Novi Sad, as the European Capital of Culture, is welcoming 2022 with an unusual artistic and production programme that will illuminate the baroque ambience of the Suburbium of the Petrovaradin Fortress.

Compared to previous years, Novi Sad is making a step forward when it comes to the location of Doček. The citizens of Novi Sad and their guests will have a chance to see a part of the ‘Tesla, Inventartist’ play directed by Nebojša Bradić and performed by the Drama Ensemble of the Serbian National Theatre near the Varadin Bridge, on 31 December at 8:22 p.m. After the play, the audience will be invited to cross the bridge in a solemn procession to the Tesla – Light Gallery, which will be located in Suburbium, where the story of the man who illuminated the whole world will continue.

Doček 2022 in Novi Sad:

Tesla Light Galery will be opened by a story about Tesla’s life. Bulgarian multimedia artist Petko Tančev, PhD, Italian artist Alberto Novello, PhD, Croatian artist Ivan Marusic Klif, choreographer Staša Kukić, composer Miroslav Novakov, and students of stage design, as well as the project coordinator Milica Stojšić, PhD, will tell about Tesla’s attitude towards the world and achievements in a unique way, through contemporary artistic expressions and technologies.

After the opening, through the entire Suburbium to the Belgrade Gate, the audience will be able to discover other contents such as the laser performance of Italian artist Alberto Novello called ‘See the Sound and Hear the light’ on Prote Mihaldžića Square, which will begin at 11:15 p.m. while at the very entrance to the Square, an interactive installation by the Croatian artist Ivan Marušić Klif called ‘Kinetic Rescanning’ will be set up, within which the audience will be able to explore their interaction with sound and image. In the tunnel at the Belgrade Gate, there will be the works by graduate students of stage design from the Faculty of Technical Sciences – ‘SvetLOST’, which deals with light as life energy, as well as with the phenomenon of light pollution.

Furthermore, the audience will enjoy musical performances on several stages in Suburbium. DJ Dark Angel will perform at 10 p.m. on the main stage in front of the Belgrade Gate, followed by Noise Destruction at the same place at 11:15 p.m. Also, on the big stage located in Prote Mihaldžića Square, the audience will listen to Elektro Guzzi from 10 p.m., and Nipplepeople from 11.45 pm. Kanda Kodža i Nebojša will perform on the small stage in Štrosmajerova Street, while Đorđe Miljenović will start his concert at 11.30 pm.

MAP TLG: www.docekns.rs/mapa/

At midnight, visitors can expect fireworks that will be synchronized with video projections, lighting and lasers at two locations – near the Belgrade Gate, as well as on one of the terraces of the Petrovaradin Fortress, for Novi Sad residents who watch the midnight spectacle from Novi Sad.

The story of Tesla and his ideas, started with a play and continued through the opening of Tesla Light Gallery, and celebrated through works of art and stage design for art events, ends on 1 January at the Quay of Victims of the Raid with a laser performance called ‘Lightscapes’ by Ivan Marušić Cliff and Alberto Novello, PhD, which the audience will watch from 5 p.m. On the first night in 2022, the Belgrade superband Minilinija will perform on the main stage in front of the Belgrade Gate at 9 p.m., while the audience will listen to the Viennese duo Kruder and Dorfmeister, which come with the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum. Partner in the Tesla Light Gallery project is NIS.

Due to the execution of the programmes within the opening of the European Capital of Culture, there will be a temporary change in the traffic regime in some parts of Novi Sad. Until 1 January, by 5 p.m., traffic will be closed in the part of Mihajlo Pupin Boulevard from the intersection of Sonja Marinković and Ive Lole Ribara streets up to the part with both lanes in the Neznanog Junaka Square. In the same period, the traffic on the Varadin Bridge will be closed.

Road closure for traffic on Varadin Bridge from 7 a.m. on Thursday, 30 December 2021, until 5 p.m. on Saturday 1 January 2022.

Road closure for traffic in the Suburbium of the Petrovaradin Fortress in the following parts:

From the entrance to the Beogradska Street to the turn towards Petrovaradin Fortress behind the Belgrade Gate.

Part of Prote Mihaldžića Street from the intersection with the Vladike Nikolaja Square.

The entrance to Štrosmajerova Street from the intersection with the Vladike Nikolaja Square.

Admission to the programmes on 31 December and 1 January is free of charge, and local Novi Sad caterers will provide stands with drinks and food for visitors in Suburbium. Mobile toilets will also be provided. Meteorologists are forecasting clear weather for Friday, 31 December and Saturday, 1 January. The epidemiologist’s recommendation is to wear masks and keep your distance. Due to the closed streets, all visitors who come by their own transport are recommended to park their cars in the parking spaces on the city side, before the Varadin Bridge or in Petrovaradin.

You can find more information about Doček on the website docekns.rs