| Interview Dr Matthias Müller-Wieferig , director of the Goethe-Institut Belgrade Urban Incubator: Belgrade The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany operating globally. It promotes knowledge of the German language abroad and foster international cultural cooperation. It faces the cultu- ral policy challenges of globalization and develop innovative concepts for a world in which cultural diversity is recognized as an asset. The Goethe-Institut has been represented since 1970 in Belgrade and it is responsi- “critical mass” which might turn around a whole What are the objectives of the Urban Incubator: tinuously active for at least one year they will better ble for the German cultural exchange with Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo. city quarter. We even hope that Savamala might Belgrade project? facilitate the transfer of knowledge between local serve as a role model for other neglected areas of and international participants in the project and be- Belgrade, Europe and on the larger map of urban The Goethe-Institut Belgrade can utilise its capac- tween participants and residents. redevelopment processes worldwide. ity as a cultural institution to provide artistic and e were truly honoured to speak with Dr tural, multifaceted connection both ways between cultural stimuli for the sustainable development of At half-term of the 2013 programme year, we WMatthias Müller-Wieferig , director of Serbia and Germany is more than welcome. Anyway, when we started the Urban Incubator: Savamala. The Urban Incubator: Belgrade aims to have already seen about 200 young people and the Goethe-Institut Belgrade. Belgrade project, the curator of the project, improve the quality of life of local residents, argu- students from Belgrade, Serbia, the region and We continuously contribute to the vibrant cultural Tim Rieniets, and the Goethe-Institut managed ing strongly in favour of a city on a human scale, international institutions join the project teams. Having in mind that you have worked glo- calendars of Belgrade and many other cities, cul- to hold on to the idea of a temporary pavilion, and aims to encourage the residents of Savamala The project authors and participants have found bally with the Goethe-Institut since 1992, tural festivals, cultural centres and cultural events which we built this year – literally into an in- to take charge of their quarter. It is the quarter’s cul- access to families, residents, and other local non- what, in your opinion, distinguishes the all over the country with partnerships in the arts, vestor’s ruin, the so-called “Spanish House” tural and social values that should drive Savama- governmental organisations who find it more and work of the Goethe-Institut Belgrade from film, dance, theatre, music and science. underneath Branko’s Bridge. Together with the la’s re-vitalisation, rather than commercial and real more interesting to find their own ways of how to the other institutes around the world? City of Belgrade and the municipality, we re- estate business interests. improve their own neighbourhood and communi- We offer German language classes to an ever opened this seemingly useless, although beau- ties. This process, obviously, needs time and a lot Wherever I was with the Goethe-Institut, I always growing audience who need language skills tiful, heritage protected building, and renovated Therefore, we feel that the Urban Incubator: Bel- of trust. “No trust, no city”, as one of the Urban met with established partners and friends of the and cultural information either for their profes- another five spaces in Savamala. We identified grade can contribute to a culturally driven, partici- Incubator projects in Savamala put it. Goethe-Institut, with appreciation for the inde- sional careers or their personal development. and invited ten local and international artistic, patory approach to urban development, a change pendent support and interesting co-operation architectural, or social initiatives to use the new from previous top-down to more bottom-up plan- It is actually Urban Incubator projects like “Raum- that the Institute provides and a great openness spaces and the whole of the Savamala quarter ning procedures. All our projects are devoted to labor” from Berlin, “Nextsavamala” from Hamburg for establishing new contacts in the youth scenes Operating globally, of course, is an inter- to work out new ideas for a cultural re-vitalisa- the quarter; all our artistic and cultural initiatives and the “School of Urban Practices” from Belgrade for cultural dialogue. In Belgrade, I always felt the esting personal and cultural experience. tion of the district. are working in and for Savamala. As they are con- who together work on new ideas of community life, same appreciation and openness, but a rather All kinds of information and cultural of economic and culturally sustainable ways in heightened necessity for co-operation and a trends today travel quickly over social Right now, the Urban Incubator: Belgrade is operational in Savamala until which to use the traditions and the knowledge of Dr. Matthias