01/02/2026

KONTEJNER's curator Davorka Begović at MENT conference

KONTEJNER's curator and musicologist Davorka Begović is taking part in this year’s edition of the MENT Showcase Festival in Ljubljana, where she will moderate a conversation with Mo Dafa (UK), curator and programme director of the iconic London concert venue Cafe OTO – one of Europe’s most important venues for experimental and avant-garde music, as part of the conference programme. The festival is taking place in Ljubljana from 18 to 21 February 2026.

The MENT Festival is dedicated to discovering new music, presenting artists from across Europe to international audiences and music professionals, with a focus on promoting new artistic practices and fostering networking within the independent music scene. The festival programme also includes an extensive international conference addressing topics related to the music industry, creativity, and professional networking through panels, interviews, and mentoring sessions.

The conversation, which will be held on 20 February at Kino Šiška in Ljubljana, will see Begović and Mo Dafa explore themes of programme curation and the role of independent concert venues in shaping contemporary music practices. Mo Dafa has been active on the independent scene for more than two decades, with professional engagements spanning grassroots organising, work in radio and festivals, as well as curating and programme production. They currently serve as Senior Producer and Programme Director at Cafe OTO in London, one of the key European spaces for the development and presentation of contemporary music practices. The discussion will also address questions of community building and the importance of independent spaces for the long-term development of innovative and experimental music practices.

More information about the festival and the conference programme.