participants themselves choose the measure of engagement - permanent participation in the organizational team or occasional engagement.
- The organizational team implies participation in work tasks and taking responsibility in accordance with the joint agreement and the time plan of project implementation;
- Occasional engagement implies a consultative role in the decision-making process;
- Every occasionally engaged individual can become a part of the organizational team by assuming responsibility and work obligations in the implementation of the project; - Project participants can be young people up to 35 years of age, from Serbia and the region, whose interests are realized in the field of culture and art;
- Project participants may be members of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia, which is not a condition for participation;
- The project does not foresee a minimum or maximum number of members of the organizational team required for the realization of work tasks;
- During the entire process, a public call for admission of new participants was opened, which was clearly highlighted by an announcement on the website of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia and the website of the Youth Biennale.

→ Decision-making within the Organizational Team

- The work of the organizational team takes place in meetings and plenums, organized according to the need and action plan of the project;
- Tasks represent all the necessary tasks in the preparation and implementation of the project, which are entered in the time plan available to all participants; - Work tasks are distributed in relation to individual interests and expertise, so that each individual is evenly engaged in at least one technical and one organizational task;
- Work teams are formed according to tasks, which are defined and distributed at meetings. If there are no self-initiated applicants, the executors of work tasks are determined by agreement within the team, taking into account the individual workload;
- If the work team or an individual is not able to realize the work task that he has undertaken in the calendar, he is obliged to inform all members of the organizational team about it in time, so that the work task can be taken over by another member of the team;
- Key decisions on the development of the project and the realization of activities are made by the plenum of the organizational team, with the possibility of consultative participation of all occasionally engaged individuals who present proposals and suggestions on the subject of discussion;
- Decisions are made by a two-thirds majority of the members of the organizational team, which is scheduled according to needs; In the event that the decision is not voted by a two-thirds majority, the subject of discussion is returned for consideration;
- Voting is carried out live, if the conditions allow, and can be organized in whole or in part through an online voting tool (eg Google poll); - Key information on all decisions of the plenum are documented in minutes that remain permanently available to all members;

→ Program conception of the Youth Biennale

- The Youth Biennial is a project unit within the program of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia;
- The program of the first Youth Biennale consists of three units that are open to international participation: 1) workshops on the production of works with a team of curators; 2) discursive program in cooperation with the International Association of Art Critics AICA - Section Serbia and/or regional partners; 3) exhibition program that is realized in four cities: Belgrade, Niš, Novi Sad and Vršac. In a narrower sense, the program is conceived as a space for collaboration and production of works, but also as a long-term process of exchange between young artists, curators and other actors within curatorial workshops and a discursive program;
- For participation in the production workshop and for participation in the exhibition program, two separate public calls are announced, in order to enable a choice in relation to the artist's interests;
- The curatorial team envisages the participation of at least three people, namely one from Serbia and two from two different countries of the Balkan region, with the joint task of collaborating with artists on the preparation of works; The age criterion for the selection of curators is up to 40 years;
- Curators from Serbia are selected by the Art Council of ULUS on the basis of a public call, while curators from the region are proposed by institutions and organizations with which partnership cooperation has been achieved. Curatorial workshops are conceived as a multi-month collaboration between the curatorial team and 40 young artists*1 from Serbia and the region who are chosen based on a public call, and who will be provided with funds for the production of works and collaboration with the curators;
- The exhibition consists of works resulting from work production workshops, as well as works accepted on the basis of public invitation and selection by the curatorial team. The plan is to realize the exhibition through several simultaneously organized units in Niš, Novi Sad, Vršac and Belgrade *2.
- In addition to the curatorial workshops and the exhibition, it is planned to hold an accompanying Discursive Program that will be open to the general public, and whose content will be developed in agreement with the organizational team, the curatorial team, as well as external collaborators, primarily members of the International Association of Art Critics AICA - Section Serbia and partner organizations from the region;
- Active participation in the organizational tasks of project preparation does not imply guaranteed exhibiting participation of team members, but the decision is made on public invitations that will be announced as part of the preparations for the Biennale;
- Possible conflict of interest regarding participation in the exhibition program of the Biennale is prevented by the members of the organizational team by hiring a curator-associate who will make a decision on the exhibitors, based on a public call;
- The curatorial team, in cooperation with the organizational team, develops the theme of the Biennale, and in relation to the thematic framework and set values voted by the Assembly of the organizational team;
- The curatorial team decides on the format and setting of the exhibition, in agreement with the artists and available resources;

→ Regional connection, partners and cooperation

- The focus of the Biennale is on the Balkan region (Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Kosovo*3, Albania, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova), with the fact that the Biennale is also open to participants from other countries of the world;
- For the purposes of implementing the program, formal partnerships are established with at least two organizations from two different countries of the Balkan region (preferably one EU member and one non-EU country);
- Partnerships can be established with cultural institutions, civil society organizations, collectives and other formal and informal initiatives that contribute to the development of contemporary art and youth production in the region;
− Institutions that inherit the tradition of regional association of young artists are especially taken into account (such as the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Rijeka);
- Regional connection is achieved in order to ensure the participation of artists and other actors in culture from the countries of the region, but also with the intention of obtaining financial resources for the implementation of the Biennale;
- The participation of regional partners implies cooperation in terms of production, advisory contributions (delegation of curator-associates, help in ensuring the visibility of calls for artists, proposing lecturers and other collaborators), as well as participation in specific projects that provide financial support for the implementation of the Biennale (production of works, transport of works and visiting artists, etc.);
- On the local level, partnerships with organizations in culture and the economy can be realized for the purpose of achieving financial support (sponsorships, donations, pooling of funds), strengthening resources for the production of works, implementation of programs and technical support;
- In relation to the scope of contribution to the project, the participation of all partners and collaborators is visibly highlighted in the promotional activities of the Youth Biennale.

