“ART THAT NO ONE NEEDS” EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS IN ITS FOURTH EDITION

At the humanitarian auction “Art That Someone Needs,” a total of 16,418 BAM was raised, organizers announced. All funds are intended for the public kitchen “Obrok ljubavi,” run by the Mozaik prijateljstva citizens’ association.

The event, held on April 9 in the foyer of the Obilićevo sports hall in Banja Luka, marked the fourth chapter of this artistic and charitable story.

Ana Stanarević, an academic painter and tattoo artist, emphasized that she is thrilled with the outcome as a member of the organizing team.

“As we have pushed boundaries every year, both in terms of program and the amount of funds raised, we believed the new edition would surpass the previous one. However, we did not expect the amount to be about 60% higher than last year. Part of the funds came from donations by companies and brands such as Tropic, Moj Market, MF Group, Manja, and Novomatic, which supported our idea. Still, most of the money was collected during the event itself through auctions, ticket sales, and other forms of support from our fellow citizens,” Stanarević said.

Banja Luka residents responded in record numbers this year, highlighted visual and tattoo artist Mia Čajić, who also took part in organizing the event. The venue was completely filled with both visitors and artworks, with more than 80 artists and collectives donating their pieces for the occasion.

“The works and performances we prepared this year were truly outstanding, so it’s no surprise that serious bidding battles took place. The atmosphere was exactly what we wanted—friendly, filled with humor, and bursting with creative energy. We keep receiving messages about how everyone left feeling recharged with positive energy. When we hear that from fellow artists, visitors, and representatives of Mozaik prijateljstva, we know we have done something truly meaningful together,” Čajić added.

Although “Art That Someone Needs” was spontaneously launched in 2023, it has since grown into a regular annual event. So far, more than 100 artists and art collectives have participated in the auctions, and together they have raised a total of 42,339 BAM to support the public kitchen. Organizers continue to share updates about their activities through official Facebook and Instagram pages.