60 YEARS OF THE BELGRADE YOUTH CENTRE The cultural identity of Belgrade’s youth
From its earliest days, the Youth Centre was a place for encounters between artists, intellectuals, students, musicians and everyone with a desire to push the boundaries, question established norms and build new cultural forms
guests: Sam Peckinpah, Gina Lol- lobrigida, Monica Vitti etc. Its stage was graced by all of Yugoslavia’s top rock musicians: Ekatarina Velika (EKV), Električni Orgazam, Film, Johnny Štulić, Zabranjeno Pušenje, Đavoli, Lačni Franz, Rambo Amade- us, Partibrejkers etc. It was here that EKV held seven consecutive con- certs in the ‘80s, which explains why the plateau in front of this youth centre is named after its frontman, Milan Mladenović. We also mustn’t forget to mention that Youth Cen- tre hosted the promotional concert for the legendary Idoli album The Defence and the Last Days, which many consider the best ever Yugo- slav rock album. It would require far too much time and space to recount every important event that has marked the previous 60 years of the Youth Centre, Belgrade, Belgraders and their guests. Here we detail just
THE BELGRADE YOUTH CENTRE has been, and remains, a place where cutting-edge art projects are created and present- ed, where freedom of expression is nurtured and support is always offered to those boldly exploring the unknown. Its programmes have shaped the cultural identity of Bel- grade over the 60 years that it has been located at the very heart of the capital, on the corner of Makedon- ska and Dečanska streets. This is an iconic venue for Belgrade’s youth to gather, but also young people from across the whole of Serbia, and it’s ac- tually among the favourite cul- tural tourism destinations of the
youth of Europe and the world. It was right here that the most signif- icant artists and thinkers of Yu- goslavia and Serbia took the first steps in their careers. Throughout its long history, guests of the fa- mous Youth Centre have included the world’s most important musi- cians, actors, philosophers, poets, writers, performance artists, pol- iticians and sociologists. The core principles and criteria behind the creation of its programmes have always been quality, innovation, pertinence and accessibility to young people. The Youth Centre programmes of film festival FEST have welcomed major international film stars as
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