In March 2025, the cultural journalism workshop Reflecting Zemstvei took place. Participants were invited to explore the atmosphere of the building and meet the residents of Casei Zemstvei – a vibrant place, animated by artists, activists and independent cultural initiatives, providing space for expression through art and various opportunities to stimulate critical thinking, for a diverse audience.
During the 3 days, the young people managed to capture with the help of recorders various activities carried out by the members of the Casa Zemstvei communities, choosing the projects that resonate with their specific interests, which they later reflected in an episode of the audio podcast. Developed under the guidance of the facilitators, the 5 episodes were presented publicly on May 31, during the listening party, and are available online to be listened to in full. Gathered in an audio programme, the episodes communicate the atmosphere of the place, reproduce the voices of the creators who inhabit it, the opinions of the guests and loyal visitors, through sequences of discussions on important topics about the world around us, incorporated into the soundscape of this historical space in the heart of Chisinau.
We invite you to immerse yourself in a unique cultural experience by listening to the 5 episodes!
- Episode 1 How we made the podcast guides the listeners through the stages of the workshop, where we meet the 5 producers in the process of episode planning, developing and editing the final product, and Cathy, describing the work process and offering her perspective as the workshop facilitator.
- From the episode 2 Enchanted forest – a different kind of workshop we learn about a welcoming space facilitated by Iulia Pinzari, created with the outbreak of war in Ukraine to support refugee children, which currently unites all children, regardless of their background, through creative expression activities such as toy making, candle and perfume creating, and much more.
- Peace Street art project, Front exhibition and roundtable discussion on the role of art in promoting peace, have inspired the producers of episode 3 Peace Street, to collect thoughts, impressions and perceptions about peace, art and war, alongside documentary photographer Mihail Calarasan, Ukrainian artist KAR and sociologist Vitalie Sprinceana.
- Drawing as a form of defense, the city as a diary, memories and reflections of an artist who doesn’t exhibit his works, but lets them breathe or buries them under leaves. All of this can be found in episode 4 Contour, in which Sandu Harabagiu shares his ideas and experiences, and tells the story of his drawings, in the middle of Casa Zemstvei, where people get to be together among fragments of art.
- Bioskop club of episode 5 encourages education through film, socialisation, critical thinking and dialogue in a vibrant and engaged community, through screenings of carefully selected films with both educational and entertainment value.
–
Reflecting Zemstvei – a cultural journalism workshop, is organised by the Oberliht Association in partnership with ZHdK and Cathy Byrd, within the framework of the Edu-Art programme / Developing the capacity of independent cultural initiatives through an accessible educational platform project, with the support of Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova, of Switzerland and FundAction / hosted by Zpațiu / media partners: Fresh Art International, #diez, youth.md, fest.md, agora.md and platzforma.md / technical support: CSCI of RM. The content of this project does not necessarily reflect the donor’s point of view.