The first artistically engaged festival in Serbia dedicated to researching and highlighting the problem of discrimination against the older persons, called “Bezvremeni / Ageless”, is scheduled for December 13th and 14th, at the Novi Sad Theater . The festival is organized by the Artichoke Association and the “Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture” Foundation, in cooperation with the Serbian Red Cross. The festival aims to shed light on the often neglected, yet deeply rooted prejudices against the older persons in society.
The “Ageless” festival, on December 13th, starting at 6:10 PM, brings the premiere of the play “Waiting for the Rain”, which directly examines various forms of ageism in six scenes – from structural to social. Through everyday situations in which older people experience discrimination, marginalization and indifference, the play reveals how social and systemic mechanisms influence their lives and existence. The last act is interactive.
The festival brings another play, “Awakened” produced by the ARTICHOKA Association, which brings together women over 65 who, after a six-month drama process, bravely engage in stereotypical conversations and provoke conflict. experience themselves as older people. The play “Awakened” is scheduled for December 14 at 6 p.m.
A concert by the legendary Bisera Veletanlić with piano accompaniment by one of our most prominent jazz musicians, Vasil Hadžimanov, will be held as part of the festival on December 14 at 8:30 p.m. One of the biggest divas of the domestic regional music scene has been delighting audiences for decades with her authentic interpretation and unique voice, and now she is once again coming to the Novi Sad audience.
The “Ageless / Bezvremeni” festival opens with an informative exhibition “Stop the settlement of the older persons” starting at 6 pm.
Through an interdisciplinary approach, “Bezvremeni” addresses various forms of discrimination faced by older individuals, particularly in the areas of social and pension policies, gender equality, employment, and healthcare, with a special focus on comprehensive violence against older persons. Through artistic and spoken formats, the festival’s programs invite open dialogue on ways society can support older people and ensure their equal rights and respect, primarily by promoting intergenerational solidarity.
The “Ageless / Bezvremeni” festival was supported by the City of Novi Sad, the European Commission (as part of the Age Against the Machine: CERW, Network of Towns project) and the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Serbia.