Reframing Polarisation: Artistic Strategies for Public Dialogue
Domino
Croatia
This project explores how artistic and socially engaged cultural practices can respond to increasing political polarisation affecting culture and human rights. Through artistic interventions, public discussions, and community interviews led by artists and researchers, the initiative examines how hostile narratives around culture are constructed and circulated. By creating spaces for dialogue and reflection, the project connects local experiences with wider European patterns and contributes to strengthening democratic cultural discourse.
Domino’s project explores how socially engaged artistic practices can remain relevant and impactful in increasingly hostile political and cultural environments. Across Europe, organisations working with critical, minority, or socially engaged perspectives face growing pressure to depoliticise their work, justify their “usefulness,” or retreat from public debate. This project responds by testing pilot actions that combine artistic intervention, public discussion, and community research.
Through artistic interventions led by Bruno Isaković, a discussion programme curated by Arijana Lekić-Fridrih, and community impact interviews conducted by Gonzalo Quintana, the project examines how political pressure on culture operates and how artistic organisations can respond strategically. These pilots will create spaces for reflection, dialogue, and exchange, connecting local experiences in Croatia with wider European patterns.
The project aims to transform political pressure into strategic capacity by strengthening Domino’s ability to develop resilient artistic and organisational responses while contributing to wider public dialogue.