Probably in the sphere of politics, the corona virus spreads less than in the sphere of culture, this is the assumption made by the director of KotorArt, eminent pianist, prof. Ratimir Martinović, at the beginning of the conference "Festivals in times of crisis" held the night before last in Kotor, in compliance with the measures of the National Coordination Body.
Martinović stated this on the occasion of the NKT's decision - to allow political gatherings of up to a hundred political subjects outdoors and up to fifty indoors, questioning why "politicians or political subjects can gather, but cultural subjects cannot."
The focus of the conference was the festival content, because Montenegro, like the surrounding countries, is a typical festival country, and the special reason for the gathering is covid-19 and all that the corona virus has caused in everyday life.
Martinović pointed out that the ambition of the gathered, the directors of several festivals from different cities of Montenegro and the region, is not to look for long-term solutions for the sustainability of the form of artistic presentations if covid-19 persists, but to start a conversation about all this and to mention it in general culture in these times.
"Are festivals a luxury and icing on the cake that we don't need at all in these difficult times, or is there a reason, meaning and function of culture and cultural products in these times of crisis? Should we silently agree to the measures that, for example, we received today (on the day of the conference, August 10 - ed.) from the NKT? Should we shrug our shoulders and say: 'Okay, politics has priority, elections have priority, culture is in the background'. I don't think it should. The point is to initiate thinking on that topic. I don't think that anyone went with the sole on the culture, but we didn't think about it. We are here to think about culture and to say that it is important, especially in times like this, for culture to make politics more cultural, and not the other way around - for politics to politicize culture. I mean on a daily level, and I also mean fundamentally", said Martinović.
In a situation where actors in Montenegro cannot act, and musicians cannot (or could not) play, their voice and attitude are not heard, and that is surprising, says Martinović and praises Croatia, where there was "a professional attitude that fought for what their interests are".
These topics and questions were discussed by Ksenija Popović from the Bar Chronicle, Ana Vukotić from the International Alternative Theater Festival FIAT, Podgorica, Ivan Radojičić as a representative of the Nikšić Festival of Street Musicians, Zoran Rakočević from the Korifej Festival in Kolašin, as well as Dora Ruždjak-Podolski, artistic director Dubrovnik Summer Games, while, although previously announced, the representative of the Ministry of Culture, the director of the Directorate for Cultural and Artistic Creativity Dragica Milić and the state secretary of the Ministry for Sustainable Development and Tourism, Damir Davidović, missed the event due to justified private reasons, i.e. business obligations.
When almost all festivals in Montenegro have been canceled or postponed, Ruždjak-Podolski pointed out that the 33rd edition of the Dubrovnik Summer Games is coming to an end, after more than a month.
"The Dubrovnik Summer Games are held thanks to the strategy of the Ministry of Culture and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, because our Prime Minister, whatever it may be, is an informed citizen. There is no other interpretation. That is the question of the decision that was made back in March, since the official start of the epidemic in Croatia. Also in March, we were paid 80 percent of the total amount with which the ministry finances the festival," she said, emphasizing that she is not politically active, but speaks about everything as an artist.
Rakočević, like Popović, pointed out that the organizers were in constant uncertainty as to whether there would be a festival and under what conditions.
"I was moved by the news that someone in the 110-meter race gave an advantage of 100 meters to political rallies before the elections. I'm not mad, but this is devastating news. After all the cancellations of cultural events, Tivat's Purgatories are still reeling. Currently, we are a country with no way out, a country in isolation, and our social issues cannot be any different than that, because we are ideologically - in isolation." The director and director of FIAT, Vukotić, pointed out that she "expected a lot more agility, primarily from the Ministry of Culture, and then from all institutions..."
"I mean national theaters and all festivals that are financed from the state budget. I have to express great dissatisfaction with the institutional response. We are left to communicate individually with the NKT and the Institute for Public Health... I cannot ignore the fact that on June 1st we became a 'coronafree' destination, that on June 1st all theaters in Montenegro were allowed to operate, and that On June 1, all repertory theaters declared a collective vacation, waiting for the second wave. That says a lot more about us, about who are the directors of the theater, who is the minister of culture, what are the professional references of those people and what is their attitude towards the work they do", said Vukotić.
Popović pointed out that the first and greatest responsibility of the organizers of all festivals is exclusively the health of people, employees and the audience, as well as creativity and work in culture. She stated that Montenegro has more than 200 festivals, and that a selection should be made of those that stand out and should be held, but one should also think in advance.
"It would be nice to make one big Montenegrin summer festival all over Montenegro, to unite, at least those similar festivals such as, for example, the Bar Chronicle, Grad Teatar and Purgatorie."
Ivan Radojičić thanked for the invitation, but also for the idea of holding such a conference, with the regret that the representatives of the ministry were not present, and he singled out the problems faced by the festivals, such as the fact that "a huge amount of effort is invested in things that should be imply... “.
"Regardless of political or other structures, in Montenegro we did not think about culture in a quality way or in a good way so that some other things do not happen to us as side effects. If culture does not take root in the right way, I am afraid that we will also lose what we have, and culture is the roof construction of that," he said, and Martinović added that one of the conclusions was that "regardless of the corona, Montenegrin culture is in crisis ".
Vukotić stated that she believes that "the medical profession has shown agreement". "We, workers in culture, are doctors of souls. Where is our profession? I would like artists to deal with spiritual health, and let doctors, NKT and IJZ deal with physical health. We should try to respect the measures and deal with spiritual health. Because the consequences will be for physical health, they can be as great, and even greater, for mental health," she said.
During the two-hour conversation, Martinović sent several messages, such as that the same measures should apply to politics and culture, and Ruždjak-Podolski appealed to cultural workers to fight together for culture and art with all their strength.
"Culture is as important as politics and public health," concluded Martinović.
Festivals will take place, it's just a matter of time
Those present also talked about what their plans are when it comes to the festivals they represent.
The Nikšić Festival of Street Musicians was canceled when it comes to the summer part of the program, but Ivan Radojičić announced that the winter repertoire is being prepared. Ksenija Popović said that the Bar Chronicle is "trying to avoid a digital festival", but that the priority is for the festival to take place this year - the 33rd time, since every edition has been held since its foundation.
"Our plan at the moment is to hold the festival as we planned it, its revised version, in September, October at the latest, if the measures are relaxed. We are trying to avoid a digital festival, but there is an idea that if the performances cannot be played live, we should show them on the cinema screen, with a later debate and exchange of impressions. In any case - we did not give up", she said.
Ana Vukotić says that the theater must insist on live contact and communication with the audience, and what are the opportunities - FIAT can be expected and they have already sent proposals to the authorities when it comes to measures for its maintenance. "We canceled one show that was the backbone of FIAT, because it is of a large format, it is played in the square, and in order to be successful, it cannot have less than 500 people. We moved the larger formats to next year," she revealed.
Rakočević said that "Corifej" will certainly be held, but the question is when - the end of summer, autumn, and even winter.
Martinović announced that next year Kotor will host a UNESCO conference with national experts on the topic of covid-19 and its impact on culture and tourism.
"The fact that KotorArt is one of the few festivals that manages to take place", he remarked and announced the Philosopher's Square, which is also planned.
Bonus video:
