Culture Up Rožaje: Workshops and Community Practice

I was part of the Culture Up Rožaje programme as a mentor in drawing and design workshops, within a multi-month project implemented by the organisation Karika from December 2021 to March 2022, during the challenging period of the pandemic.

The work with children developed through regular workshops, as well as through an open-air school, where part of the activities took place in nature — painting and drawing on the mountain. Moving the work outside the classroom created a different relationship with the process, materials and surroundings, and demonstrated how strongly nature can support creativity, focus and freedom of expression.

Throughout the programme, the children showed remarkable dedication and openness to visual thinking. We worked on the basics of drawing, design and personal expression, with an emphasis on process, experimentation and confidence in one’s own work. The outcomes of this shared work were presented through several exhibitions in cities across Montenegro, giving the participants’ work public visibility and space.

For me, this experience reaffirmed the importance of long-term work with young people and the role of art as a space for learning, sharing and collective growth.