ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Post-War Sarajevo's Artistic Rebirth Through Soros Center

cultural-heritage · 2026-04-23

The three-year siege of Sarajevo devastated its infrastructure and institutional funding, causing professions like art historian to vanish entirely. Despite this painful transition, a vibrant art scene emerged through the creation of a contemporary art center by the Soros Foundation and a young generation that, despite the traumatic war experience, harbors neither hatred nor provincialism. Eager to continue the city's tradition of tolerance and openness, they appropriate urban and spiritual space in a perfectly apolitical manner.

Key facts

  • Sarajevo endured a three-year siege.
  • The siege left the city impoverished in infrastructure and institutional funding.
  • The profession of art historian disappeared entirely.
  • A contemporary art center was created by the Soros Foundation.
  • A young generation emerged without hatred or provincialism despite war trauma.
  • They aim to perpetuate Sarajevo's tradition of tolerance and openness.
  • Their appropriation of urban and spiritual space is apolitical.
  • The article was published in artpress in April 1999.

Entities

Institutions

  • Soros Foundation
  • Centre de l'art contemporain
  • artpress

Locations

  • Sarajevo
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sources