The Playing Narratives (PN) Program is an eight-month, project-based initiative in creative game development for 30 young creators, primarily from Serbia, aiming to cultivate new skills and foster collaboration across disciplines. Through 16 lectures, 4 mentoring sessions, and team-based work with industry experts, the program equips a minimum of 30 participants with technical and soft skills, enabling them to create socially relevant game concepts. The program concludes with a public exhibition where teams present their projects to an international jury, with outcomes including increased youth employability, strengthened international ties, and new game concepts that communicate important societal messages. The measurable objective is to increase knowledge of 30 young creatives by 50% and to increase employability of the youth by 20% within one year.
The project aligns with U.S. public diplomacy goals by addressing and using collaborative methodologies inspired by U.S.-based practices. Participants will engage in workshops modeled on successful American frameworks, fostering skills like critical thinking and cross-cultural dialogue. By empowering local communities, the project promotes shared values of education, innovation, and problem-solving, reinforcing U.S.-Serbia relations. The exports are from Nordeus and Epic Games.
