Arts, Culture, and Heritage as Drivers of Change
Maglaj Spirit Weekend
Maglaj Spirit Weekend: Where culture and youth connect
Maglaj Spirit Weekend is a youth-led cultural platform that transforms a historic fortress into a living space for creativity, dialogue, and community regeneration.
By activating the Maglaj Fortress through arts, film, education, and public discussions, the initiative brings together young people from different cities to co-create experiences that reconnect them with their heritage and each other.
Blending culture,local identity,and participatory design, the project reimagines underused spaces
By activating the Maglaj Fortress through arts, film, education, and public discussions, the initiative brings together young people from different cities to co-create experiences that reconnect them with their heritage and each other.
Blending culture,local identity,and participatory design, the project reimagines underused spaces
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Regional
Western Balkans 6
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Prototype level
Yes
Young European Ambassadors support; partial support and funding from Mozemo bolje (funded together by UN, EU, Council of Europe, OSCE)
No
No
Organisation
Maglaj Spirit Weekend is a youth-led cultural platform that transforms the Maglaj Fortress and its surrounding historic town into a hub for creativity, dialogue, and community regeneration. Since its inception in 2022, the festival has attracted an average of 1,300 participants per edition from cities across Bosnia and Herzegovina (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče, Sarajevo, Tuzla, Mostar) and neighboring countries including Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia, Albania, and Kosovo.
The festival has showcased over 10 award-winning films under open skies, combined with workshops, educational sessions, and cultural activities designed to engage young people in co-creating experiences that connect them with their heritage and community.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend has been supported by local municipalities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), EU institutions, UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, Young European Ambassadors, the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, commercial sponsors, and socially responsible companies leveraging the historical location for community impact.
In the coming year, the festival expects to engage over 2,000 participants, with coverage from 40+ regional media outlets, further positioning Maglaj as a center of social cohesion, youth engagement, and cultural innovation. The project has also motivated the local community to initiate a comprehensive restoration of the fortress and old town, ensuring a lasting impact on cultural heritage, public space revitalization, and participatory community development.
The festival has showcased over 10 award-winning films under open skies, combined with workshops, educational sessions, and cultural activities designed to engage young people in co-creating experiences that connect them with their heritage and community.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend has been supported by local municipalities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), EU institutions, UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, Young European Ambassadors, the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton, commercial sponsors, and socially responsible companies leveraging the historical location for community impact.
In the coming year, the festival expects to engage over 2,000 participants, with coverage from 40+ regional media outlets, further positioning Maglaj as a center of social cohesion, youth engagement, and cultural innovation. The project has also motivated the local community to initiate a comprehensive restoration of the fortress and old town, ensuring a lasting impact on cultural heritage, public space revitalization, and participatory community development.
The idea for Maglaj Spirit Weekend emerged in 2022, after the pandemic pause, when I noticed the Maglaj Fortress illuminated under the full moon. Inspired by the Bosnian film Full Moon by Nermin Hamzagić, I envisioned screening films on the fortress to bring art to forgotten spaces and allow young people to co-create cultural experiences.
I wrote the concept and proposed it to my team and the Young European Ambassadors, receiving immediate support from the local community and institutional partners. The festival was developed through co-creation with youth, participatory planning, and partnerships with municipalities, EU and UN bodies, Council of Europe, OSCE, and private sponsors.
Implementation included screenings of award-winning films under the open sky, workshops, interactive discussions, and musical sessions, engaging citizens from Maglaj, other Bosnian cities, and across the Balkans. Social media promotion, program curation, and inclusive participation strategies helped the festival grow and become a safe space for dialogue about shared history and collective future.
Through these steps, the festival has connected three ethnically diverse communities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), regional youth, motivated local heritage restoration, and established a sustainable model for youth-led cultural engagement, reaching over 1,300 participants per edition, expanding to 2,000+ this year, and covered by 40+ regional media outlets.
I wrote the concept and proposed it to my team and the Young European Ambassadors, receiving immediate support from the local community and institutional partners. The festival was developed through co-creation with youth, participatory planning, and partnerships with municipalities, EU and UN bodies, Council of Europe, OSCE, and private sponsors.
Implementation included screenings of award-winning films under the open sky, workshops, interactive discussions, and musical sessions, engaging citizens from Maglaj, other Bosnian cities, and across the Balkans. Social media promotion, program curation, and inclusive participation strategies helped the festival grow and become a safe space for dialogue about shared history and collective future.
Through these steps, the festival has connected three ethnically diverse communities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), regional youth, motivated local heritage restoration, and established a sustainable model for youth-led cultural engagement, reaching over 1,300 participants per edition, expanding to 2,000+ this year, and covered by 40+ regional media outlets.
