Share Conference Seeks to Inspire
With only one year behind it, the Share Conference is already one of the most talked about and anticipated events that Belgrade has to offer. In its second year, Share promises a programme that will be “even more subversive and without compromise.”
The Share Conference is a very unique event, especially for Serbia and the region. It is not just a music festival or a group of seminars; it is a multidimensional meeting ground for young and old people from all walks of life. It does not only seek to entertain: ideally, Share aims to enable networking and learning and ultimately serves as a source of inspiration for the people of Serbia who strive for change and progress.
“Share Conference is one-of-a-kind because it gathers activists, hackers, musicians, DJs and artists through a whole new platform,” said Share organisation member Andrija Kovac, adding that while the days are reserved for societal advancements, the night programme of the conference gives attendees a chance to relax and enjoy themselves.
“With our night programme, which we are very proud of, we want to introduce people to some of the latest trends on the electronic music scene through a very careful selection of musicians from literally all parts of the globe,” he added.
This seems to be Share’s statement of purpose in a nutshell – the conference does not book its guests and artists based on popularity or status. It instead strives to handpick people who are relevant, cutting-edge and above all, exciting and new. This way of thinking is adhered to when selecting speaking guests and lecturers as much as it is the goal when choosing which musicians will grace the conference’s night programme.
Since the Yugoslav wars and the isolation that followed, Belgrade and Serbia generally seems to have been branded as a place to which new ideas and innovations arrive late – a place that always seems to be five or ten years behind. Share looks to shatter this image and in one year has already made some significant steps in doing so, becoming a type of event that, at least as far as the Balkans are concerned, came to Belgrade first and then was mimicked by other regional cities.
“We are very happy that over the last year, since our first Share, there have been several similar conferences with a great energy and vibe popping up, like Engage in Skopje and Point in Sarajevo, among others,” Kovac said, adding that even though these conferences were clearly inspired by Share, they all manage to maintain an authentic spirit and focus on topics that need to be discussed in this region.
As far as this year’s Share is concerned, there was certainly no lack of inspiration for the programme, considering what a turbulent year it has been for activists around the world who are dealing with issues like the ACTA, SOPA and PIPA bills that have brought the topics of free speech, censorship and the possible imposition of limits and rules governing the free exchange of information into the international spotlight.
“It was very important for us to make sure that the programme for this year is completely up-to-date and that it shows a real image of the world around us,” Kovac said.
“One of the main topics this year will be decentralisation in the most general sense of the word. It is our mission to let people know that information must be free and that there should be no filters between them and this information,” he added.
Kovac said that Serbia is the perfect place for an event like Share, considering that it is a country constantly in a state of transition. He said that even with hundreds of foreigners planning to attend the festival this year, it is important for Share to focus more on interacting with the domestic public and dealing with Serbia’s population directly.
“That is an obligation that we feel these types of events need to have towards the domestic scene,” Kovac said.
In the end, Kovac said, Share’s goal is to inspire communication and initiative that will not only last during the three days of the conference, but all year round, working with online radio stations and magazines, but also through various seminars, workshops and initiatives for all 365 days of the year.
“That’s the only way in which change will truly occur,” Kovac concluded.
Source balkaninsight.com
