And now something completely different.

We invite you to take part in the Soft Cities program, which we loosely translate as Spaces of Gentleness. The program is led by Portuguese artist Ester Casenda, who will be staying in Subotica in mid-June.

This time, we are choosing Tavankut as our starting point, with the intention of decentralizing our activities. Participation is open to women from Tavankut, Subotica, and the wider surrounding area, while the program itself will take place in Tavankut. The first meeting is scheduled for April 2 at 6 PM, at the premises of the “Matija Gubec” Primary School. Participation is free of charge, but registration is required via the LINK.

If you are coming from Subotica, please contact us so we can organize transportation together.

The theme of the first workshop will be an exploration of personal and symbolic ideas of femininity. Participants will be invited to engage with the central question: “What kind of gentleness does the world need today?”

Participants are asked to bring one textile object (a scarf, a piece of clothing, or any fabric that holds personal meaning or evokes softness). This object will be used for storytelling through movement and creative exploration. Each participant will create a small textile fragment representing her response to the central question—this could be a written word, a simple knot, or a gesture made with fabric. The fragment is a symbolic response that helps connect with the process of creation.

Soft Cities – Textile Interventions in Urban Spaces is a participatory art project by artist Ester Casenda, based on the idea that a “city” is not only a physical space, but also a way we connect, imagine, and shape shared spaces through gentleness. In this sense, the project goes beyond strictly urban contexts and can equally relate to rural areas, as city and village are deeply interconnected and interwoven.

The project invites women and all those who identify with femininity to participate in a series of three online workshops led by the artist, as well as in a public performance in Tavankut in mid-June 2026. Through working with textiles and ritual practices with wool, the workshops explore themes of women’s labor, memory, identity, and collective care. Participants will have the opportunity to share stories, create symbolic works, and collectively contribute to a final artistic installation.

No prior artistic or craft experience is needed—only curiosity and openness.

The program in Tavankut is supported by the Voluntary Center of Vojvodina and the “Matija Gubec” Primary School.