
Founded in 2003, Lokomotiva (Skopje) is playing the role of a multi-purpose platform for education, reflection, discussions, creative projects and critical thinking, in order to achieve progressive socio-cultural change in the community.
Lokomotiva has active role as partner in different projects based on collaborations with various cultural actors (from civil and institutional sector) successfully implementing many projects comprising education, art production and dissemination, residencies, cultural policies research and development, discursive programmes and advocacy activities. Lokomotiva works on development of contemporary preforming arts in North Macedonia and the Balkan region through Nomad Dance Academy Network and programmes such as “What is choreography?”, “Contemporary choreography and dance”, “Art Politics Institution Body”.
Advocating the rights of independent cultural sector Lokomotiva co-founded JADRO Association of the independent culture scene in Macedonia 2012 and Koopreativa Regional Platform for culture 2012. In 2015 together with Theatre of Navigator Cvetko, Lokomotiva founded KINO KULTURA – project space for contemporary performing arts and culture; currently working with the municipality on the development of a democratic cultural institution base on co-governance and public-private partnership.
Through its program in Kino Kultura, Lokomotiva enables creation of diverse activities that challenges the depolarisation of the cultural and public sphere in Macedonia, providing an open space for presentation and articulation of different issues of marginalized groups rights and environmental rights, already presented through different artistic and cultural productions. Its heterogenous program provides conditions and an opportunity for civil society organizations, formal and informal groups and individuals to research, create and present their ideas in front of different audiences as well as providing a space for collaboration and reflection on various socio-cultural issues. Re-thinking theoretically and developing inclusive co-governing and co-programing cultural space through the program in Kino Kultura, Lokomotiva aims to create preconditions for involvement of communities and influence on public policies regarding development of new inclusive public spaces.
“Critical art is an art that aims to produce a new perception of the world, and therefore to create a commitment to its transformation. This schema, very simple in appearance, is actually the conjunction of three processes: first, the production of a sensory form of 'strangeness'; second, the development of an awareness of the reason for that strangeness and third, a mobilization of individuals as a result of that awareness.”Jacques Rancière, Dissensus: On Politics and Aesthetics
The main focus of the Summerlab Skopje 2023 will be the many public spaces in the country, known as the ‘empty spaces’ especially in the city of Skopje, which were privatized during the political transition of North Macedonia from a socialist into a ‘turbo-capitalist’ society. As part of the program, collaborators from Skopje will share and present the historical and political context of the city and its ‘empty public’ spaces, as well as urban ecology. Also, collaborators from Floating University in Berlin to present their project and approach, and the participants will share their work and experiences.