Located in the heart of Sarajevo and hosted by Collegium Artisticum, the newly founded Station 3 is enriching the city’s art scene.
Station 3 is an interdisciplinary artistic platform based in Sarajevo that welcomes artists from BiH and beyond to come together and explore new ways of creating art. It is a space that pushes traditional artistic boundaries, as it invites artists to experiment with their art, learn from each other, and just let their creativity flow. With this approach, it plays an important role in shaping the cultural landscape of Bosnia and Herzegovina and connecting the city to the broader European art scene.
What is art? Looking at dictionaries doesn’t give a single clear answer, but the general consensus is that art is a visual object or experience created through imagination and meant to express ideas and feelings. When it comes to expressing these ideas, there are different approaches. The first that comes to mind might be visual arts like paintings and sculptures. Performance arts, like theater, music, and dance are also common ways to express ideas. Station 3, Sarajevo’s new art space, opened with the goal of blending these art forms together and changing the way we think about art.
The platform was founded by Belgian artist Thomas Steyaert, known for his diverse work across dance, performance, visual arts, music, and video, and Benjamin Bajramović, a Bosnian actor and playwright. Together, they saw the need for a place where “different artforms like theater, dance, music, and visual arts can come together.” This art space fills a gap that the founders recognized in the city’s cultural offerings.
“We felt something crucial was missing. A safe space where everybody is welcome who wants to explore, research, create, learn, develop, play, cooperate, and share. A place where the final production is not the most important thing. A place to connect the public and artists. A place to exchange thoughts and to be inspired,” Steyaert explains.
New artistic practices
This vision led to the creation of Station 3, a platform that seeks to contribute to a more diverse and inclusive cultural landscape in Sarajevo. It specifically focuses on performance arts because of the lack of sustainable spaces for contemporary dance, physical theater, and improvisation in the city. This concept aims to support both local and international artists to innovate, experiment together, and develop new artistic practices by offering practical exercises and cultural education. The diverse skills and perspectives they gain help artists transform contemporary issues and themes from their surroundings into artistic research and productions. This freedom and interdisciplinary approach are what makes the platform unique in Sarajevo’s art scene.
Beyond its local impact, Station 3 strives to connect Sarajevo to the European and international performance scenes. Therefore, it often welcomes international artists from all over Europe and beyond to make art together and work on projects. With this approach, Station 3 is working to make Sarajevo an integral part of the European performance community. This supports local talent while also encouraging cultural exchange and enriching the local scene with diverse perspectives and artistic practices. Overall, it enriches the cultural evolution of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The platform’s hybrid structure helps artists to exchange their creative thoughts and enables collaborations that might not have happened otherwise. It offers different kinds of activities, ranging from performance events to workshops and residencies for research and development of artistic language. There are two activities happening every month, called Sarajevo Movement Scores and Playground!.
Sarajevo Movement Scores, led by Steyaert, is a movement-based performance practice that happens twice every month. It invites participants to come together and co-create a movement score shaped by their shared artistic interests. As Steyaert describes it, the performance is rooted in “empathetic, non-representational, real-time physical communication.” The sessions are open to anyone interested in participating or watching contemporary dance.
Playground!, the second regular activity, is led by Benjamin Bajramović and offers text-based improvisation sessions where participants engage in spontaneous performances guided by a set of rules, tools, and abstract ideas. The aim is to generate different energies and theatrical genres, offering surprising and unconventional experiences for both performers and audiences. As the only public event of its kind in Sarajevo, Playground! invites everyone to join or observe these open, inclusive evenings.
In addition to these ongoing programs, Station 3 has already hosted several artists in residence, including Ira Hadžić, Tara Moskalets, Uma Đurić, and the Yougolove collective, with future plans to welcome more international and local artists.
A beacon for young people
“We hope to transform Station 3 into a beacon, or a window, for young people, to see and learn different things, besides conservative and conventional approach to theater.” says Steyaert.
Despite these successful programs and events, Station 3 has faced its share of challenges. Sarajevo lacks the infrastructure to support contemporary performance arts, and without financial and institutional support, maintaining the platform is not always easy.
“There aren’t many opportunities for contemporary dance and movement-based arts here, so it’s essential for Station 3 to create a continuous and sustainable platform for these disciplines“ says Steyeart. Looking ahead, the goal is to expand its reach, strengthen international collaborations, and connect Sarajevo’s creative scene with the wider European and global arts community.
Station 3 isn’t just a place for professional artists. As Steyeart highlights, it’s an essential part of their work to share the outcomes of their research in performing and visual arts with the public. Everyone is welcome to join and experience the performances, exhibitions, and discussions.
