Mira Bekar

From May 11 until May 26, 2024, a very engaging and creative event, called Student Artistic Spring took place at four faculties within Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, R. N. Macedonia. Both students and professors were involved in interdisciplinary lectures, art exhibitions, concerts, theater performances, open air cinema, student DJ set, celebration of Shakespeare’s and Cervantes’ day, World Book Day and of International Jazz Day.

The lectures covered various topics from an interdisciplinary angle in an attempt to raise awareness about the significance of interdisciplinary studies at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. Specifically, Professor Risto Solunchev (professor of Philosophy) gave a lecture about Byzantine music and artwork observed as  festivity. Another professor of Philosophy, Dr. Vangel Nonevski, talked about remix cultures and the art of new media. Dr. Mira Bekar, Professor of Applied linguistics, addressed the social and cultural factors influencing the relationship between social classes, groups and music genres. Dr. Goce Naumov, Professor of Archeology, gave an impressive lecture on the scarification of music and the prehistoric foundations of rhythm. Julijana Despotoska, a student of solo opera singing, performed activities related to music therapy. The art exhibition presented works from student artists from the Faculty of Fine Arts and was accompanied by music installation created by students from the Faculty of Music Arts.

Another approach to increasing students’ awareness of influential Macedonian painters and art movements was the event titled “Hidden works and memories – revelation”. In this event, students from the Faculty of Fine Arts guided the audience through the halls of the Faculty of Philology and Faculty of Philosophy explaining the style, value, history and symbolism of the art works (paintings and sculptures) placed there, which have been literally forgotten by younger generations in these modern digital times. Students from the Faculty of Music Arts presented their talents to a larger audience. Students for the Faculty of Dramatic arts performed their play “We needed to have a text,” a final exam production.

To celebrate the World Book Day, David Geer, the Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of North Macedonia, gave a lecture on Shakespeare’s work drawing connections to current world events, while Jose Luis Lozano Garcia, the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the Republic of North Macedonia addressed the greatness of Miguel de Cervantes.

At the Open Air Cinema the general public had the chance to see the movies by young directors Tina Velichkovic (“Sorrow”) and by Igor Aleksov (“Lena and Vladimir”). The final event was dedicated to International Jazz Day, where students from the Faculty of Philology read poetry related to music, accompanied by jazz musicians from the Faculty of Music Arts.

The event was initiated by two MAAA alumni Professor Mira Bekar and Professor Vladimir Martinovski. In collaboration with the colleagues from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Faculty of Music Arts, Faculty of Dramatic Arts and with support from the EU House, this event brought vigor, intellectual engagement and fresh spirit to the lives of students, professors and the general public.