Regaining a sense of belonging
KomshiLOOK
KomshiLOOK @Zhelezara
KomshiLOOK is a vibrant, community-driven festival that transforms overlooked neighborhoods into cultural stages. Through art, performances, and shared experiences, it fosters belonging, pride, and connection. By activating balconies, courtyards, and public spaces, KomshiLOOK invites everyone—residents, artists, and visitors—to become part of the story, proving that culture thrives where people come together as neighbors. Because being a good neighbor means being a good citizen.
North Macedonia
Local
Skopje, North Macedonia
Mainly urban
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
2024-06-01
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
As a representative of an organisation
KomshiLOOK Project in Zhelezara is a multidisciplinary cultural event that transforms a unique residential block into a dynamic artistic stage. Located on the outskirts of Skopje, Zhelezara is known for its industrial past, but its cascading apartment buildings, facing Skopje’s largest park, offer a rare blend of urban living and nature. It is the only residential block directly bordering the forest, creating a distinctive setting for community life.
Built with and within the community, the festival turns balconies, staircases, terraces, and apartments into performance and exhibition spaces. More than 104 artists and performers from theater, music, dance, visual arts, and media activate the neighborhood, while residents become hosts, participants, and storytellers. Audiences witness concerts from balconies, contemporary dance in stairwells, and theater not only on balconies but also on public bus number 16. Exhibitions, opera, and music acts unfold across the neighborhood, creating an immersive experience. Apartments become intimate screening rooms and host events like Dinner with a Stranger, where neighbors open their homes for shared meals and conversations, strengthening social ties.
At its core, KomshiLOOK (meaning = NeighborLOOK) is about people. We are all neighbors. The festival highlights social strength, proving that culture thrives not just in venues but in everyday human connections. By prioritizing community-driven creativity, KomshiLOOK turns Zhelezara into a living cultural hub, showing that being a good neighbor is the foundation of a strong society.
Beyond the festival, KomshiLOOK has strengthened local identity, increased cultural engagement, and empowered residents. Through co-creation, neighbors have learned to interact with authorities, address urban challenges, and advocate for their needs. More than an event, it has fostered active citizens who take responsibility for their community, shaping the future of their neighborhood.
Built with and within the community, the festival turns balconies, staircases, terraces, and apartments into performance and exhibition spaces. More than 104 artists and performers from theater, music, dance, visual arts, and media activate the neighborhood, while residents become hosts, participants, and storytellers. Audiences witness concerts from balconies, contemporary dance in stairwells, and theater not only on balconies but also on public bus number 16. Exhibitions, opera, and music acts unfold across the neighborhood, creating an immersive experience. Apartments become intimate screening rooms and host events like Dinner with a Stranger, where neighbors open their homes for shared meals and conversations, strengthening social ties.
At its core, KomshiLOOK (meaning = NeighborLOOK) is about people. We are all neighbors. The festival highlights social strength, proving that culture thrives not just in venues but in everyday human connections. By prioritizing community-driven creativity, KomshiLOOK turns Zhelezara into a living cultural hub, showing that being a good neighbor is the foundation of a strong society.
Beyond the festival, KomshiLOOK has strengthened local identity, increased cultural engagement, and empowered residents. Through co-creation, neighbors have learned to interact with authorities, address urban challenges, and advocate for their needs. More than an event, it has fostered active citizens who take responsibility for their community, shaping the future of their neighborhood.
Community
Belonging
Accessibility
Locality
Action
Our project prioritizes sustainability through ecological, social, and economic approaches, ensuring long-term impact while minimizing environmental footprint.
Ecologically, we focused on low-impact cultural engagement by targeting local audiences and artists, avoiding unnecessary travel emissions. No long-distance cargo or high-energy consumption was involved, as performances and exhibitions took place within existing urban infrastructure. Public transport was encouraged, with performances like theater on public bus number 16 integrating sustainable mobility into the experience. By activating local spaces, we proved that cultural events do not require excessive resource consumption to be impactful.
