People from the former Yugoslavia make up the second most important minority group of Germany (after the Turkish population). Even though the majority of refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina have by now returned or will have to do so soon, the relations between Germany and the republics of the former Yugoslavia will remain in an above-average level of closeness. It is remarkable though, that inspite of tight individual and economic ties, the cultural relations have always been a one-way-street: There are hardly any Yugoslav influences to be found in German culture - much unlike, for example, the Turkish influences in Germany. There is a definite lack of knowledge concerning the Yugoslavian culture (or cultures). The little knowledge there is has during the war-time become covered by the stereotype of the folkloristic, backwardly oriented Balkan.

The organizers of the festival believe that this lack of contact is a loss to both sides and can be overcome in a steady effort for cultural exchange.

The "balkan black box festival" can offer a preliminary framework for such conatct. It may foster general interest in the Ex-Yugoslavian culture in Germany and can result in longlasting relations and cooperations between the involved artists.

The nationalization and "ethnic cleansing" of culture in the republics of the former Yugoslavia is a steady process. It is strongly politically motivated and still - three years after the war – does not seem to have reached its peak. One important role of independent art is to undermine this homogenization and to explore lines which may bridge and cut some of the national divisions.

The selection of bands and artists for the festival has been made with the filters "independent" and "experimental". Even though both of these traits are uncelarly defined and it is certainly not easy to assign them as an outsider, there seems to be a core theme: Essentialy it is the counterposition to the national mainstream-culture as well as to the growing influence of American and Western European popular culture.

The determination to develop a genuine style and mode of expression in the sense of a quasi-oppositional sub-culture is the common factor of the presented artists. The festival is meant to strengthen these structures by means of networking their working contexts.