Faculty of things that can't be learned

The Faculty of things that can’t be learned (FR~U) is an organization of cultural workers operating in the fields of education and production of contemporary visual arts and culture, with a distinct focus on methodology of research, engagement and collective action in different socio–political and cultural contexts. The idea of the faculty is referring to an educational as well as practical structure, consisting of things/subjects/classes that propose and research new models of teaching and learning, as well as insist on the principle of sharing, collaboration, self-organization and mutual learning. It was created in 2000 as an informal platform of several artists, theatre, visual arts and architecture students and in 2003 it was established as an organization for production of contemporary arts and cultural events.

It builds its form based on two pillars of public programs and one platform:

FR~U PRODUCTION: This program critically addresses, examines and researches the issues of modernist visual and architectural heritage, aesthetics and policies and its consequences in the world of today. It is manifested through hybrid formats for action (exhibitions, performances, conferences, discussions etc.) produced through engaged dialogue and collaboration between cultural workers and interested groups and individuals.
FR~U EDUCATION: This program aims at creating open and critical educational practices in the country that stimulate knowledge that is subject to shared effort and exchange instead of being simply acquired or studied. One of the programs is the discursive and educational program for young artists THE PERFECT ARTIST, which focuses on dialogue, exchange of experience and debate, through both practice and theory. The DENES Young Visual Artist Award in Macedonia is also part of the program.
An accompanying activity of both programs is the publishing of books, booklets and newspapers.

3. FR~U PLATFORM: AKTO FESTIVAL FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS FR~U started producing the AKTO Festival in 2006 in Bitola and since then the festival has become a resilient, strong and contextual platform in promoting and producing interdisciplinary critical programs and concepts. It is a festival of contemporary arts, which tries to raise issues relevant not only to the current socio-political and hence artistic reality, but also to stimulate production formats that stir up the status quo. Until its 15th edition the festival took place in August in Bitola and was a parallel event with a subversive as well as an emancipating mission to the events produced by the local municipalities and cultural institutions.

In 2016 and 2017, due to the burning local issues and needs, AKTO re-branded into POP UP AKTO, a temporary concept of producing the festival in other cities in Macedonia. Apart from Bitola, AKTO has so far been produced in Skopje, Tetovo, Shtip, Kochani.