Programme narrative of the ‘Novi Sad 2022’ project comes out from the ‘4 New Bridges’ slogan, which represents the idea of building new bridges of cooperation and exchange between artists and organizations from Novi Sad and Serbia with the European cultural scene.

We defined four programme bridges, symbolically named after the bridges in Novi Sad, i.e., after values that city wishes to develop in the context of European integrations and beliefs that it fosters and strives to share with citizens of Europe: Rainbow, Freedom, Love and Hope.

The bridges are divided into programme arches, and eight of them await us in 2022: Doček, Migrations, Future of Europe, Heroines, Fortress of Peace, The Danube Sea, Kaleidoscope of Culture and Other? Europe.

The artistic concept of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project is based on the basic values of the European Union, such as human rights, multiculturality, intercultural dialogue, environmental awareness and peace policy. These values promote the idea of open democratic society based on the contemporary humanism.

Programme arches, i.e., thematic units, were built by connecting these values with history, culture and identity of Novi Sad.

Major flagship projects were developed within each of the bridges. They were selected on the basis of their artistic and creative concept, attractiveness and compliance with the programme objectives and principles, thus becoming the most visible projects that will be implemented in the title year.

In 2022, Novi Sad will present itself as the European Capital of Culture with more than 1,500 cultural events and 4,000 local, national and international artists within eight programme arches.

Out of that, more than 1,700 European and world artists from over 45 countries will tell the story of Serbian Athens through the vision of common European values, yet challenges.

The programme concept, as well as some of the prominent events and participants, were presented at the ceremony in the City Concert Hall on 30 June 2021.