Lokomotiva is a centre for new initiatives in art and culture in Skopje, established in 2003. In its first five years of existence, it has implemented over thirty regional and international projects. According to its founders, the centre's aim is to function as platform for the development of theoretical and artistic discourse. Artists come to the centre to share information and knowledge, discuss experiences and talk about new ideas. Through its innovative programs and projects, Lokomotiva has encouraged different groups of individuals to become creatively involved in Macedonia’s vibrant art and culture scene. The ambitious objective of Lokomotiva is to foster social and cultural changes on a national, regional and an international level by informing and educating artists and citizens in the region.

The founders of the centre are Biljana Tanurovska Kulavkovski, who manages the organisation, Iskra Šukarova, the artistic director for contemporary dance, and Nataša Dimitrievska, the artistic director responsible for media and visual arts. They are supported by project manager Violeta Kačakova and assistant Dragana Žarevska. The team constantly seeks out new incentives and tendencies in their country and abroad, and supports a variety of new initiatives in art and culture.

According to Tanurovska, Lokomotiva is part of the independent scene, an environment helping the audience to learn and reflect and reconsider continuously. “Such flexibility leads to openness, which provides opportunities for the creation of new ideas, new artistic practices, discourses and forms. Lokomotiva strives towards the democratisation of culture in all segments of society. It is not easy to be part of the independent cultural scene in our country, as culture and art still do not have the place they deserve ”, said the artist.

Lokomotiva focuses on contemporary art, including dance, video, media art and cultural policy. A new and highly creative generation of Macedonian authors offer their knowledge about short documentary films and videos to young artists. One of these projects was a video installation organised by women artists. In 2007, they set up a collage of 33 video installations at the multimedia centre of Skopje, dealing with female vulnerability. The installation was supported by the French association “Femlink”, which aims to connect female artists from all over the world.

Together with the Macedonian National Theatre from Skopje, Lokomotiva brought into life a development programme for contemporary dance. This project specifically supports young, talented choreographers in developing their creativity through new ways of artistic expression. The project was integrated in the “Balkan theatrical-dance network”.

Lokomotiva continuously tries to expand its creative space through the internationalisation of its programmes. Some of its international project partners include the Siobhan Davies Dance Company (UK), choreographer Charles Linehan,(UK) and Allyson Green (USA).

The centre also worked together with the Japanese artist Yoshiko Chuma who directed and choreographed the multimedia project “Pages without order” together with artists from Macedonia. Their performance was shown several times at the New York theatre DTW (Dance theatre workshop) and received positive feedback in distinguished newspapers such as the New York Times.

Lokomotiva’s intercultural approach provides support also for the development of long term projects. One of these is NOMAD, a project primarily aiming to support the new generation of intercultural artists in the Southeast European region. Lokomotiva’s commitment benefits artists from the entire region: the centre stands for supporting liberal arts at a grass-root level, with a focus on intercultural dialogue without prejudices.


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