Collaborations

JAZZx FORWARD is an international meeting and marketplace for emerging artists working across contemporary jazz, soul, R&B, rap, spoken word and alt-pop. Developed within the JAZZx ecosystem, FORWARD brings together emerging artists from around the world with festival directors, bookers and music industry professionals from Central and Eastern Europe. The focus is on creating direct connections that can lead to new bookings, collaborations and opportunities for artists to develop their careers. Following an international open call, 12 artists will be selected to perform live in Timișoara in front of an invited delegation of festival directors, bookers and music industry professionals from across the region. FORWARD is built around the idea that a live performance can be the starting point for a new professional connection. By bringing artists and festival decision-makers together in the same place, the project creates opportunities for music to travel further, from Timișoara to festivals and stages across Central and Eastern Europe. With Timișoara as its meeting point, JAZZx FORWARD aims to build a strong regional network for emerging talent and establish the city as an important point of connection for the discovery, development and circulation of new music in Central and Eastern Europe. See the project

1Health aims to build Romania's first community-led biotech business incubator. A world-class life sciences ecosystem that harnesses the collective expertise of diaspora professionals to catalyse major scientific discoveries and economic growth, setting new standards in research, innovation and business success within the global life sciences landscape. By bringing together passionate minds, essential resources and state-of-the-art facilities under a shared vision for a connected biotech hub in Timișoara, we have the power to revolutionise the IT and life sciences sectors, driving innovation in health and biotechnology across Romania. See the project

ViaProfi is a heartfelt project we created for our friends at Profi. We set out to build an interactive map of local producers in Romania so that together we can support local communities and businesses. By 2025 we will be present in all counties of the country (13 are missing for now). Through this platform, consumers can easily discover producers in their area and choose to buy fresh and authentic products directly from the source.

After years of COVID-19, we have come to wonder more and more what the future holds. So much has been discussed on this topic, that in 2022 we decided to create an inspiring space to host meetings that address future and wellbeing issues. Within IF, projects such as Innovation Portfolio Approach, ViaProfi, Excelsior Alumni (USVT), 1Health Incubator and many others have been and are being developed. Physically, the space is an extension of the building.a.community and consists of an ideation space, a workspace and a meeting room, but the real results are the projects that have been created and the incredible meetings with experts and connectors from very different backgrounds.

building.a.home is a social and inclusive housing project, conceived for and developed together with UnLoc / Hope Empowerment Foundation. The project transforms reclaimed and refurbished shipping containers into small modular dwellings, adapted and equipped to cover all the needs of a home. The idea came out of a desire to make a difference in the arduous process of deinstitutionalization of adults with disabilities and to provide an alternative to living in segregated state institutions. The current beneficiaries are people with an institutionalized background, neglected and struggling on the verge of poverty. Three residents have already started independent living in the building.a.home. The project aims to grow and be replicated both in Timisoara and in other cities, being a prototype of alternative housing that responds to the needs of people at risk, on the verge of poverty, migrants, students and other social groups.

The UniCredit Entrepreneurial Residency is an initiative close to our hearts, designed to support young entrepreneurs and creative start-ups. So far we have implemented the project in Timișoara, Iași, Cluj, Oradea and, in 2026, Brașov, offering mentoring sessions, personalised consultancy and a physical space for a pop-up, wanting to stand alongside those who follow their dreams and bring added value to the communities they work in. We firmly believe that every idea has the potential to make a difference, and our mission is to provide the support and encouragement needed to make that happen. Throughout summer 2026 we will be in Brașov, alongside our partners Iceberg, Brașov City Hall & Cattia. Details and registration form.

BEGA! – A Performative Art Program that Activated the Community and Innovated Public Space BEGA! was a performative art program created by PLAI in collaboration with the creative community of Timișoara, as part of the cultural program "Timișoara European Capital of Culture 2021." The project aimed to activate the banks of the Bega River and involve the city's residents in captivating artistic experiences, bringing together local organizations and international partners with expertise in various cultural fields. Over the years, the program included remarkable initiatives starting in 2016 with local capacity-building programs and knowledge transfer, as well as outstanding artistic productions such as the LUMEN performance (2018), The Lightning Project and Happy Wall (2019), culminating in 2020 with the spectacular recreation of the Northern Lights – BOREALIS, created by Swiss artist Dan Acher. Using advanced technology, the installation transformed the skies of Timișoara into a unique spectacle, utilizing lasers, projectors, smoke machines, and ambient sound, aligning with the theme "Light Across Borders." The LUMEN program was the first and singular community exercise in original artistic production, supported by a close collaboration with artistic partners such as MotionHouse (UK), Unfold Motion, Kratima Cultural Association, Timișoara Gospel Project, Timișoara Tango Association, and many other local organizations like Prin Banat, CRIES, Solidart, Ceva de Spus, and Verde pentru Biciclete. These collaborations reinforced the sense of belonging and social involvement, transforming public space into a platform for creativity and community cohesion. The projects within BEGA! turned the city into a playground for emotion, connection, and a sense of community. Through performative art and citizen involvement, the program successfully created significant cultural impact and brought art closer to the people. This emblematic program was carried out in partnership with the City Hall of Timișoara and the Local Council, as an integral part of the priority cultural program "Timișoara. European Capital of Culture 2021." BEGA! inspired and connected the community through art, light, and innovation, leaving behind a valuable cultural legacy.