International Festival Sarajevo Winter

The International Festival Sarajevo Winter is a traditional crossroads where artists and citizens from around the world meet. The Festival was held for the first time from 21 December 1984 to 6 April 1985.

Throughout its 41 years of existence, the Festival has become an inseparable part of the life of the city and its citizens.

Over 1,809 festival days, Sarajevo Winter has presented 5,047 programs, attracting more than 3,750,000 visitors and 45,150 participants. The Sarajevo Winter Festival has continued throughout the years without interruption, becoming a symbol of life, freedom, and creativity, as well as a meeting point for diverse cultures and civilizations from around the world.

Together with the International Peace Centre (IPC) and the Cultural Forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Sarajevo Winter Festival organized and initiated the project “Sarajevo, Cultural Centre of Europe” from 21 December 1993 to 21 March 1994, during the period between two European Capitals of Culture, Antwerp 1993 and Lisbon 1994.

This initiative was supported by the Sarajevo City Assembly and 11,000 prominent individuals from around the world, as well as by major European institutions and the Avignon Festival. During that period, Sarajevo Winter organized exhibitions, concerts, and debates in more than 100 cities across all continents.

Of particular importance was the organization of 25 international exhibitions of the Sarajevo Graphic Map in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the USA.

The IPC and Sarajevo Winter organized the 10th Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and the Mediterranean in Sarajevo in 2001. The General Patron of the 10th Biennial was Lord Russell-Johnston, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The IPC/SWF, in collaboration with the City of Rome and the City of Sarajevo, initiated an international competition for the Sarajevo Concert Hall, with Zaha Hadid serving as President of the Jury.

The IPC/SWF, together with cities, regions, and countries of the Mediterranean and Europe, is a founding member of the BJCEM International Association (Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs d'Europe et de la Méditerranée), headquartered in Brussels, and chaired the Association from 2001 to 2007.

During the 20 BJCEM Biennials, from Barcelona in 1984 to Gorizia and Nova Gorica, the IPC and Sarajevo Winter represented 533 young artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina among more than 10,000 artists from the Mediterranean and Europe.

The IPC and SWF were key organizers and leaders of the Council of Europe's Euroregional project “Link Diversity”, within the framework of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe.

The IPC and SWF, together with the Council of Europe, marked the 50th anniversary of the European Cultural Convention in Strasbourg with the exhibition “Europe in Dialogue” and the release of a commemorative postage stamp issued by BH Post. In 2024, they also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the Convention in Sarajevo through an exhibition and a special program held at the Markale Market and in public spaces throughout the city.

The Sarajevo Winter Festival, together with the IPC, organized the Council of Europe's pilot project “Sarajevo – The First Intercultural City of the Council of Europe” (21 December 2003 – 21 December 2004), as well as a world conference on “Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue and the Future of Bosnia and Herzegovina”, held in Sarajevo on 21 December 2003. The conference brought together 200 experts and leaders from around the world, with the support of the Japan Foundation.

The IPC and Sarajevo Winter founded the House of Europe Sarajevo and chaired the European Cultural Forum in Brussels.

The IPC and Sarajevo Winter renewed the initiative to declare Sarajevo the Capital of Europe in 2008. The Sarajevo City Assembly, together with 43 other cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, cities from neighboring countries, numerous cultural centers across Europe, and relevant European and international institutions, supported the project.

In 2011, the European Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing Sarajevo Winter and supporting the initiative for Sarajevo to become the European Capital of Culture in 2014.

The Sarajevo Winter Festival hosted 100 artistic directors and the Summit of the European Festivals Association (EFA).

In 2017, the Sarajevo Winter Festival, together with other international festivals, founded the Silk Road Art Festival Network in Shanghai.

The Cultural Forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the IPC organized the online Sarajevo 2021 Culture Olympiad during the pandemic, in collaboration with artists and institutions worldwide, as well as the Sarajevo 2025 Culture Olympiad, held under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Director-General of UNESCO, and the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The Sarajevo Winter Festivals of 2024 and 2025 marked the 40th International Sarajevo Winter Festival under the theme “CREATIVE, ALTERNATIVE, FANTASTIC!”

