On December 18th, a special evening was held at the Belgrade cultural institution “Parobrod,” dedicated to the Sarajevo avant-garde group Collegium Artisticum, which shaped the cultural landscape of Sarajevo from 1939 to 1941.
The screening of the documentary Colors and Rhythms of Unrest – Collegium Artisticum 1939-1941 and the promotion of the biographical book Ani Radošević, Poetess of the Movement by Saida Mustajbegović highlighted the significant role of this group in the artistic and political struggles of the time.
The TPO Foundation published the book Ani Radošević, Poetess of the Movement.
The film, produced by the Bosnian Cultural Centre and BHRT, tells the story of the Collegium Artisticum group, founded by Jahiel Finci, Vojo Dimitrijević, Oskar Danon, and Anika Rajs. The group brought together artists from various fields, from ballet and opera to dance and visual arts, and through its projects, warned of the looming danger of fascism in Europe. All the members of the group, including Ani Radošević and Oskar Danon, left a profound mark on the artistic scene of Sarajevo, as well as Belgrade, where they continued their careers.
The film premiered at the Bosnian Cultural Centre on May 9, 2022, and began its successful festival journey at the Sarajevo Film Festival, collecting numerous international awards.
The book Ani Radošević, Poetess of the Movement (TPO Foundation, Museum of Literature and Theater Arts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jewish Cultural Society La Benevolencija) provides the first-ever biographical account of the life of Ani Radošević, a ballerina, choreographer, and opera director. Her life, along with the work of Collegium Artisticum, is a testament to the power of art in confronting political challenges and how that art shaped the cultural currents in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and beyond.
The discussion about the book and the film was led by author Saida Mustajbegović, sociologist and writer, and Jelena Spasojević, a Hispanist, who emphasized the importance of Collegium Artisticum as one of the most significant cultural formations of the time and its lasting inspiration for future generations of artists.