Social sustainability was embedded in the project’s design by making culture accessible and inclusive. The festival introduced contemporary artistic practices in a way that was understandable and engaging for a broad audience, providing residents with skills to interpret and appreciate diverse art forms. By highlighting the potential of neglected urban spaces, we fostered appreciation for the local environment and its possibilities. Human connections were strengthened as neighbors met, collaborated, and reimagined their shared spaces. The project built trust and community pride, demonstrating that culture belongs in everyday life and can raise the standard of living. The festival also drew attention to humane architecture, offering inspiration for future urban development rooted in community needs.
Economically, the project provided jobs and visibility to artists, cultural workers, and local service providers, including caterers and technical staff. By involving local craftspeople, designers, and illustrators, we created opportunities for showcasing and selling their work, reinforcing the local creative economy. The model is scalable and replicable, proving that cultural sustainability does not rely on large budgets but on strong community involvement.
Ecologically, we focused on low-impact cultural engagement by targeting local audiences and artists, avoiding unnecessary travel emissions. No long-distance cargo or high-energy consumption was involved, as performances and exhibitions took place within existing urban infrastructure. Public transport was encouraged, with performances like theater on public bus number 16 integrating sustainable mobility into the experience. By activating local spaces, we proved that cultural events do not require excessive resource consumption to be impactful.
Social sustainability was embedded in the project’s design by making culture accessible and inclusive. The festival introduced contemporary artistic practices in a way that was understandable and engaging for a broad audience, providing residents with skills to interpret and appreciate diverse art forms. By highlighting the potential of neglected urban spaces, we fostered appreciation for the local environment and its possibilities. Human connections were strengthened as neighbors met, collaborated, and reimagined their shared spaces. The project built trust and community pride, demonstrating that culture belongs in everyday life and can raise the standard of living. The festival also drew attention to humane architecture, offering inspiration for future urban development rooted in community needs.
Economically, the project provided jobs and visibility to artists, cultural workers, and local service providers, including caterers and technical staff. By involving local craftspeople, designers, and illustrators, we created opportunities for showcasing and selling their work, reinforcing the local creative economy. The model is scalable and replicable, proving that cultural sustainability does not rely on large budgets but on strong community involvement.
KomshiLOOK redefines cultural experiences by integrating art into everyday spaces, transforming the neighborhood into an immersive, participatory cultural landscape. The festival’s key objectives focus on creating meaningful encounters, enhancing spatial storytelling, and making culture accessible in a natural and engaging way.
KomshiLOOK turns balconies, stairwells, courtyards, and apartments into artistic stages, forging a connection between the audience, performers, and the urban environment. Instead of imposing art onto spaces, the festival allows spaces to shape the artistic experience. This approach enhances the visual and sensory quality of performances, making them deeply rooted in the neighborhood’s identity.
A key principle of KomshiLOOK is breaking the separation between private and public spaces. An opera on a balcony, a film screening in an apartment, a dance piece in a stairwell—these interventions reshape everyday environments, integrating culture into daily life. This creates an intimate, immersive, and emotionally engaging experience where audiences connect with both the artwork and the community.
KomshiLOOK embraces a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and interactive installations. Chamber music concerts from balconies merge with the city’s soundscape, site-specific performances respond to the rhythm of the neighborhood, and digital projections transform familiar spaces. This mix ensures that audiences engage with culture on multiple levels—visually, emotionally, and physically.
The festival removes the passive spectator experience by encouraging audiences to move through performances, experience art in unconventional ways, and participate. Whether through a dinner with a stranger, a site-specific performance, or a guided art walk, KomshiLOOK transforms cultural engagement, proving that aesthetics and quality come from social connection, storytelling, and a shared sense of belonging.
KomshiLOOK turns balconies, stairwells, courtyards, and apartments into artistic stages, forging a connection between the audience, performers, and the urban environment. Instead of imposing art onto spaces, the festival allows spaces to shape the artistic experience. This approach enhances the visual and sensory quality of performances, making them deeply rooted in the neighborhood’s identity.
A key principle of KomshiLOOK is breaking the separation between private and public spaces. An opera on a balcony, a film screening in an apartment, a dance piece in a stairwell—these interventions reshape everyday environments, integrating culture into daily life. This creates an intimate, immersive, and emotionally engaging experience where audiences connect with both the artwork and the community.
