The first OPENS building has been built in Chinatown

The “Symphony of Cultural Stations” was held yesterday, June 15 2020, at the first completed facility of the cultural station OPENS – Youth Center, which is located in Chinatown. Via video performance, musicians from Novi Sad presented themselves at eight cultural stations across Novi Sad and performed the Ode to Joy. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, and the Mayor of Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević have attended the event.

“This first completed facility in Chinatown is intended for OPENS, which has realized its programs excellently in its title year. We will continue to invest with the same strength in the preservation of cultural and industrial heritage, but also in new contents, because the goal is for our children to stay here”, said Mayor Vučević.

During her address, the Prime Minister pointed out that Novi Sad should use the potentials of both titles, and announced a new project – The National Capital of Creativity.

“The Government of the Republic of Serbia is launching a new project called The National Capital of Creativity. In the coming years, we will choose a city or municipality that will be the National Capital of Creativity, and we will invest in these areas, so that it remains a legacy throughout Serbia. Our goal is to decentralize creativity and culture, so that all cities with clear projects and activities will be able to compete for that title, following the example of Novi Sad and Belgrade. The plan is to publish an invitation at the end of the year for cities and municipalities to compete with the programs, and the project itself would be realized in 2023”, said Prime Minister Brnabić.

Since May 2018, when the Government of the Republic of Serbia declared OPENS (Youth Capital of Europe Novi Sad) a project of national importance, Novi Sad, potentially a pioneer of youth policy, has become a city of a sustainable system. The entire program is designed through seven pillars, which since 2018 strive to create a space where the energy of young people is celebrated and their creativity is enhanced. OPENS’ vision is for young people to remain active citizens even after the European title ends, and to use the opportunities and create the content they want in Novi Sad. In its city, which has an organized system of youth policy, implemented in accordance with the legal and strategic framework of our country.