Youth empowermen
Cultural heritage
Social cohesion
Participatory co-creation
Arts for transformation
Maglaj Spirit Weekend addresses sustainability through multiple dimensions.
Cultural sustainability: By revitalizing the historic Maglaj Fortress, the festival preserves heritage and brings attention to long-neglected spaces, fostering community pride and engagement.
Social sustainability: The festival creates an inclusive platform for youth from Maglaj, other Bosnian cities, and the wider Balkan region, promoting dialogue, cross-community understanding, and participatory co-creation of cultural content.
Economic sustainability: By attracting regional visitors, supporting local businesses, and engaging socially responsible sponsors, the festival contributes to local economic development and demonstrates how culture can be a sustainable driver for the city.
Environmental awareness: While primarily cultural, the festival promotes resource-conscious practices by using existing historical spaces rather than building new infrastructure, and encourages responsible behavior among participants.
Exemplary aspect: The festival combines cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and cross-community collaboration into a sustainable model that can be replicated in other historic towns, showing how arts and heritage can foster long-term social, economic, and cultural resilience.
Cultural sustainability: By revitalizing the historic Maglaj Fortress, the festival preserves heritage and brings attention to long-neglected spaces, fostering community pride and engagement.
Social sustainability: The festival creates an inclusive platform for youth from Maglaj, other Bosnian cities, and the wider Balkan region, promoting dialogue, cross-community understanding, and participatory co-creation of cultural content.
Economic sustainability: By attracting regional visitors, supporting local businesses, and engaging socially responsible sponsors, the festival contributes to local economic development and demonstrates how culture can be a sustainable driver for the city.
Environmental awareness: While primarily cultural, the festival promotes resource-conscious practices by using existing historical spaces rather than building new infrastructure, and encourages responsible behavior among participants.
Exemplary aspect: The festival combines cultural preservation, youth empowerment, and cross-community collaboration into a sustainable model that can be replicated in other historic towns, showing how arts and heritage can foster long-term social, economic, and cultural resilience.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend enhances aesthetics by transforming the historic Maglaj Fortress into a vibrant cultural space.
By screening films under the open sky, hosting workshops, music sessions, and discussions, the festival turns forgotten spaces into immersive experiences, where participants of all ages can appreciate the beauty of heritage, architecture, and the surrounding landscape. This creates a unique atmosphere that fosters creativity, reflection, and enjoyment, enriching everyday life while connecting people to their cultural environment.
The festival also promotes a sense of belonging and care for place by actively involving youth and local communities in co-creating programs, encouraging them to engage with and protect their surroundings. Through careful curation of visual, auditory, and spatial experiences, it demonstrates an exemplary approach to aesthetics, combining heritage, arts, and social interaction to make life more beautiful and meaningful for residents and visitors alike.
By screening films under the open sky, hosting workshops, music sessions, and discussions, the festival turns forgotten spaces into immersive experiences, where participants of all ages can appreciate the beauty of heritage, architecture, and the surrounding landscape. This creates a unique atmosphere that fosters creativity, reflection, and enjoyment, enriching everyday life while connecting people to their cultural environment.
The festival also promotes a sense of belonging and care for place by actively involving youth and local communities in co-creating programs, encouraging them to engage with and protect their surroundings. Through careful curation of visual, auditory, and spatial experiences, it demonstrates an exemplary approach to aesthetics, combining heritage, arts, and social interaction to make life more beautiful and meaningful for residents and visitors alike.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend fosters inclusion by creating an accessible, participatory cultural platform for young people and communities across Bosnia and the Balkans.
The festival ensures affordability and accessibility by hosting free or low-cost events in public historic spaces, removing financial and social barriers to participation. Programs are co-created with youth, local residents, and regional partners, promoting a sense of ownership and encouraging engagement from diverse ethnic, social, and age groups.
Through inclusive governance and co-design, participants help shape the festival’s content, workshops, and discussions, embodying the principles of “design for all” and participatory cultural decision-making. By connecting ethnically diverse communities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče) and young people from across the Balkans, the festival demonstrates an exemplary model for social cohesion, cross-community dialogue, and equitable access to cultural experiences.
The festival ensures affordability and accessibility by hosting free or low-cost events in public historic spaces, removing financial and social barriers to participation. Programs are co-created with youth, local residents, and regional partners, promoting a sense of ownership and encouraging engagement from diverse ethnic, social, and age groups.
Through inclusive governance and co-design, participants help shape the festival’s content, workshops, and discussions, embodying the principles of “design for all” and participatory cultural decision-making. By connecting ethnically diverse communities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče) and young people from across the Balkans, the festival demonstrates an exemplary model for social cohesion, cross-community dialogue, and equitable access to cultural experiences.