KomshiLOOK embraces a multidisciplinary approach, bringing together music, theater, dance, visual arts, film, and interactive installations. Chamber music concerts from balconies merge with the city’s soundscape, site-specific performances respond to the rhythm of the neighborhood, and digital projections transform familiar spaces. This mix ensures that audiences engage with culture on multiple levels—visually, emotionally, and physically.
The festival removes the passive spectator experience by encouraging audiences to move through performances, experience art in unconventional ways, and participate. Whether through a dinner with a stranger, a site-specific performance, or a guided art walk, KomshiLOOK transforms cultural engagement, proving that aesthetics and quality come from social connection, storytelling, and a shared sense of belonging.
KomshiLOOK is built on the idea that culture, community, and society belong to everyone. The festival fosters inclusion by making art accessible, affordable, and participatory, ensuring that all community members—not just traditional art audiences—can engage in meaningful cultural experiences.
KomshiLOOK eliminates financial barriers by offering free access to all events. There are no tickets, exclusive areas, or hidden costs. This ensures that culture reaches those who might otherwise be excluded from traditional institutions. The festival takes place in public and residential spaces, bringing performances directly to the people rather than expecting them to travel to cultural venues.
We bring art to their doors, meaning people face art and culture in their daily lives. This direct engagement encourages participation from those who may not normally seek out cultural experiences. Balconies, courtyards, and stairwells become performance spaces, making art part of everyday interactions.
The festival follows the "design for all" principle, ensuring accessibility for people of different physical abilities. Events are held in ground-level courtyards, stairwells, and open spaces to improve mobility. Interactive elements allow audiences to experience art in multiple ways, making it more inclusive for those with diverse needs.
KomshiLOOK also promotes social inclusion by prioritizing underrepresented communities. It brings together people of different generations, ethnicities, and backgrounds, ensuring a diverse range of voices in the artistic program. The festival is especially active in marginalized neighborhoods, where cultural events are rare. By integrating local residents as hosts, co-creators, and participants, it fosters a sense of belonging and pride.
KomshiLOOK shows that true inclusion in culture and community is not just about access—it is about participation, shared ownership, and creating a space where everyone belongs.
KomshiLOOK eliminates financial barriers by offering free access to all events. There are no tickets, exclusive areas, or hidden costs. This ensures that culture reaches those who might otherwise be excluded from traditional institutions. The festival takes place in public and residential spaces, bringing performances directly to the people rather than expecting them to travel to cultural venues.
We bring art to their doors, meaning people face art and culture in their daily lives. This direct engagement encourages participation from those who may not normally seek out cultural experiences. Balconies, courtyards, and stairwells become performance spaces, making art part of everyday interactions.
The festival follows the "design for all" principle, ensuring accessibility for people of different physical abilities. Events are held in ground-level courtyards, stairwells, and open spaces to improve mobility. Interactive elements allow audiences to experience art in multiple ways, making it more inclusive for those with diverse needs.
KomshiLOOK also promotes social inclusion by prioritizing underrepresented communities. It brings together people of different generations, ethnicities, and backgrounds, ensuring a diverse range of voices in the artistic program. The festival is especially active in marginalized neighborhoods, where cultural events are rare. By integrating local residents as hosts, co-creators, and participants, it fosters a sense of belonging and pride.
KomshiLOOK shows that true inclusion in culture and community is not just about access—it is about participation, shared ownership, and creating a space where everyone belongs.
KomshiLOOK directly involves residents/neighbours by transforming them from spectators into participants, co-creators, and hosts. The festival takes place in their own homes, courtyards, stairwells, streets and balconies, making culture a part of daily life rather than something distant. This strengthens social bonds, deepens a sense of belonging, and builds pride in the community.
The festival brings cultural experiences to those who might not otherwise have access, including elderly residents, families, and marginalized communities. By eliminating financial barriers and hosting events in familiar spaces, KomshiLOOK ensures inclusion for all. Residents who may never have attended a theater performance or exhibition suddenly find themselves immersed in a vibrant cultural experience, right outside their doors.
