“The youth exchange in Graz, held during the Urban Art Festival Styria, was a truly freeing experience filled with creativity, dance, and laughter. It’s challenging to capture such an enriching and creatively fulfilling event in just a few paragraphs. Upon our arrival, we began with ice-breaker activities to get to know one another, followed by two full days of exploring the city of Graz. We visited landmarks like the Schlossberg, Eggenberg Castle, and the Kunsthaus Graz. During these visits, we bonded with the international participants, forming connections that quickly grew deeper. After the initial days of introduction, we moved on to the most exciting part – the workshops.
In the following days, we had the opportunity to participate in workshops on street art, collage, and music. We collaborated creatively with people from Ukraine, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, and beyond. Each country’s group was also tasked with painting a 6x2m canvas that represented their culture. Our team embraced the challenge by using a geometric pattern inspired by traditional Bosnian carpentry, which was both demanding and rewarding. The final result was a beautiful painting, and we were incredibly proud of our work.
Evenings were reserved for cultural exchanges, where we enjoyed dinners and cultural presentations from the various participating countries. These evenings were a highlight, giving us the chance to taste traditional foods and learn dances from around the world. During our Bosnian cultural night, we introduced participants to the kolo dance and played music from Dubioza Kolektiv, discovering in the process that they have quite the fanbase in Bulgaria.
This exchange was truly unforgettable, offering us the chance to learn about different cultures while reflecting on how our own fits into the global mosaic. We left Graz with new friendships, creative inspiration, and memories that will last a lifetime.” – Amer Tanović
“The youth exchange in Graz was one of the best experiences of my life. It was filled with joy, dancing, art, and laughter, making my 9 days there unforgettable. What I loved most was the time my group and I spent with other groups from many different countries. The best people we met were from Ukraine and Greece. We spent a lot of time with them, talking about different cultures and lifestyles. We created many memories with those people, and those memories will last a lifetime.
The beautiful city of Graz also helped us create more memories with these new friends. We visited many castles, parks, and museums together. Graz is the perfect city for anyone who wants to experience both old and new architecture. The work we did there was also a perfect way to improve our skills. I worked on a collage with a famous artist from Canada, who helped me and my group see and understand art in new ways. It was a pleasure to work with her, and I am really thankful for all the knowledge she shared with us. I was able to use that knowledge when I worked with my group on a canvas, where we did our best to represent our country.
But my favorite time was the evenings we spent at the cultural nights, where we experienced different cultures, tasted various foods, and danced to different styles of music. Graz was a beautiful experience for me, and I’m grateful to have left with new friendships, knowledge, and a lot of wonderful memories.“– Larisa Bašić
“Participating in the Youth Exchange programs “YOUTH STREET ART/URBAN ART EUROPE” and “YOUNG VOICES FOR EUROPE” was a life-changing experience. It brought together people from all over the world who shared my passions, and being surrounded by them made me feel motivated to become my best self while improving my street art and music skills through their experiences and support. I truly believe that we communicated better through art than any spoken language, and that is what connects us as people.
On the first day of the program, we bonded through various games and conversation starters. I think it was great that we had free time together, allowing us to get to know each other better. This was followed by two free days, which we used to explore Graz in large groups with other participants. We visited landmarks such as Eggenberg and the Schlossberg castle, learning fun facts about their history and architecture.
The following week was filled with all kinds of workshops, including street art, music, and collage art. With so many different options, it was hard to choose, but I ended up trying a bit of everything. I played a few Ukrainian and Greek songs with native speakers, which helped me feel less stressed about playing music in front of others.
Each country had the goal of painting a 6x2m canvas that represented their nation in a single image. This was a challenging task for us, given Bosnia’s rich history, but in the end, we decided to depict a mix of a traditional Bosnian carpet—its colors and shapes—combined with our national landmark, the “Stećak.” It was difficult, but in the end, we couldn’t have been prouder of the result.
