Community (non)conference – a day when communities, artists, and stories came together under one roof
Getting together has enormous power.
And that's exactly what we experienced at this year's Community (Un)conference, the first part of which was mainly about the Magic Carpets project. It brought together artists, students, teachers, the queer community, Ukrainian women and kids, a forest kindergarten, and an art school in one space. The second part was devoted to other participatory projects that took place this year as part of the European Capital of Culture 2020 and which were intended for people or created directly with people. For example, Obraz pro moje město (A Picture for My City) or Monumentum DA. We presented the standards that we are incorporating into the program in the area of accessibility and the volunteer community. For many, it was a rare opportunity to gain insight into the work of others – and at the same time to share their own stories, experiences, and joys.
What are Magic Carpets? A space for creativity, sharing, and learning
The meeting opened with a presentation on the European platform Magic Carpets, of which České Budějovice – European Capital of Culture 2028 is a part and which operates within the Kul.turista program. It connects artists with communities across Europe, giving rise to new forms of collaboration and shared learning.
Inspiration from Serbia: how a new cultural district for 40,000 people is being created
Guests from Novi Sad – Marko and Tanja from the Novo kulturno naselje initiative described their work, which shows that when art, public space, and the everyday lives of residents come together, real change can happen.
They talked about residencies, community projects, and how they helped the city win the title of European Capital of Culture 2021.
Their experiences showed participants that culture does not arise from a desk – it is born in living relationships between people.
Art that comes from a place. And from people.
Saki Matsumoto: Fantastic Creatures from Kraffer's Garden
A garden with a rich history, where new stories and new creatures were born. Saki worked with children from the art school in close proximity to the garden and the forest kindergarten in Jindřichův Hradec. Together, they discovered the history of Kraffer's Garden and created imaginary creatures that came to life during the opening of the exhibition in the garden's greenhouses.
Tereza Silon: closeness, care, and a queer perspective
Tereza, a performer and interdisciplinary artist, explores the relationship between humans, the body, and nature. In Budějovice, she worked with the queer and trans community as well as the deaf community, with whom she created the art film Like a Salve (For a Wound) – a sensitive, powerful, and collaborative work.
Kristina Kapeljuh: Stories of the Ukrainian Community
In her work, Kristina has combined print media with personal and collective memory. She created a project with the Nadija community and students from the Nová school, where Czech and Ukrainian experiences meet.
When communities tell their story
To give participants a comprehensive picture of the residences, the program continued with presentations by the participating communities:
- Kraffer's Garden, whose members were ultimately unable to attend due to illness, sent a beautiful statement about cooperation and the revitalization of a historic site through memories and new stories, as well as the creation of new garden creatures that continue to live in the garden. Bára Hauserová sincerely described how the residency transformed the place and the people around it. Thanks to the residency, Saki, whose work immediately captivated them, discovered that they truly form a community. The originally planned three workshops eventually turned into five—clear proof that there was great interest in the project. The residency brought powerful moments: children proudly presenting their work, spontaneously connected groups of participants, and new discoveries about the history of the garden, which Saki and curator Alena embarked on with great enthusiasm. Their contribution showed how important it is to have a space where people can meet, create, and feel like a community.
- Nadija, Ukrainian women spoke about the power of shared culture and how important it is to pass everything on to their children. The aim of the residency was to transfer their memories, Ukrainian culture, and traditions to their new home and not to forget. To pass them on from generation to generation. This was a success – Kristina was able to work very sensitively with painful memories and the loss of home, transforming them into beautiful works of art and capturing memories and stories.
- Nová Elementary School described the joy of the workshops, where Czech and Ukrainian children met – regardless of language. And they discovered that they had some scents and traditions in common.
Each group brought its own perspective. And they all agreed on one thing:
The opportunity to meet in one place and create together is something that is often lacking in everyday life – and something that is hugely important for the community.
Queer & trans community and the film's gala premiere
This was followed by a discussion and the premiere of the art film Like a Salve (For a Wound), which was created during Tereza's residency. She was joined on stage by members of BudQueer, trans and queer people from the region, and the film's co-authors.
It was a moving moment—a shared experience in art that arose from trust, sharing, and mutual support.
City diaries, accessible culture, and Budějovice communities
The final block also showcased other ECoC 2028 projects created by people for people:
- City Diaries, a literary chronicle of Budějovice written by its residents
- Open Season, which makes the city accessible to people with disabilities (this year, guided walks for the blind were held as part of the Art in the City: Reconnect festival, as well as the Monumentum DA theater performance with workshops that people with hearing impairments could enjoy together with their family members. A cultural opportunity for the deaf – such as this one – has never before been seen in South Bohemia.
- Accessibility Alliance, a platform for self-advocates for inclusion
- A community of volunteers who help the entire program grow, organize cultural events, and make the program accessible to people with disabilities through their assistance.
It is a diverse map of people who make up the city every day—often invisibly, but with a huge impact.
A picture for my city: a shared mosaic of Budějovice
The evening continued with a screening of a documentary about the creation of a joint masterpiece, A Picture for My City, which took months to create and involved hundreds of people—children, seniors, athletes, families, and community groups. Everyone created a piece of the city, which was then combined into a single picture.
It was a symbol of what had accompanied the whole day:
Everyone has their own story. And when we give them the opportunity to share it and connect it with others, something incredibly big is created and they gain/discover that it has a real impact.
Why are such meetings important?
The whole afternoon showed that when communities, artists, and residents meet in one place, something extraordinary happens:
- trust is built
- new ideas are born
- people listen to each other
- art becomes a shared experience
- and the city becomes a place for everyone
And that is the path to the European Capital of Culture 2028.
PHOTO: Pavel Balek, Libor Staněk, Aneta Vernerová
Thank you!
We would like to thank all our guests, partners, associations, schools, volunteers, participants, and creators. And we would like to thank everyone who shared their story.
The meeting ended with networking—but that was just the beginning.
Because the most important things will continue to happen: in communities, in cooperation, in the coming year together.
Thank you all! And thank you for everything you continue to do tirelessly!
On behalf of the Budějovice 2028 team,
Lucie Boušková