KomshiLOOK has a strong social dimension. People meet, talk, exchange ideas, and build relationships that last beyond the festival. Neighbors who may have never spoken before now share experiences, discuss local issues, and collaborate on future initiatives. The festival encourages dialogue about urban life, public space, and environmental responsibility, inspiring people to take an active role in shaping their surroundings.
The impact is twofold. On a personal level, it empowers individuals to engage with the arts, fostering creativity and dialogue. Many residents become active participants—opening their homes for screenings, preparing meals for visitors, or even performing. This creates ownership and turns passive citizens into cultural contributors.
On a community level, KomshiLOOK strengthens the neighborhood by breaking social barriers. The festival blurs the boundaries between private and public life, creating a shared cultural space that reinforces trust, solidarity, and social cohesion. The citizens' involvement shapes the festival, proving that art thrives where people come together.
The festival brings cultural experiences to those who might not otherwise have access, including elderly residents, families, and marginalized communities. By eliminating financial barriers and hosting events in familiar spaces, KomshiLOOK ensures inclusion for all. Residents who may never have attended a theater performance or exhibition suddenly find themselves immersed in a vibrant cultural experience, right outside their doors.
KomshiLOOK has a strong social dimension. People meet, talk, exchange ideas, and build relationships that last beyond the festival. Neighbors who may have never spoken before now share experiences, discuss local issues, and collaborate on future initiatives. The festival encourages dialogue about urban life, public space, and environmental responsibility, inspiring people to take an active role in shaping their surroundings.
The impact is twofold. On a personal level, it empowers individuals to engage with the arts, fostering creativity and dialogue. Many residents become active participants—opening their homes for screenings, preparing meals for visitors, or even performing. This creates ownership and turns passive citizens into cultural contributors.
On a community level, KomshiLOOK strengthens the neighborhood by breaking social barriers. The festival blurs the boundaries between private and public life, creating a shared cultural space that reinforces trust, solidarity, and social cohesion. The citizens' involvement shapes the festival, proving that art thrives where people come together.
At the local level, neighbors were at the heart of the festival. Their participation began early, with open calls inviting them to contribute as hosts, performers, or volunteers. Workshops and creative sessions brought together residents and artists to co-create performances, installations, and interventions in shared spaces. These sessions fostered artistic collaboration while addressing social issues, encouraging discussions on public space, community identity, and urban life.
Artists developed site-specific works inspired by the neighborhood, often collaborating with residents to create projects that reflected their stories, concerns, and aspirations. This ensured that the festival remained deeply connected to the local context rather than being an external event imposed on the community.
Local businesses supported the festival through financial contributions, material donations, or in-kind services such as providing equipment, food, and logistical support. Their involvement strengthened the local economy and encouraged long-term partnerships between cultural initiatives and the private sector.
At the national level, cultural institutions, professional artists, and independent organizations provided expertise and visibility. National media covered the festival, amplifying its impact and fostering discussions on cultural decentralization. The festival also collaborated with national arts and cultural programs, securing funding and support for continued growth.
At the European level, KomshiLOOK consulted with international professionals, drawing inspiration from similar community-driven cultural models abroad. The festival exchanged knowledge and best practices with European networks, contributing to cross-border cultural dialogue.
Artists developed site-specific works inspired by the neighborhood, often collaborating with residents to create projects that reflected their stories, concerns, and aspirations. This ensured that the festival remained deeply connected to the local context rather than being an external event imposed on the community.
Local businesses supported the festival through financial contributions, material donations, or in-kind services such as providing equipment, food, and logistical support. Their involvement strengthened the local economy and encouraged long-term partnerships between cultural initiatives and the private sector.
At the national level, cultural institutions, professional artists, and independent organizations provided expertise and visibility. National media covered the festival, amplifying its impact and fostering discussions on cultural decentralization. The festival also collaborated with national arts and cultural programs, securing funding and support for continued growth.
At the European level, KomshiLOOK consulted with international professionals, drawing inspiration from similar community-driven cultural models abroad. The festival exchanged knowledge and best practices with European networks, contributing to cross-border cultural dialogue.
