OPENS Youth Center from Novi Sad won the prestigious award New European Bauhaus Prizes 2025 – Runner-Up Champions, in the category "Regaining a sense of belonging".
OPENS received the award for creating an inclusive, sustainable and shared space that connects youth and community, strengthens the sense of belonging and promotes the values of solidarity and cooperation.
"This award confirms that Novi Sad and Serbia can be leaders in the development of youth policies and spaces for young people at the European level. We are proud that our work has been recognized outside the borders of the country, especially when it comes through an initiative that promotes sustainability, togetherness and inclusion - values that guides us as well", stated Dobrila Marković, deputy executive director of the OPENS Youth Association.
As she stated, the award is a recognition of all young people and organizations that have built OPENS in the last ten years.
Award is given in several categories to initiatives that contribute to the community in an innovative and sustainable way, connect people and create spaces where the sense of belonging is strengthened.
The announcement of the winners was held in Brussels on September 30.
In 2019, Novi Sad was the Youth Capital of Europe, and from this process was created OPENS Youth Center as one of the most important legacies of the title.
Since then, OPENS represents a permanent infrastructure for young people and organizations, a space of support and empowerment,which enables young people to learn, create, volunteer and actively participate in social life.
OPENS is recognized as an example of good practice in Europe for creating a space for young people that is not only a meeting place, but also a resource center that encourages creativity, activism and social inclusion of young people.
The space provided young people with free access to technology and the Wi-Fi network, which was especially used in July and August this year. In the coworking space alone, from January to September 2025, was held more than eight thousand visits.
OPENS Youth Center is located in "Chinatown" in Novi Sad, at Bulevar Despota Stefana 5, and is open every day of the week from 8 am to 10 pm.