The Winter School “Gender and Art” concluded successfully in Tuzla, bringing together intellectuals, artists, and students from across the region to explore gender perspectives within various art forms. Organized by the University of Tuzla, TPO Foundation, and the University Gender Resource Center (UNIGeRC) of the University of Sarajevo, this unique event offered a space for innovative thinking and constructive knowledge exchange. The Winter School featured a range of lectures and workshops that examined gender through literature, theater, film, and visual arts, with a focus on the impact of art as a medium for social change.
Professor Jasmina Husanović, a prominent scholar in gender and social relations, highlighted the importance of this school, emphasizing that it opened up a space for deep interdisciplinary reflection on the role of art in reshaping and questioning our understanding of gender and societal relations. “Through analyzing various artistic forms and gender identities, we explored how creative practices can offer new pathways for social transformation,” stated Professor Husanović, who heads the Council for Gender Equality at the University of Tuzla.
The Winter School also fostered a critical dialogue on topics that are often marginalized or underrepresented in formal education. Participants examined how literary works, film portrayals, and theatrical expressions reflect and reshape social norms, providing alternative perspectives that encourage critical thinking on gender issues.
Zilka Spahić Šiljak, Director of the TPO Foundation and university professor of gender studies, underscored the event’s significance by highlighting the role of universities as spaces where students can question accepted norms. “Universities should be places where young people have the chance to raise questions about what we have learned to take for granted,” said Professor Spahić Šiljak. She further emphasized the strength that shared experiences and authentic expression can provide. “Through every encounter and dialogue during the Winter School, we felt the power of community and the importance of authentic expression – because that is what connects us and makes us stronger.”
This Winter School stood out as a platform that encourages students and professionals to question social norms and consider art as a potential catalyst for change. Beyond gathering experts from various universities and artistic institutions across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, the Winter School served as a bridge between the academic community and a broader audience, providing a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas that support gender equality and inclusivity in society.
Participants expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this innovative program, emphasizing that the school offered new insights and perspectives that will enrich their work in various fields of art and social engagement.