KomshiLOOK is a multidisciplinary festival that brings together art, urbanism, sociology, community engagement, and environmental awareness.
Artistic disciplines such as theater, dance, music, visual arts, film, and digital media shape the festival’s program. Artists work in site-specific formats, using balconies, staircases, courtyards, and apartments as stages. Their interaction with residents breaks traditional performance boundaries, transforming everyday spaces into cultural venues.
Urbanism and architecture play a crucial role in the festival’s design. The unique cascading architecture of Zhelezara provides a natural amphitheater, inspiring performances and installations that respond to the built environment. Urban planners and architects contribute by reimagining public and private spaces, questioning how culture can reshape neighborhoods and influence city life.
Sociology and community engagement are central to KomshiLOOK. The festival creates a platform for social exchange, bringing together people of different backgrounds, ages, and experiences. Through discussions, interactive workshops, and participatory projects, it fosters dialogue about community identity, public space, and social cohesion.
Environmental awareness is embedded in the festival’s design. The proximity of Zhelezara to Skopje’s largest open park influences discussions on sustainable urban living, green spaces, and ecological responsibility. Artistic interventions highlight environmental themes, and the festival promotes low-energy solutions and waste reduction strategies.
Artistic disciplines such as theater, dance, music, visual arts, film, and digital media shape the festival’s program. Artists work in site-specific formats, using balconies, staircases, courtyards, and apartments as stages. Their interaction with residents breaks traditional performance boundaries, transforming everyday spaces into cultural venues.
Urbanism and architecture play a crucial role in the festival’s design. The unique cascading architecture of Zhelezara provides a natural amphitheater, inspiring performances and installations that respond to the built environment. Urban planners and architects contribute by reimagining public and private spaces, questioning how culture can reshape neighborhoods and influence city life.
Sociology and community engagement are central to KomshiLOOK. The festival creates a platform for social exchange, bringing together people of different backgrounds, ages, and experiences. Through discussions, interactive workshops, and participatory projects, it fosters dialogue about community identity, public space, and social cohesion.
Environmental awareness is embedded in the festival’s design. The proximity of Zhelezara to Skopje’s largest open park influences discussions on sustainable urban living, green spaces, and ecological responsibility. Artistic interventions highlight environmental themes, and the festival promotes low-energy solutions and waste reduction strategies.
A key innovation of KomshiLOOK is its deeply participatory nature. Rather than presenting a pre-defined artistic program to a passive audience, the festival is co-created with residents, turning them into hosts, collaborators, and even performers. The festival is not something that happens to the community—it happens with them and within their spaces. This eliminates barriers between artists and the public, making culture truly accessible and inclusive.
Another unique aspect is the multidisciplinary fusion of art, urbanism, sociology, and environmental awareness. Mainstream cultural events often separate disciplines, while KomshiLOOK encourages cross-sectoral collaboration. Artists work alongside urban planners, sociologists, and local businesses to rethink public space, spark social dialogue, and address pressing societal issues in a creative and engaging way.
KomshiLOOK also redefines how cultural accessibility is approached. While many events focus on bringing audiences into cultural institutions, this festival brings art to people's homes and shared spaces, making participation effortless and organic. The integration of free access, social engagement, and site-specific performances ensures that the festival reaches audiences who may never have engaged with the arts before.
Another unique aspect is the multidisciplinary fusion of art, urbanism, sociology, and environmental awareness. Mainstream cultural events often separate disciplines, while KomshiLOOK encourages cross-sectoral collaboration. Artists work alongside urban planners, sociologists, and local businesses to rethink public space, spark social dialogue, and address pressing societal issues in a creative and engaging way.
KomshiLOOK also redefines how cultural accessibility is approached. While many events focus on bringing audiences into cultural institutions, this festival brings art to people's homes and shared spaces, making participation effortless and organic. The integration of free access, social engagement, and site-specific performances ensures that the festival reaches audiences who may never have engaged with the arts before.
The four-month preparation process was key to the project’s success. It begins with community engagement and local outreach, where neighbors were invited to participate through open calls, meetings, and informal gatherings. Residents were not just audiences but co-creators of the festival, hosting events in their homes, providing personal stories, or even performing. This ensured that the program reflects the identity and needs of the community rather than being imposed from the outside.
