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Code of Ethics

Zvjezdane Staze is an independent artist residency. Independence, for us, is a practice: a way of organising attention, resources, and responsibility. It shapes how we programme, how we collaborate, how we fund the work, and how we stay accountable to the place that hosts us.

What We Value

Artistic freedom. We protect the right to experiment, to fail, to be difficult, to be quiet. Programme decisions remain separate from market logic, visibility metrics, and partner agendas.
Transparency. We publish how funds are used and, whenever possible, where they come from. Clarity builds trust, and trust is part of infrastructure. Annual financial reporting begins in January 2027 and covers the 2026 season.

→ Transparency

Solidarity. Our programmes use a sliding scale. Participation should remain possible without disposable income, institutional backing, or passports that travel easily. The model does not erase inequality. It reduces its power over access.
Local connection. We operate from Mijakovići, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Part of our income returns to the local community. Whenever possible, we source from local producers and households. The residency is a guest here, and the place shapes the residency in return.
Long-term thinking. We build slowly. Sustainability matters more than scale. We aim for a structure that can endure with or without external funding.

Equality and Safety

Zvjezdane Staze is open to everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, disability, or age.

We do not tolerate hate speech, harassment, intimidation, or behaviour that endangers others. Programme content can be provocative and critical. The baseline remains non-negotiable: the dignity and safety of participants, neighbours, and visitors.

Who We Work With

We welcome partnerships, exchanges, and joint projects. We work best with those who value horizontal collaboration: mutual respect, shared benefit, and clear agreements. We exchange knowledge and resources with those who operate by the same principles.

We avoid prestige rituals and transactional networking. We prefer direct communication, precise commitments, and collaborations that hold up under daylight.

Who We Don’t Accept

Our programmes are open to artists who share fundamental values of human dignity and respect. We do not accept:

  • Individuals who promote fascism, racism, nationalism, or far-right ideologies
  • Individuals with a history of hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
  • Anyone whose presence would endanger the safety of other participants

If these boundaries are violated, we act to protect the safety and dignity of others.

Who We Don’t Work With

There are partners we will not engage with, regardless of the amount offered or visibility gained:

  • Weapons and military equipment industries
  • Fossil fuel companies
  • Mining corporations with harmful environmental or social practices
  • Organisations that manipulate the prices of food, water, or basic resources
  • Political parties
  • Organisations with documented violations of workers’ rights
  • Organisations with documented environmental pollution practices
  • Those who would condition our programme content

How We Decide

In borderline cases, we ask:

Could we explain this publicly with full clarity?

What would accepting make harder over time?

What would declining make possible?

When in doubt, we decline.