The Cultural Station Svilara is part of a network of eight cultural stations throughout the city of Novi Sad, launched as part of the project ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’. Once the biggest silk dyeing factory in the country, Svilara, which means ‘silkworm’, now functions as a cultural centre that welcomes artists, organisations and citizens with creative ideas, and hosts a range of creative and artistic events.
Svilara Cultural Station is located in the Almaški region, one of the oldest city districts in Novi Sad and a protected cultural-historical area. The silk dyeing factory worked at full steam until the 1970s. The silk industry, and the mulberry trees that accompanied it, form an essential part of the city’s history. Today, there is no more silk production in the area, but the old factory and its recognizable chimney remain and keep the memory of the time when Svilara was the generator of economic and social development of the area. [4;5]
Svilara is part of a network of eight cultural stations in Novi Sad, created in order to connect citizens, artists, organisations and cultural institutions in creative activities, building a new image of the city as a cultural hotspot. [1] This network of cultural stations was created in the context of the ‘Novi Sad 2021 – European Capital of Culture’ project. The Cultural Station Svilara answered a long time wish of residents of the Almaš neighbourhood to revive the neighbourhood and its heritage, thereby providing a space for grassroots initiatives already ongoing within the neighbourhood. The former silk dyeing factory was renovated to become a cultural centre that welcomes artists, organisations and citizens with creative ideas. A wide range of activities is conducted from the station, ranging from artistic workshops, concerts and debates to exhibitions, educational activities and festivals. An artist-in-residence programme and community programmes are also run from the station. Furthermore, a program called ‘Urban Heritage’ is conducted from the station, which brings together experts and community members to interpret contemporary heritage. [2;3]
When the City of Novi Sad made the decision to bid for the European Capital of Culture 2021, the ‘Novi Sad – European Capital of Culture foundation’ was established. This foundation, created by the municipality, is responsible for managing all cultural stations in the city, including Svilara. Currently, the (local) authorities, local initiatives, and cultural institutions are designing a plan for the self-sustainability of Svilara, and a mixed civil-public model of governance is explored. [3]
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the title European Capital of Culture 2021 has been postponed to 2022. [4]
The old factory building has been renovated with public funding. Currently, the operations of Cultural Station Svilara are also funded by the local, regional and national governments. The specific budget for Cultural Station Svilara is unknown. Overall, the European Capital of Culture project is realised through a budget of over €30.000.000, of which the city contributes 42%, the region 25%, the national government 18% and the EU 9% (through competitive programmes). The private sector is expected to contribute just under 4%. Other sources will contribute the remaining 2%. From this total budget, 75% is allocated to programme expenditure, 13% to marketing and 12% to salaries and administration. The amount of this budget allocated to the eight cultural stations, and Cultural Station Svilara in particular, is unknown. [5]
New Cultural Stations Novi Sad, website available at kulturnestanice.rs/, accessed on 11/01/2022
Svilara Cultural Station, organisational website, svilara.kulturnestanice.rs, accessed on 11/01/2022
Novi Sad Tourism Organisations, Culture station Svilara (2021), available at novisad.travel/en/culture-single/kulturna-stanica-svilara/, accessed on 11/01/2022
Novi Sad, European Capital of Culture (2021), initiative website, available at novisad2021.rs/en, accessed on 22/01/2022
European Capital of Culture 2021, The Selection Panel’s Final report, Brussels (2016), available at novisad2022.rs/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Selection-Report-Novi-Sad.pdf, accessed on 22/11/21