→ Use of resources and relationship with ULUS

- The work of the organizing team of the Youth Biennale takes place in the area of the "Cvijeta Zuzorić" Art Pavilion, in the room provided for the joint activities of ULUS, and in accordance with the association's space usage calendar;
- The program and organization of the Youth Biennale is financed by means obtained from competitions, through sponsorships and donations, through competition applications submitted by ULUS;
- The legal holder of the Youth Biennial projects is the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia; - In order to efficiently implement legal and economic affairs, the organizing team of the Youth Biennale cooperates with the legal, economic, accounting, organizational, technical, PR and other services of ULUS;
- The organizational team is responsible for its work to the Artistic Council of ULUS. Also, the Arts Council mediates in the work of the Organizational Team of the Youth Biennale and other bodies and members of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia. The Art Council undertakes the task of selecting a member of the curatorial team from Serbia based on a public competition. The Art Council of ULUS monitors the work of the Organizational Team and arranges coordination meetings as needed; The management of ULUS will be informed about the development of the project through monthly reports.

→ Communication code

- No digressions: For the sake of better information about the topics being discussed, the content of the chain correspondence must correspond to the course of the discussion (e-mail title, agenda of the meeting, etc.), if it turns to a completely new topic, it is necessary to ask the other participants for their consent, or in case online correspondence write a new e-mail to all participants with the appropriate title;
- Without personal polemics and insults: In order to sustain collective progress, all members must behave in a collegial manner, with respect and appreciation for the interlocutor; it is necessary to avoid personal polemics and insults.
- Clarity in the expression of views: For the sake of successful communication and agreement, it is necessary to present facts and questions in a clear and well-argued manner; - Proposals with own involvement: The members' communication takes place without recommendations of what someone else should do and how, every proposal implies their own involvement;
- Circular changing of roles and tasks: The agreement is that every month the person who takes minutes, schedules meetings, moderates work meetings, etc., is changed.

This rulebook, which defines the tasks, responsibilities and relationship of those involved in the preparation project of the Youth Biennale, represents a framework for joint action, which in the coming years can be adapted to the needs of future members and actively applied in practice after majority adoption. It was completely created by the participants of the Public Preparations of the Youth Biennale, which were held in August 2020. It enters into force with the approval of the members of the Organizational Team of the Youth Biennale with the consent of the Board of Directors and the Artistic Council of the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia.

A group of participants in the Public Preparations of the Youth Biennale
In Belgrade, October 1, 2020.

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*1 The number of participants will depend on the financial resources available for the realization of the project.
*2 Which will depend on the realized financial resources for the realization of the project.
*3 This inscription does not prejudge the status of Kosovo and Metohija and is in accordance with Resolution 1244 and the opinion of the ICJ on Kosovo's declaration of independence.

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This regulation, on behalf of the Association, is adopted by the Board of Directors of ULUS and it determines the basic principles of organizing the Youth Biennial project.

Paragraph 1

The founder and organizer of the Youth Biennial project is the Association of Fine Artists of Serbia (ULUS), with address: Mali Kalemegdan 1, Belgrade.

Relying on the tradition of the Yugoslav biennial exhibitions in Rijeka (1960-1991) and Vršac (1994-2004), as well as the Fund for the Advancement of Fine Arts "Moša Pijade" (1972-1992), the Youth Biennial creates a framework for:

Paragraph 2

The main goals of the event are:

a) review and promotion of artistic production of young people;
b) education of young people through accompanying programs and seminars;
c) achieving cooperation and connecting young people with artists, curators, art historians and theoreticians, associations and cultural institutions locally, regionally and globally.

Paragraph 3

Only young people under the age of 35 from the country, region and the world can participate in the event, who do not have to be professional artists or members of an Association.

Paragraph 4

With the obligation to include all basic goals (Article 2), each individual manifestation of the Youth Biennale can have a different concept/project and structure, which is confirmed by the Arts Council.

The competition for the proposal of the conception/project of the Youth Biennial manifestation is being announced by the Arts Council in cooperation with a group of young people who work within the structural unit ULUS Youth, agreeing on a plan for the current cycle of preparation of the Youth Biennial project.

Paragraph 5

The accepted concept/project must be in accordance with the Statute of the Association and must be approved, throughout the duration of the manifestation, by the Art Council of ULUS, as part of the annual exhibition program of ULUS in the current year.

The management board of ULUS, if the adopted concept of the Youth Biennale provides for it, concludes cooperation agreements with individuals, public institutions, civil society organizations or private organizations in order to regulate the financing and organization of the event.

For the purposes of implementing the preparation and program of the Youth Biennale, the Art Council of ULUS and the organizational team of the Youth Biennale (appointed coordinators) use the technical and administrative resources of the Association.

Paragraph 6

The event is financed from the funds received at competitions, through sponsorships and donations from funds in the country and abroad. Requests for financing the manifestation (competition applications) are prepared by the Arts Council in cooperation with the youth organizational team and partner organizations.

Paragraph 7

The Arts Council is obliged to develop this program unit, which includes the work of young artists, with young people. Also, the Art Council monitors and coordinates the work of the Biennale from the stage of preparation to the end of the manifestation.

Paragraph 8

The Art Council is obliged to collect documentation for the needs of the Association's archive, which includes all phases of the Youth Biennial project, from preparations to its final part. The owner of the archive documentation is ULUS, i.e. The Artistic Council and ULUS Mladih, an initiative recognized by the Management Board of the Association as an important place for the inclusion of the youngest generation of artists (new members) in the Association.

On: 17.12.2020. in Belgrade

Vice President of the Board of Directors
Vahida Ramujkić