Participatory approach
From the very beginning, Maglaj Spirit Weekend was developed with active involvement of youth, local residents, and regional stakeholders. The concept was co-created through discussions with the team, Young European Ambassadors, and community members, who helped shape the program, select films, and design workshops and discussions.
During the festival, participants engage in interactive sessions, post-screening debates, and music or art activities, giving them a direct role in the cultural experience. This participatory model has strengthened community ownership, inspired local heritage initiatives, and encouraged dialogue among ethnically diverse groups, creating a lasting impact on both social cohesion and festival development.
By embedding users and citizens at the core of decision-making and implementation, the festival exemplifies NEB’s participatory principle, showing how co-created cultural initiatives can transform spaces and foster shared responsibility for the community and heritage.
From the very beginning, Maglaj Spirit Weekend was developed with active involvement of youth, local residents, and regional stakeholders. The concept was co-created through discussions with the team, Young European Ambassadors, and community members, who helped shape the program, select films, and design workshops and discussions.
During the festival, participants engage in interactive sessions, post-screening debates, and music or art activities, giving them a direct role in the cultural experience. This participatory model has strengthened community ownership, inspired local heritage initiatives, and encouraged dialogue among ethnically diverse groups, creating a lasting impact on both social cohesion and festival development.
By embedding users and citizens at the core of decision-making and implementation, the festival exemplifies NEB’s participatory principle, showing how co-created cultural initiatives can transform spaces and foster shared responsibility for the community and heritage.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend engages stakeholders across local, regional, and European levels. Locally, we collaborate with municipalities of Maglaj, Doboj, and Žepče, schools, and community groups. Regionally, we involve youth from other Bosnian cities and the wider Balkan region, as well as the Government of the Zenica-Doboj Canton. At the European level, the festival has partnered with EU institutions, the UN, Council of Europe, OSCE, and Young European Ambassadors.
Their engagement brings strategic support, expertise, and visibility, ensuring both operational success and sustainability. Local authorities provide access to historic spaces and logistical support, regional partners help expand participation and promote cross-community dialogue, while European institutions contribute guidance, funding, and recognition, amplifying the festival’s impact.
By coordinating across multiple governance levels, the festival strengthens local ownership, fosters inclusive regional cooperation, and aligns with broader European cultural and social objectives, serving as a replicable model of multilevel participatory governance in cultural initiatives.
Their engagement brings strategic support, expertise, and visibility, ensuring both operational success and sustainability. Local authorities provide access to historic spaces and logistical support, regional partners help expand participation and promote cross-community dialogue, while European institutions contribute guidance, funding, and recognition, amplifying the festival’s impact.
By coordinating across multiple governance levels, the festival strengthens local ownership, fosters inclusive regional cooperation, and aligns with broader European cultural and social objectives, serving as a replicable model of multilevel participatory governance in cultural initiatives.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend integrates multiple disciplines to create a rich cultural and educational experience. The festival combines arts and film, heritage preservation, architecture, social sciences, education, and digital technologies. Filmmaking and music provide artistic engagement; the adaptive use of the Maglaj Fortress reflects architectural and heritage considerations; workshops and discussions incorporate social sciences and education to foster critical thinking, dialogue, and youth empowerment. Digital tools and social media are used to promote the festival, engage participants, and extend its regional impact.
By linking these fields, the festival demonstrates a transdisciplinary model where arts, heritage, education, and technology intersect to strengthen social cohesion, creativity, and community resilience, exemplifying NEB principles in practice.
By linking these fields, the festival demonstrates a transdisciplinary model where arts, heritage, education, and technology intersect to strengthen social cohesion, creativity, and community resilience, exemplifying NEB principles in practice.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend envisions a hybrid business model combining multiple revenue streams and strategic partnerships to ensure financial sustainability. The festival generates value through:
Public funding and grants – support from local municipalities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), regional authorities, EU institutions, and international bodies (UN, Council of Europe, OSCE).
Sponsorship and corporate social responsibility – engagement of local and regional businesses demonstrating social responsibility by supporting cultural and heritage initiatives.
Ticketing and optional donations – while core events remain free or affordable, selected workshops or premium experiences provide modest revenue.
Merchandising and collaborations – festival-branded products, partnerships with artists, and co-creation of cultural content.
Crowdfunding and community support – mobilizing local and regional audiences to contribute directly to the festival’s growth and heritage restoration projects.
By combining these revenue streams, the festival is designed to remain financially sustainable, reinvest in cultural programming, support heritage conservation, and gradually expand its regional impact while maintaining accessibility and inclusivity.
