Stories in Highlights
Saniao Art Residency
Saniao is an emerging cultural initiative dedicated to decentralising the Georgian art scene, encouraging youth participation, and fostering sustainable artistic collaboration in rural areas.
As part of the Creative Connections program, the first stages of building a multifunctional open-air stage have begun at Saniao Artists Residency in Maghrani, Dusheti. This new space will function both as a creative residency and a performance venue, with a special focus on supporting young artists from the regions. The project featured a range of activities, including a forest dance performance, creative youth workshops, and international artistic collaboration.
I’ve learned to overcome many complex issues and challenges - through effort, but also with experience and memory. For example, I realised that everything I know, all the practices I’ve accumulated so far and want to contribute to this space - are not enough. I needed to develop the most effective curatorial skills within myself. To establish clear and goal-oriented communication with the team. To cultivate greater precision, caution, and foresight during each event or activity. This is the best way to develop new essential skills. Although the local community needs more time to easily and confidently engage with such innovations, in Saniao we still managed to attract frequent visits and leave a pleasant impression on them through this environment. All of this also implies their continued closeness in the future.
Darbazi Dialogues
Darbazi Dialogues is an intercultural, interdisciplinary and international field school organised around the documentation of an ancient, traditional building type of Georgia– the "Darbazi".
As part of the Creative Connection program, Darbazi Dialogues brought together 20 local and international participants to explore and document Georgia’s traditional „Darbazi“ houses. Through 3D scanning, interviews, and visual records, the team uncovered previously unknown structures. Alongside this, students collaborated with local artisans in clay, wood, and craft workshops - reviving forgotten materials, creating communal furniture, and designing traditional print stamps. The project blended architectural research with community engagement, deepening understanding of the region’s cultural heritage.
We believe that the local community’s attitude toward our team has become even more positive, as the projects we implemented became more visible and tangible for them - such as ceramics made from local clay and its future potential, the technique of printing local hall designs and ornaments onto fabric, and a bench placed in the village center - all of which were created with their direct involvement.
Ulevi Music
Ulevi Festival in Martkopi is a vibrant celebration of creativity, community, and cultural exchange. Driven by the belief that art should flourish beyond urban centers, the festival aims to decentralise artistic activity in Georgia - bringing music, dance, and creative experiences to regions often left out of the cultural spotlight.
From captivating musical performances and spirited dance sessions to artistic workshops and local wine tastings, the two-day event created a welcoming space where individuals of all ages could share their creativity, forge meaningful connections, and revel in the joy of togetherness.
Creating a space for people to listen to music, dance, and have fun is both challenging and a great responsibility - we strive to provide our guests with a healthy and safe environment. For the people of Martkopi, we are planting the seeds of a cultural hub and making the village more attractive for visitors from Tbilisi and other regions. What brings us the most joy is that “Ulevi” is earning people’s trust and affection - our musician friends, local volunteers from Martkopi, workshop leaders, and others who help us selflessly are all considered part of our team. The newly formed commune has become a space for constructive recreation for many, and for some, even a refuge.
Gori Landscapes
The "Gori Landscapes" project aimed to document both the urban and natural environments of Gori - focusing particularly on areas undergoing rapid change or those often overlooked in daily life.
As part of the Creative Connection program, Gori Landscapes turned the lens on the city’s evolving urban and natural environments. Led by the Gori Photographers' Club, the team documented overlooked corners and fast-changing areas, creating a stunning panoramic archive and publishing the newspaper "Shre", blending photography with urban research. The project came to life through a public exhibition, video art screening, and a Photo Walk, sparking fresh conversations about Gori’s identity.
The project “Gori Landscapes” was an attempt to capture the city of Gori that still exists within the rapidly changing flow of time - fragmented, unfinished, caught between the natural and the urban. What was most striking was how the photos, videos, and the “Shre” newspaper became a reason for dialogue - not as autonomous works of art, but as tools for reflecting on the city and rethinking one’s relationship with their surroundings. This different perspective became a discovery for many - which I consider one of the project’s most valuable outcomes.