The IPC and Sarajevo Winter are preparing a project entitled “Freedom of Art: Human Heritage of the World 2030”.

The International Peace Centre and Sarajevo Winter, as publishers, have published hundreds of catalogues, books, publications, and newspapers, including New Spektar, Why, and EkoOko, in local and foreign languages.

Since 1995, the IPC has also been a co-founder and co-owner of the philosophy and sociology journal Dialogue. Together with the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ANUBiH), the IPC and Sarajevo Winter are organizers and founders of the Cultural Forum of Bosnia and Herzegovina and advocates of a cultural policy strategy for the country.

The International Festival Sarajevo Winter has been a long-standing member of the International Society for the Performing Arts (ISPA), the European Festivals Association (EFA), the Biennial of Young Artists from Europe and the Mediterranean (BJCEM), the Peace Network of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Anna Lindh Foundation Network in Bosnia and Herzegovina (ALF BiH).

The International Festival Sarajevo Winter has received numerous international recognitions and awards, including the City of Sarajevo's most prestigious recognition, the Sixth of April Award.

Local authorities, the City of Sarajevo, regional authorities, and the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina have supported and promoted the Festival since 1984.

Since 1993, the Festival has been held under the patronage of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the Director-General of UNESCO.

The Festival is a unique cultural event, continuously open to artists, audiences, and the media. Since its establishment, it has welcomed artists from around the world and has developed on the principles of freedom of artistic expression, cultural diversity, mutual understanding, and connection.

The Festival is a nonprofit event organized by the Cultural Forum in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the International Peace Centre (IPC).

The Festival program includes drama, opera, classical ballet, contemporary dance, visual arts, film and video, music, and programs for children.

The Festival also includes conferences, colloquia, seminars, programs dedicated to freedom, competitions, festivals, specialized fairs, and activities related to artificial intelligence (AI).

The Sarajevo Winter Festival presents three awards – FREEDOM, SILVER FLAKE, and SILVER TEE – in recognition of outstanding achievements and contributions to the arts and humanities.

This event is directly relevant to the Council of Europe because it promotes European values, cultural rights, cultural diversity, human rights, and freedom of expression.

The Festival encourages the establishment of Euroregional and international co-productions and cooperation. Sarajevo Winter also contributes to the education and cultural inclusion of all generations, including vulnerable groups.

The Festival promotes linguistic and cultural diversity.

The Sarajevo Winter Festival invites artists and educational institutions from around the world to participate through a public call. Its program is developed by experts from various cultural fields.

Artists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa have participated in the Festival.

Međunarodni festival Sarajevska zima

Međunarodni festival Sarajevska zima tradicionalno je mjesto susreta umjetnika i građana iz cijelog svijeta. Festival je prvi put održan u periodu od 21. decembra 1984. do 6. aprila 1985. godine.

Tokom 41 godine postojanja, Festival je postao neodvojiv dio života grada i njegovih građana.

U okviru 1.809 festivalskih dana, Sarajevska zima realizovala je 5.047 programa, uz više od 3.750.000 posjetilaca i 45.150 učesnika. Festival Sarajevska zima kontinuirano se održavao tokom svih ovih godina, bez prekida, postavši simbol života, slobode i kreativnosti, kao i mjesto susreta različitih kultura i civilizacija svijeta.

Zajedno s Međunarodnim centrom za mir (IPC) i Kulturnim forumom Bosne i Hercegovine, Festival Sarajevska zima organizovao je i pokrenuo projekat „Sarajevo – kulturni centar Evrope“, koji je trajao od 21. decembra 1993. do 21. marta 1994. godine, u periodu između dvije evropske prijestolnice kulture – Antwerpena 1993. i Lisabona 1994. godine.

Ovu inicijativu podržali su Skupština grada Sarajeva i 11.000 istaknutih ličnosti iz cijelog svijeta, kao i najznačajnije evropske institucije i Festival u Avignonu. U tom periodu Sarajevska zima organizovala je izložbe, koncerte i debate u više od 100 gradova na svim kontinentima.