A series of workshops and artistic residencies connected professional artists with residents, fostering exchange and collaboration. These sessions explored urban space, community life, and social themes, resulting in performances, exhibitions, and installations that emerge organically from the site and its people. The artistic interventions were designed to merge seamlessly with the neighborhood’s architecture and daily rhythms, making art an integrated part of life.
The methodology is also based on adaptive and low-impact cultural production. KomshiLOOK does not require built infrastructure; instead, it reuses and transforms existing spaces—balconies become opera stages, stairwells host dance performances, and apartments turn into micro-cinemas. This approach reduces costs, minimizes environmental impact, and makes culture accessible in informal and familiar settings.
The festival also fosters cross-sector partnerships, engaging the business community to support culture through sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and active participation.
A series of workshops and artistic residencies connected professional artists with residents, fostering exchange and collaboration. These sessions explored urban space, community life, and social themes, resulting in performances, exhibitions, and installations that emerge organically from the site and its people. The artistic interventions were designed to merge seamlessly with the neighborhood’s architecture and daily rhythms, making art an integrated part of life.
The methodology is also based on adaptive and low-impact cultural production. KomshiLOOK does not require built infrastructure; instead, it reuses and transforms existing spaces—balconies become opera stages, stairwells host dance performances, and apartments turn into micro-cinemas. This approach reduces costs, minimizes environmental impact, and makes culture accessible in informal and familiar settings.
The festival also fosters cross-sector partnerships, engaging the business community to support culture through sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and active participation.
The festival’s core idea—transforming everyday spaces into cultural venues, fostering deep community participation, and addressing social issues through art—makes it a flexible and transferable model.
One example of this adaptability is our work in the Roma community in Skopje’s Šuto Orizari area, on Walt Disney Street in September 2024. Here, the project focused on the theme of visibility, inspired by the symbolic use of white gloves in early Disney cartoons. This artistic reference was used to explore how communities are seen—or overlooked—by society. By integrating digital visibility tools like Google Street View, GPS art, and augmented reality exhibitions, the festival helped highlight the cultural identity and contributions of the Roma people, while also challenging stereotypes.
The LOOK in KomshiLOOK became a call to action—to look deeper, beyond surface impressions, and engage with different communities in meaningful ways. Through site-specific performances, artistic interventions, and public discussions, the project encourage residents and visitors to confront and bridge social divides.
The key elements of KomshiLOOK that make it replicable include using existing architecture and public spaces as cultural stages, reducing costs and resource consumption. Engaging local communities as co-creators ensures that the program reflects their voices and experiences. Addressing social issues through art makes culture a tool for dialogue and transformation. Adapting performances to different cultural and urban settings allows flexibility across diverse contexts. Encouraging partnerships between artists, local businesses, and social organizations creates long-term impact.
One example of this adaptability is our work in the Roma community in Skopje’s Šuto Orizari area, on Walt Disney Street in September 2024. Here, the project focused on the theme of visibility, inspired by the symbolic use of white gloves in early Disney cartoons. This artistic reference was used to explore how communities are seen—or overlooked—by society. By integrating digital visibility tools like Google Street View, GPS art, and augmented reality exhibitions, the festival helped highlight the cultural identity and contributions of the Roma people, while also challenging stereotypes.
The LOOK in KomshiLOOK became a call to action—to look deeper, beyond surface impressions, and engage with different communities in meaningful ways. Through site-specific performances, artistic interventions, and public discussions, the project encourage residents and visitors to confront and bridge social divides.
The key elements of KomshiLOOK that make it replicable include using existing architecture and public spaces as cultural stages, reducing costs and resource consumption. Engaging local communities as co-creators ensures that the program reflects their voices and experiences. Addressing social issues through art makes culture a tool for dialogue and transformation. Adapting performances to different cultural and urban settings allows flexibility across diverse contexts. Encouraging partnerships between artists, local businesses, and social organizations creates long-term impact.
