15/04/2025
On 3-6 April 2025, members of the ORACLE Cultural Network gathered for the Annual Seminar in Kamnik, Ljubljana, and Nova Goric in Slovenia, hosted by the Local Hero & Cultural Coordinator of Kamink, Goran Završnik. This year’s seminar centered on a resonant question: “Can culture be a tool for peace?”
The gathering began in Kamnik, where our host introduced us to the vibrant local scene, particularly the independent Kreativna četrt Barutana, a creative district built from the ground up by the local community. In the serene atmosphere of the Mekinje Monastery, we opened the seminar with reflections from ORACLE founder Jean Pierre Deru and cultural strategist Simon Kardum, who offered timely insights into cultural policy and its role in turbulent times.
In Ljubljana, the group explored how industrial heritage can be transformed into spaces of contemporary art and participation. Blaž Peršin, Director of Ljubljana Museums and Galleries, led us through Cukrarna, while ETC magazine editors Lara Mejač and Ajda Ana Kocutar presented their international art magazine, dedicated to showcasing current production from Baltic to Balkan. The group also visited Rog Creative Centre´s workshops and residency spaces.
Saturday was spent at the old Gun Powder Factory in Kamnik, where we took part in a series of seminar presentations. Završnik presented the Kreativna četrt Barutana project, highlighting tensions between heritage, contemporary creativity, and rapid tourism development in local cultural policies. This was followed by a presentation of the HEI-TRANSFORM project, featuring Professor Sonja Ifko from the University of Ljubljana, who spoke about architecture as propaganda in 20th-century totalitarian regimes and the role of cities as platforms for citizen engagement. The day continued with presentations of cultural actions promoting democracy and peace. Sunčica Milosavljević facilitated a session on the student protests in Serbia, led by students from the Faculty of Dramatic Arts (FDA) in Belgrade, which began in response to a tragic incident in Novi Sad and grew into a nationwide movement against corruption and systemic repression. Robert Alagjozovski from NGO Esperanza in Skopje presented Fighting Disinformation – Fighting for Democracy, a project empowering young influencers in the Western Balkans to challenge harmful content and promote democratic values. Lastly, Marta Nowicka introduced The Island We Share, a participatory cultural initiative by the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theatre and ORACLE, aiming to foster local community engagement around themes like intergenerational dialogue, sustainability, and cultural diversity.
The final seminar day headed for Nova Gorica, giving us a window to cross-border collaboration. Hosted by Mirjam Drnovšček, director of the Slovenian National Theatre, and Maja Nemec Poljanec, the program offered insight into how culture can shape solidarity across divided geographies. The visit closed with a symbolic and hopeful look into the ongoing transformation of Nova Gorica-Gorizia through the lens of GO!2025.
More than just a professional gathering, this year's seminar days reaffirmed what the Oracle Cultural Network has always stood for: trust, connection, and the belief that culture is a common ground for building shared futures.