Poseban značaj imala je organizacija 25 međunarodnih izložbi Sarajevske grafičke mape u Evropi, Aziji, Africi i Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama.

Međunarodni centar za mir (IPC) i Sarajevska zima organizovali su 10. bijenale mladih umjetnika Evrope i Mediterana, održano u Sarajevu 2001. godine. Generalni pokrovitelj 10. bijenala bio je lord Russell-Johnston, predsjednik Parlamentarne skupštine Vijeća Evrope.

IPC i Festival Sarajevska zima, u saradnji s gradovima Rimom i Sarajevom, pokrenuli su međunarodni konkurs za Koncertnu dvoranu Sarajevo, na kojem je predsjednica žirija bila Zaha Hadid.

IPC i Sarajevska zima, zajedno s gradovima, regijama i državama Mediterana i Evrope, među osnivačima su Međunarodne asocijacije BJCEM (Biennale des Jeunes Créateurs d'Europe et de la Méditerranée), sa sjedištem u Briselu. U periodu od 2001. do 2007. godine predsjedavali su ovom asocijacijom.

Tokom 20 bijenala BJCEM-a, od Barcelone 1984. godine do Gorice i Nove Gorice, IPC i Sarajevska zima predstavili su 533 mlada umjetnika iz Bosne i Hercegovine, među više od 10.000 umjetnika iz zemalja Mediterana i Evrope.

IPC i Festival Sarajevska zima bili su ključni organizatori i nosioci euroregionalnog projekta Vijeća Evrope „Link Diversity“, realizovanog u okviru Pakta stabilnosti za Jugoistočnu Evropu.

IPC i Sarajevska zima, zajedno s Vijećem Evrope, obilježili su 50. godišnjicu Evropske kulturne konvencije u Strasbourgu izložbom „Evropa u dijalogu“ i izdavanjem prigodne poštanske marke BH Pošte. Također, 2024. godine u Sarajevu su obilježili 70. godišnjicu Konvencije izložbom i posebnim programom održanim na pijaci Markale i javnim prostorima širom grada.

Festival Sarajevska zima, zajedno s IPC-om, organizovao je pilot-projekat Vijeća Evrope „Sarajevo – prvi interkulturalni grad Vijeća Evrope“ (21. decembar 2003. – 21. decembar 2004.), kao i svjetsku konferenciju na temu „Interkulturalni i međureligijski dijalog i budućnost Bosne i Hercegovine“, održanu 21. decembra 2003. godine u Sarajevu.

Konferencija je okupila 200 stručnjaka i lidera iz cijelog svijeta, uz podršku Japanske fondacije (Japan Foundation).

IPC i Sarajevska zima osnovali su Kuću Evrope Sarajevo i predsjedavali Evropskim kulturnim forumom u Briselu.

IPC i Sarajevska zima obnovili su inicijativu da Sarajevo 2008. godine bude proglašeno prijestolnicom Evrope. Skupština grada Sarajeva, zajedno s još 43 grada Bosne i Hercegovine, gradovima susjednih država, brojnim kulturnim centrima širom Evrope, te relevantnim evropskim i međunarodnim institucijama, podržala je ovaj projekat.

Evropski parlament je 2011. godine usvojio rezoluciju kojom je prepoznao značaj Festivala Sarajevska zima i podržao inicijativu da Sarajevo postane Evropska prijestolnica kulture 2014. godine.

Festival Sarajevska zima bio je domaćin okupljanja 100 umjetničkih direktora i samita Evropske festivalske asocijacije (EFA).

Festival Sarajevska zima je 2017. godine, zajedno s drugim međunarodnim festivalima, u Šangaju osnovao festivalsku umjetničku mrežu Put svile (Silk Road Art Festival Network).

Kulturni forum Bosne i Hercegovine i Međunarodni centar za mir organizovali su tokom pandemije online Kulturnu olimpijadu Sarajevo 2021, u saradnji s umjetnicima i institucijama iz cijelog svijeta, kao i Kulturnu olimpijadu Sarajevo 2025, održanu pod pokroviteljstvom generalnog sekretara Vijeća Evrope, generalnog direktora UNESCO-a i predsjedavajućeg Predsjedništva Bosne i Hercegovine.

