Through 50 events across 5 locations and 5 thematic days, the fourth edition of Infusion proved that it is possible to create a wide, societal platform for culture, art, education, and entertainment.
The festival kicked off with the powerful and transformative performance 'SKIN' on June 11 at the Comedy Theater, featuring the Australian-German duo Rene Schaadler and Roland Walter. The performance was attended by figures from the theatrical arts, representatives from the Ministry of Culture, the human rights organizations community, and a broader public.
Day 1 - PERFORM
'There are many ways to move the bodies, and the idea of dance is very comprehensive and playful. We hope people will find harmony through the closeness of bodies through dancing,' stated Rene and Roland, who first performed this piece 5 years ago in Berlin.
On the second thematic day dedicated to theatrical art, a workshop titled "Dancing Without Moderation" was held in the Comedy Theater. Led by Rene and Roland, it fostered cooperation and fun through dance, proving that art is a successful medium for mutual understanding and co-creation between individuals with and without disabilities.
The venue for theatrical performances and workshops was the Culture Home "Biljana Belichanec" and the nearby Park Macedonia. Children created puppets from socks, enjoyed a performance where Super Universe and Super Mario were on a quest for a birthday cake, and additionally enjoyed the inclusive performance in sign language titled "Tsunitsa".
At the official opening, the "Champions of Inclusion" awards were presented, which recognize significant impact on social responsibility, participation in the progress of the inclusion process, and the affirmation of human rights. The awards were presented in 5 categories: Person with a disability - Erkan Kahil (posthumously), Public figure - Andrej Gjorgjievski/DNK (posthumously), Organization - Daily Center 'Dose of Happiness', Embassy - Republic of Poland, Company - Alkaloid, Municipality - Center.
Day 2 - THEATRE
On the third thematic day dedicated to art, two exhibitions were opened. Drawings by children from the schools of the municipalities of Kisela Voda, Aerodrom, and Center were exhibited, along with works by young artists on the theme 'Fusion'. Young artists also participated in a workshop for drawing a community mural.
Day 3 - ART
The fourth day was dedicated to musical arts and started with a wake-up session with Latin dances. A workshop was held on the topic 'How To Achieve a Successful Career in The Music Industry' with Petar Mladenovski, and in the evening a night-long musical fusion of young bands took place, including Tsar Von Time, Daktili, Zanadu, Fiction. Performers also included Collective Veternica, Mia Perevska, Filip Nikolovski, and the program concluded with Breakdown Band concert.
Day 4 - MUSIC
The last day of the festival was dedicated to board games and gaming, where new concepts for game creation and prototyping were introduced. Passionate participants of the gaming enjoyed Dungeons and Dragons, while the youngest had fun playing games on PlayStation.
The forum on the topic "The Labyrinths of the System" aimed to support and encourage parents of children with disabilities within the system for further action, and "(In)Accessible City?" to inspire new changes both within institutions and by increasing the capacities of organizations responsible for initiating change.
For the first time in Macedonia, concerts were interpreted in sign language, and the event for museum tours at the Museum of Contemporary Art was successful with sign language interpretation to enjoy the culture of individuals with hearing impairments.
Day 5 - GAMING / SPORT
The Infusion Festival created space to support the community by promoting young creatives, local businesses, and organizations during the 4-day Bazar.
Partners of the 4th edition of Infusion - the Festival of Inclusion were the Museum of Contemporary Art, Theater for You, Touch Point, the organization 'Dose of Happiness', Cultural Center 'Biljana Belichanec', Amigos - Railway, Recreation Academy, Galactic Omnivore, E-Sport Federation.