Müller-Wieferig more urgent need to establish trust not only on media and other networks, and multi- the end of 2013, and hopefully for another year to come, too. the city quarter for future perspectives and a better an institutional, but also on a personal basis. cultural as well as multi-lingual careers life in an old quarter. are more and more part and parcel of Initially, the Goethe-Institut Belgrade approached In Belgrade, my predecessors and the permanent our own biographies and personal ca- Belgrade’s Savski Venac municipality since we Therefore, it is the artists and activists and, indeed, local staff of the Goethe-Institut have earned respect reers. But, in essence, our world is a small were looking for a temporary pavilion to house the the neighbours and the residents of Savamala and and recognition for being a reliable partner even in one, and I very much appreciate that, for Goethe-Institut while re-constructing the Knez Mi- Belgrade who actually contribute to shaping the times of war, transformation, and sometimes crisis. now, I am locally based in Belgrade from hailova building. That was the beginning of a love future of Savamala. where I am working my professional affair, as Belgrade’s Savamala quarter, located on The institute has been continuously present in Bel- network between the German central the southern bank of the river Sava, for me repre- For two consecutive decades different govern- grade for more than forty years; our library, class- office and the regional institute offices sents, although very much neglected, a “jewel of ment entities have been developing strategic room, auditorium and office space have offered in Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, a city quarter”: just one kilometre from Belgrade plans for this neglected Belgrade quarter. Hav- prime access to everything about Germany for over Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo, city centre and graced with many of the city’s most ing in mind that Savski Venac municipality as 30 years at 50 Knez Mihailova street. Now, in all Macedonia, Albania and Cyprus. valuable historical buildings, Savamala is rich in well as the City of Belgrade are project part- those years, the building was closed only for three both tradition and history. Today, the potential of the ners, what kind of impact do you think that this months before and during the NATO bombing when Savamala quarter has again been recognised, but project can have on further planning? Milosevic expelled all foreigners. And even then, Recently, the Goethe-Institut Belgrade has Serbia’s current economic and persistent struc- the caretaker of 50 Knez Mihailova, somehow even achieved significant visibility among the Serbian tural challenges make development of the quar- The Urban Incubator: Belgrade would like to managed to keep the Goethe-Institut basement public with its unique project Urban Incubator: ter unlikely in the foreseeable future. Thus, we felt support a long-term, sustainable regeneration open as a bomb shelter for the neighbourhoods. Belgrade, which supports the re-vitalisation of Savamala today was the right time and the right process for Savamala. It is not another arts the now neglected Savamala quarter of the city place for a new initiative, joining some other cul- festival addressing a foreign audience or aim- I feel that this high esteem is very special, and that of Belgrade. Can you tell us why have you cho- tural partners in town to inject new life and energy ing for short-term effects. Instead, ideas, time especially in times of difficult transformation, a cul- sen Savamala for its basis? into Savamala and to try to contribute to a cultural and money will be invested in order to have a 90 | July / August 2013 July / August 2013 | 91 long-term and equitable impact on Savamala’s dures are slow are central to the Urban Incubator: development. For this reason, the Urban Incu- Belgrade as well as to other stakeholders as they bator: Belgrade includes as many local partici- seem to be of utmost importance for the future of pants as possible. For example, the first archi- Savamala. The Urban Incubator: Belgrade seeks tectural magazine for Savamala, “Kamenzind to address them by inviting new creative ideas and Beograd”, has been edited by young people local and international “creative talents”, enabling from Belgrade and abroad, and a local guest- the local residents and other stakeholders in Sa- editor has been established for an ongoing Sa- vamala to participate and engage in the process. vamala editorial office. In the same way, all the activities of the Urban Incubator projects are One of the core questions for the future designed to share and exchange knowledge of Savamala and other city quarters between international experts and local actors. is: Could this participatory approach We would like to make sure that once the Urban create alternative options to the estab- Matthias Müller-Wieferig, PhD in Ger- Incubator has come to an end the know-how, lished procedures of city planning? man and English literature, studied at visions and ideas will remain in Savamala.