Festivalska izdanja Sarajevske zime 2024. i 2025. godine obilježila su 40. Međunarodni festival Sarajevska zima pod sloganom „KREATIVNO, ALTERNATIVNO, FANTASTIČNO!“

IPC i Sarajevska zima pripremaju projekat pod nazivom „Sloboda umjetnosti: svjetska baština čovječanstva 2030“.

Međunarodni centar za mir i Sarajevska zima, kao izdavači, objavili su stotine kataloga, knjiga, publikacija i novina, među kojima su „Novi Spektar“, „Why“ i „EkoOko“, na domaćim i stranim jezicima.

IPC je od 1995. godine također suosnivač i suvlasnik časopisa za filozofiju i sociologiju „Dijalog“. Zajedno s Akademijom nauka i umjetnosti Bosne i Hercegovine (ANUBiH), IPC i Sarajevska zima organizatori su i osnivači Kulturnog foruma Bosne i Hercegovine te zagovornici strategije kulturne politike Bosne i Hercegovine.

Međunarodni festival Sarajevska zima dugogodišnji je član Međunarodnog društva za scenske umjetnosti (ISPA), Evropske festivalske asocijacije (EFA), Asocijacije bijenala mladih umjetnika Evrope i Mediterana (BJCEM), Mreže za mir Bosne i Hercegovine i Mreže Fondacije Anna Lindh u Bosni i Hercegovini (ALF BiH).

Međunarodni festival Sarajevska zima dobitnik je brojnih međunarodnih priznanja i nagrada, među kojima je i najznačajnije priznanje Grada Sarajeva – Šestoaprilska nagrada Grada Sarajeva.

Lokalne vlasti, Grad Sarajevo, regionalne vlasti i Predsjedništvo Bosne i Hercegovine podržavaju i promovišu Festival od 1984. godine.

Od 1993. godine Festival se održava pod pokroviteljstvom generalnog sekretara Vijeća Evrope i generalnog direktora UNESCO-a.

Festival je jedinstvena kulturna manifestacija koja je kontinuirano otvorena za umjetnike, publiku i medije. Od svog osnivanja okuplja umjetnike iz cijelog svijeta i razvija se na principima slobode umjetničkog izražavanja, kulturne raznolikosti, međusobnog razumijevanja i povezivanja.

Festival je neprofitna manifestacija koju organizuju Kulturni forum Bosne i Hercegovine i Međunarodni centar za mir (IPC).

Program Festivala obuhvata dramske predstave, operu, klasični balet, savremeni ples, vizuelne umjetnosti, film i video, muziku te programe za djecu.

Festival također uključuje konferencije, kolokvije, seminare, programe posvećene slobodi, takmičenja, festivale, specijalizovane sajmove i aktivnosti iz oblasti vještačke inteligencije (AI).

Festival Sarajevska zima dodjeljuje tri nagrade – FREEDOM, SILVER FLAKE i SILVER TEE – kao priznanje za izuzetna ostvarenja i doprinos umjetnosti i humanističkim naukama.

Ova manifestacija od neposrednog je značaja za Vijeće Evrope jer promoviše evropske vrijednosti, kulturna prava, kulturnu raznolikost, ljudska prava i slobodu izražavanja.

Festival podstiče uspostavljanje euroregionalnih i međunarodnih koprodukcija i saradnje. Sarajevska zima također doprinosi obrazovanju i kulturnom uključivanju svih generacija, uključujući i ranjive društvene grupe.

Festival promoviše jezičku i kulturnu raznolikost.

Festival Sarajevska zima putem javnog poziva okuplja umjetnike i obrazovne institucije iz cijelog svijeta. Program Festivala kreiraju stručnjaci iz različitih oblasti kulture.

Na Festivalu su učestvovali umjetnici iz Bosne i Hercegovine, Evrope, Sjeverne i Južne Amerike, Azije i Afrike.