Balkan Hub

The Trans Europe Halles' Balkans Hub is a collective of independent grassroots cultural and creative organizations spanning the Balkans, from Croatia to Romania and from Serbia to Greece. These organizations are eager to fortify their connections and collaborate on international projects. Despite a fragmented understanding of the region's common history, cultural centers within the hub possess both the ability and enthusiasm to engage in projects that promote unity and inspiration.

Balkan Hub Journey

Foundations (2019 – 2022)

The idea for the Balkan Hub was first set in motion in 2019 by Irena Boljuncic Gracin at a time when she was representing ROJC. Soon after, the global pandemic disrupted the plans of the members interested in the hub, but the vision remained alive. Despite the pause, the members continued exploring ways to create a solid and sustainable hub.

Balkan Hub in TEH99, june 2025

Challenges and Resilience (2025)
In June 2025, the Hub held an in-person meeting in Sofia during TEH Conference 99. Around this time, the members were informed that their grant application to the Swedish Institute had not been successful. While disappointing, this setback did not hinder their resolve. The members continue to meet, collaborate, and explore new opportunities. The spirit of the Balkan Hub remains strong, and they are committed to reconvening in person to develop and deliver impactful projects.

Balkan Hub in Skopje, April 2024

In April 2024 in Skopje, the members gathered again. This meeting focused on:
• Creating the Balkan Hub Handbook
• Advancing the two projects initiated in Peja: the Balkan Rooftop Project and the Traveling Cinema Project
• Hosting a public event to introduce TEH to the local cultural community in Skopje

Later that year, in October 2024, the members met in person at the Camp Meeting in Thessaloniki.

In November 2024, a small writing group formed to prepare a grant proposal for the Swedish Institute. The group met weekly on Fridays (and later also on Mondays), working steadily until the proposal was submitted in February 2025.

Read the Balkan Hub Handbook

Balkan Hub in Peja, 2023.

In 2023, the members secured funding from the Swedish Institute (SI), enabling them to start turning their ideas into reality. Since then, they’ve been meeting online every third Thursday of the month, keeping the community active and connected. The first in-person gathering took place in Peja, 2023. With support from Swedish Insitut, they held a two-day workshop to lay the foundation of who they are and who they want to become. Workshop topics included:

• Defining the Balkans and their shared reasons for collaboration
• Strategies for including non-TEH members in the Hub
• Shaping their vision, mission, and action plan (with an eye on future funding opportunities)
• Exploring potential resources (Erasmus+ KA2, ESC, etc.)
• Democracy and citizen engagement, aligned with the SI funding theme

What are Balkan Hub next step?

Looking ahead, the Balkan Hub aims to:

• Identify new funding opportunities (Erasmus+, European Cultural Foundation, Creative Europe, and beyond) to sustain and grow their activities.

• Reconnect in person in 2025/2026 for a focused working session to refine and advance their project ideas.

• Strengthen community ties by continuing monthly online meetings and inviting new participants from across the Balkans.

• Welcome openness and inclusivity: anybody from the Balkans is warmly invited to join the Hub, and friends from outside the region are always welcome to join their meetings. Collaborations within the Balkans and beyond are not only possible, but something they are eager to explore.

• Keep momentum on their flagship projects, especially the Balkan Rooftop and Traveling Cinema, while remaining open to new initiatives.

• Maintain visibility by sharing their journey and outcomes with the wider TEH network and cultural communities in the region. The Balkan Hub remains a space for connection, creativity, and collaboration across borders. Even when faced with challenges, their determination to keep building together is stronger than ever.

The next offline meeting of the Hub will be held at TEH Camp Meeting 100.