After dinner, we had cultural nights where we danced and sang together. These were not only fun but also the most effective way to bond with others. We were proud that everyone paid attention to our project and remembered how special it seemed to them. We introduced them to the kolo dance and songs in our language, making it an unforgettable experience. Graz is a place where my heart will stay forever.“ – Amila Dizdarević
“As an art student constantly seeking collaboration opportunities to further develop my skills, this youth exchange felt tailor-made for me. Through workshops in design, street art, and music, I not only improved my artistic abilities but also learned how to collaborate effectively with other talented artists. Each day presented a new challenge that pushed me to exercise my creativity. Whether it was learning the ropes of spray painting or creating a collage with a renowned French artist, the tasks required attention to detail, imagination, and a willingness to learn. The variety of activities allowed me to experiment with different forms of creative expression and develop new techniques in fields I had not explored before. Each challenge became an opportunity for growth as an artist.
One of the most exciting tasks was collaborating on a massive 6×2 meter canvas to represent our home countries, a project we all approached with pride. For our canvas, we chose to replicate the intricate design of a traditional Bosnian carpet, incorporating our own pattern inspired by symbols found on Bosnian medieval tombstones, known as stećci. This design was rich in history and meaning, and while the process was time-consuming and demanding, we were more than willing to invest the effort. The result was not only a visual representation of our heritage but also a labor of love that reflected the deep connection we have to Bosnian culture.
What made the experience even more rewarding was the opportunity to meet people from all over the world who shared my passion for art. Their knowledge, creativity, and unique experiences were incredibly inspiring, and I felt fortunate to be part of such a diverse and welcoming community. In the evenings, culture nights showcased the rich history of each country through their food, dances, and drinks. These nights offered a rare and personal glimpse into each country, providing insights that might be missed even when visiting those places in person.
We also had ample free time to explore Graz, a city often described as “Vienna’s cooler, younger sister.” The city’s streets and hidden gems came to life when explored with the amazing people I met from across the globe.” – Hana Špiljak
“When applying for this youth exchange, my expectations were certainly high. The engaging agenda, combined with the Urban Art Styria Festival’s announcement of guest artists for the workshops and events, all in the beautiful city of Graz, set the bar high. Yet, despite those high expectations, this youth exchange managed to surpass them all.
Upon arriving at STUWO on the first day, we were warmly welcomed by our dorm manager, Christa, who gave us a tour and made us feel at home. The next morning, we met the lovely participants from Ukraine, Greece, Bulgaria, Egypt, Turkey, and Latvia. After getting to know our fellow participants and exploring the city of Graz, it was time to showcase our artistic talents.
We had the opportunity to participate in beatboxing and music workshops, as well as street art and collage design. In these workshops, we wrote and recorded songs, made notebooks and collages, and even left our permanent mark on the STUWO walls with our murals. Our final project was a 6×2 meter mural for each country. We chose a technically challenging yet incredibly creative piece, honoring our rich culture by incorporating the traditional Bosnian carpet and the medieval tombstone symbol “Stećak.” The effort and dedication we poured into this project made it one of the most meaningful art pieces I have ever created.
In addition to the workshops, we had cultural nights where we experienced other cultures and shared our own.
By the end of the project, I had expanded my network to seven new countries, improved my art skills, and made friends for life. Thank you, BRAVO, for giving me another unforgettable life experience!” – Sarah Mrakić
“The experience I had at the Youth Exchange in Graz was truly unforgettable. The theme of the weekend allowed me to explore my creative side in ways I hadn’t before. It was my first time trying street art, and the supportive environment of the program made it easy to step outside my comfort zone. Being surrounded by like-minded people from various countries created a sense of community that was truly heartwarming. Every night, we had a cultural evening, which was not only fun but also gave us a chance to learn about each other’s backgrounds, traditions, and customs.
One of the standout aspects of the program was how it empowered us to express ourselves through art in public spaces. It was my first time trying street art, and the experience was both challenging and exciting.
The people I met, the new skills I gained, and the vibrant energy of Graz made this exchange one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Beyond the art, the hospitality we received was exceptional. The place we stayed was cozy, the food was outstanding, and every detail was thoughtfully organized to ensure we were comfortable throughout the exchange. This allowed us to fully focus on our workshops and cultural activities.
I would like to extend my deepest thanks to BRAVO for providing this fantastic opportunity. Their hard work and dedication allowed us to grow both as individuals and as artists while creating unforgettable memories. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone seeking a transformative cultural and artistic experience.” – Ema Pehlić