Kizuna – a project focused on encouraging cooperation between local and Japanese cultural scene

Several weeks have passed since the call for financing study trips of Novi Sad artists and cultural workers to Japan, organised jointly by the Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture Foundation and EU-Japan Fest organisation from Tokyo, was launched. The call generated strong interest of cultural workers in Novi Sad. We discuss the application process and importance of the project with Vuk Radulović, Head of the Department for International Relations of the Foundation.

Why is Kizuna project important and how does it contribute to achieving goals of the Novi Sad 2021 project?
Kizuna is focused on networking of artists and cultural workers. We encourage them to communicate, develop joint projects and cooperate with international partners. Projects developed by cultural workers from Novi Sad in cooperation with their colleagues from Japan must be in accordance with the Novi Sad 2021 project, with possibility to apply to future open calls of the Foundation and EU-Japan Fest for financial support. This means that applicants get a possibility to receive a financial grant for a study trip to Japan, as well as an opportunity to apply for funding of the project they jointly developed with partners from this Asian country.

How can applicants apply and what is the deadline?
Deadline of the call has not been determined, which means that the idea is to implement the project continuously by 2021. There are no restrictions in terms of the deadline for the realisation of the trip either. Therefore, the applicants themselves choose the date when they can realise the study trip. However, our recommendation is to realise the trip at least four months after the application, having in mind that a time is needed to implement the selection procedure.
When it comes to the application process – it is very simple. The rulebook of the call and application form are on the website of the Novi Sad 2021 Foundation, www.novisad2021.rs. The only thing that is required is a good idea for the project in the field of culture, as well as knowledge on potential Japanese partners for the implementation of that project.

What is the deadline in which applicant will be notified on the selection, and will the public be informed about names of the selected candidates?
Candidates will be notified about the first phase of selection within one month after the date of application. Successful candidates go through another selection phase carried out by the partners from EU-Japan Fest organisation. Candidates will be notified about the final selection within two weeks. The Foundation will provide all information on the realisation of the project and names of selected candidates via website and social networks, as well as via public notifications in a timely manner.

We would like to remind that the Kizuna project is realised within the Department for International Relations of the Foundation, and it is part of strategic measures focused on encouraging mobility and internationalisation of the cultural scene of our city.