One of the biggest global challenges today is social fragmentation and disconnection. In an increasingly digital world, people are becoming isolated from their local communities, disconnected from public spaces, and less engaged in real-life social interactions. KomshiLOOK counters this by bringing culture directly into people’s homes and shared spaces, encouraging face-to-face interaction and strengthening neighborhood ties.
Another key issue is the lack of engagement in local decision-making and civic participation. Many urban residents feel that they have little influence over their environment. KomshiLOOK challenges this passive mindset by turning citizens into active cultural contributors. The festival blurs the lines between artist and audience, private and public, resident and performer, encouraging people to take an active role in shaping their communities.
Environmental care starts locally, but it is a global issue. KomshiLOOK promotes a sustainable approach to urban living by encouraging people to appreciate, use, and protect their immediate surroundings. By activating existing architecture, using minimal resources, and repurposing spaces, the festival demonstrates that culture can be environmentally responsible. The message is clear—taking care of our local environment is the first step toward addressing global ecological challenges.
Another key issue is the lack of engagement in local decision-making and civic participation. Many urban residents feel that they have little influence over their environment. KomshiLOOK challenges this passive mindset by turning citizens into active cultural contributors. The festival blurs the lines between artist and audience, private and public, resident and performer, encouraging people to take an active role in shaping their communities.
Environmental care starts locally, but it is a global issue. KomshiLOOK promotes a sustainable approach to urban living by encouraging people to appreciate, use, and protect their immediate surroundings. By activating existing architecture, using minimal resources, and repurposing spaces, the festival demonstrates that culture can be environmentally responsible. The message is clear—taking care of our local environment is the first step toward addressing global ecological challenges.
The direct beneficiaries of the festival were residents, artists, and visitors who actively participated. Neighbors became more than spectators—they hosted performances, shared meals, opened their homes, and co-created cultural experiences. This engagement fostered pride, belonging, and ownership over public and private spaces. The festival encouraged social connections, bringing together people who may never have interacted before and building friendships beyond the event.
For artists, we provided a platform for experimentation and professional visibility. They created site-specific works that responded to urban spaces and social themes, pushing artistic boundaries while engaging a broader professional audience. The festival also served as a promotional stage, allowing them to present their work to curators, institutions, and cultural professionals.
Beyond performers, craftspeople, designers, illustrators, and graphic artists found space to showcase and sell their work, gaining visibility in the creative industry. We gave young creatives a chance to promote their projects, connecting them with audiences and collaborators. Filmmakers documenting the festival and producing reel videos benefited as their work reached wider audiences, enhancing their portfolios and industry exposure.
Indirect beneficiaries included the broader community, businesses, and cultural institutions. The festival’s visibility raised awareness about culture’s role in everyday life, inspiring other communities to explore similar engagement models. Local businesses saw increased foot traffic and partnerships, while urban planners, architects, and policymakers gained insight into integrating culture into city life.
Beyond the festival, we reshaped how residents viewed their neighborhood. This shift in perspective was one of the festival’s most meaningful impacts—proving that culture does not belong only in galleries and theaters, but in the moments and spaces that bring people together
For artists, we provided a platform for experimentation and professional visibility. They created site-specific works that responded to urban spaces and social themes, pushing artistic boundaries while engaging a broader professional audience. The festival also served as a promotional stage, allowing them to present their work to curators, institutions, and cultural professionals.
Beyond performers, craftspeople, designers, illustrators, and graphic artists found space to showcase and sell their work, gaining visibility in the creative industry. We gave young creatives a chance to promote their projects, connecting them with audiences and collaborators. Filmmakers documenting the festival and producing reel videos benefited as their work reached wider audiences, enhancing their portfolios and industry exposure.
Indirect beneficiaries included the broader community, businesses, and cultural institutions. The festival’s visibility raised awareness about culture’s role in everyday life, inspiring other communities to explore similar engagement models. Local businesses saw increased foot traffic and partnerships, while urban planners, architects, and policymakers gained insight into integrating culture into city life.
Beyond the festival, we reshaped how residents viewed their neighborhood. This shift in perspective was one of the festival’s most meaningful impacts—proving that culture does not belong only in galleries and theaters, but in the moments and spaces that bring people together
