Event concept and production

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. Vezi proiectul

The way we live with and consume poetry has undergone profound transformation. While poetry once found its place between the pages of books, today it thrives on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and in urban spaces. This shift represents a process of democratization, making poetry more accessible and connected to the daily realities of young people. However, it also highlights a new criterion for appreciation: the ability of poets to perform their verses, whether in front of a live audience or online. Rhythm, intonation, facial expressions, gestures, and setting have become elements that not only enhance the message of the poetry but also provide new keys to understanding it. From this observation emerged the project Strada Fără Nume (The Nameless Street). Its goal is to support young Romanian poets by connecting them with mentors from across Europe to collaboratively develop skills in public reading and artistic performance. Through interactive workshops and jam sessions, Strada Fără Nume creates a space for growth and experimentation. From the beginning, the project has been tied to the JazzTM festival, which has hosted spoken word stages, culminating in 2020 with a pilot event that opened new perspectives for this art 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.

CreativeMornings Timișoara is a project dedicated to the local creative community, an event that brings together people passionate about design, art, innovation, and culture. Through accessible morning meetings, we aim to inspire and encourage the exchange of ideas in a friendly and open environment. Each edition explores a unique theme, connecting participants with local and international speakers who share authentic stories and valuable perspectives. CreativeMornings Timișoara is a vibrant community of curious individuals eager to contribute to the development of a creativity-driven culture in our city.

We created JAZZx as a music education project with the mission to be a platform dedicated to education, creativity, and openness, bringing together communities, breaking cultural barriers, and fostering authentic connections between people. Through this initiative, we aim to inspire and shape new generations, providing them with access to unique experiences that blend art, learning, and cultural dialogue. In a world of constant transformation, JAZZx becomes a space where music serves as a universal language, connecting established artists and emerging talents in an exchange of ideas and knowledge. It is not just a festival, but a meeting place for those who believe in the power of education and art to change perspectives and enrich communities.

PLAI Festival is more than just a music festival. In fact, it represents an innovative project for civic and cultural education, wrapped in the form of an artistic event. Since its inauguration in 2006 at the Banat Village Museum in Timișoara, the festival has grown organically, based on a community of volunteers dedicated to positive social change. Music serves as a pretext to promote and infuse values such as volunteerism, sustainability, and collaboration into the community. PLAI has become a meeting and celebration space for cultural diversity, supported by a vast network of non-profit organizations and creative entities, and continues to be a source of inspiration for participants of all ages to get involved and contribute to the well-being of the community.