Public funding and grants – support from local municipalities (Maglaj, Doboj, Žepče), regional authorities, EU institutions, and international bodies (UN, Council of Europe, OSCE).
Sponsorship and corporate social responsibility – engagement of local and regional businesses demonstrating social responsibility by supporting cultural and heritage initiatives.
Ticketing and optional donations – while core events remain free or affordable, selected workshops or premium experiences provide modest revenue.
Merchandising and collaborations – festival-branded products, partnerships with artists, and co-creation of cultural content.
Crowdfunding and community support – mobilizing local and regional audiences to contribute directly to the festival’s growth and heritage restoration projects.
By combining these revenue streams, the festival is designed to remain financially sustainable, reinvest in cultural programming, support heritage conservation, and gradually expand its regional impact while maintaining accessibility and inclusivity.
Maglaj Spirit Weekend is designed to be replicable in other towns, heritage sites, or cultural contexts. Key scalable elements include:
Methodology: Using forgotten or underutilized historical spaces for cultural events, combined with participatory planning and youth co-creation.
Processes: Inclusive program design, interactive workshops, discussions, and post-event community engagement can be adapted to different audiences and locations.
Partnership model: Collaboration with local authorities, regional stakeholders, and European institutions provides a blueprint for building multilevel governance and funding structures elsewhere.
Engagement tools: Digital promotion, social media campaigns, and transdisciplinary programming linking arts, heritage, and education can be applied in other contexts.
Key learnings: Creating safe, inclusive, and participatory cultural spaces strengthens social cohesion, motivates heritage preservation, and fosters regional collaboration.
These elements together make the festival transferable to other cities and communities, while maintaining its impact on cultural inclusion, youth empowerment, and heritage sustainability.
Methodology: Using forgotten or underutilized historical spaces for cultural events, combined with participatory planning and youth co-creation.
Processes: Inclusive program design, interactive workshops, discussions, and post-event community engagement can be adapted to different audiences and locations.
Partnership model: Collaboration with local authorities, regional stakeholders, and European institutions provides a blueprint for building multilevel governance and funding structures elsewhere.
Engagement tools: Digital promotion, social media campaigns, and transdisciplinary programming linking arts, heritage, and education can be applied in other contexts.
Key learnings: Creating safe, inclusive, and participatory cultural spaces strengthens social cohesion, motivates heritage preservation, and fosters regional collaboration.
These elements together make the festival transferable to other cities and communities, while maintaining its impact on cultural inclusion, youth empowerment, and heritage sustainability.
In the year following the application, Maglaj Spirit Weekend plans to expand, consolidate, and professionalize the festival while maintaining inclusivity and accessibility:
Program expansion: Curate additional award-winning films, workshops, and music sessions, integrating more youth-led content and interactive activities.
Regional outreach: Strengthen participation from other Bosnian cities and neighboring Balkan countries, creating a broader network of young cultural creators and audiences.
Partnership development: Deepen collaborations with local authorities, EU and international institutions, and private sponsors to secure sustainable funding and logistical support.
Heritage engagement: Support the ongoing restoration of the Maglaj Fortress and explore adaptive reuse of additional local historical sites.
Digital and promotional tools: Enhance online presence, live streaming, and social media campaigns to reach wider audiences and share the festival’s transdisciplinary and participatory model.
Evaluation and scaling: Collect feedback from participants, partners, and local communities to refine the festival methodology and identify opportunities for replication in other towns.
These steps aim to increase attendance, cultural impact, regional collaboration, and long-term sustainability, while keeping the festival a platform for youth empowerment, heritage appreciation, and social cohesion.
Program expansion: Curate additional award-winning films, workshops, and music sessions, integrating more youth-led content and interactive activities.
Regional outreach: Strengthen participation from other Bosnian cities and neighboring Balkan countries, creating a broader network of young cultural creators and audiences.
Partnership development: Deepen collaborations with local authorities, EU and international institutions, and private sponsors to secure sustainable funding and logistical support.
Heritage engagement: Support the ongoing restoration of the Maglaj Fortress and explore adaptive reuse of additional local historical sites.
Digital and promotional tools: Enhance online presence, live streaming, and social media campaigns to reach wider audiences and share the festival’s transdisciplinary and participatory model.
Evaluation and scaling: Collect feedback from participants, partners, and local communities to refine the festival methodology and identify opportunities for replication in other towns.
These steps aim to increase attendance, cultural impact, regional collaboration, and long-term sustainability, while keeping the festival a platform for youth empowerment, heritage appreciation, and social cohesion.
