DISCOVERIES
Discoveries allow the participants to embark on a field trip organised by a local NGO in Tirana. This invaluable experience is a perfect opportunity to get practical insights into the work of Albanian civic educators.
Participants can register in advance to join one of the discoveries. Registration is open only to confirmed participants of the festival.
Memory walk Tirana
16 Nov, 10 am – 2 pm
History, culture of remembrance
Guided walking tours
Explore the vibrant city of Tirana on a guided walking tour that reveals the rich history, culture, and charm of Albania’s capital. Starting at Skanderbeg Square, the heart of the city, you’ll see iconic landmarks like the National History Museum, Et’hem Bey Mosque, and the Clock Tower. As you stroll through the bustling streets, your guide will accompany you at the places of memory where you can learn about the communist past in Albania.
Creative Industrial Spaces, Tirana
16 Nov, 10 am – 2 pm
Creative Industries Agency
Culture and arts, civic spaces
Creative Industrial Spaces, Tirana
Nomad Art Residency Tirana is a pioneering program dedicated to hosting artists and digital nomads, providing them with an inspiring environment that fosters creativity, professional development, and sustainability. The residency in Vaqarr, Tirana features a business incubator and an art laboratory, offering essential tools and space to develop projects and businesses, ensuring a conducive environment for innovation and artistic exploration.
Roma culture & tradition
16 Nov, 10 am – 12 pm
Roma community, cultural heritage
Roma culture and tradition, a value of diversity in the Albanian cultural heritage
Through this field trip curated by the Institute of Romani Culture in Albania (IRCA), the festival participants will have the opportunity to enhance their knowledge about the Roma community living in Albania and the rich Roma culture and tradition. The participants in the festival will have the opportunity to exchange opinions with young Roma activists and artists on the power the art has to bring people together regardless of their background and the impact the art has on civic education.
Streha Center
16 Nov, 10 am – 12 pm
LGBTI community, diversity
Streha Center
In Albanian, streha means “shelter.” True to our name and mission, we offer a safe space where everyone’s journey is met with kindness, understanding, and unwavering support. Our team of hardworking professionals is driven to giving each person who walks through our doors services that are unique and fit their specific needs. We aim to make a safe and welcoming space where everyone feels respected, valued, and heard, with a focus on empowerment. We help people get through tough times and reach their goals by providing a range of services that work well together and support each other. We make sure that no one is left behind by being open, fair, and dedicated to equality.
House of Leaves
16 Nov, 10 am – 12 pm
Historical heritage
House of Leaves
The building known as the “House of Leaves” (called so because of the clambering plant covering its facade) has now returned to the Museum of Secret Surveillance. Opened on 23rd of May, it is the newest museum in Albania and certainly the most intriguing one that tells the story of one of the darkest periods of the country’s history. Located in the centre of Tirana, the building that temporarily housed the Gestapo during the occupation of Albania in WWII was the Central Directorate of the Secret Service from 1944 to 1991. As the history of Albania itself under the Communist dictatorship that was installed at the end of World War II and continued for almost half a century, the House of Leaves also, was covered for a long time with all sorts of legends and comprised the unknown, a mystery, whispers of people and rustling of leaves. By opening the doors of this house, presenting the activities that were conducted in it and the many other things related to it, the visit to this museum will unfold simultaneous aspects of the Albanian society in the conditions of a regime that aimed at the total control over human bodies and souls, showing the relevance of civic education to promote democracy and hinder a return to authoritarianism.
Center for Openness and Dialogue
16 Nov, 10 am – 12 pm
Communication & exchange
Center for Openness and Dialogue
The Center for Openness and Dialogue is an initiative by Prime Minister Edi Rama with a simple objective: to transform part of the Council of Ministers’ headquarters into a space that serves citizens – conveying the message of openness, transparency, and transformation. How can a historical building with high security measures, isolated from the contact with citizens who pass by daily, be transformed into an environment of open dialogue and exchange? How can a space that until now has been viewed by citizens as the heavy center of power be turned into a space that invites their involvement in the study, drafting, and implementation of public policies? How can it be re-conceptualized in the spirit of transparency, openness, and transformation? Composed of three spaces—the library, which includes study areas; the digital hall, where projections and presentations are showcased; and the exhibition hall “Meet the Artist”—the visit to the Center for Opening and Dialogue (COD) offers a vision of openness and democratic progress. With each of the halls designed to serve as a space for civic discourses, and a catalyst for a chain of transformations in the approach to governance.