Public Arts Space (HARP.al) – TIRANA, October 2018 On October 22, from 4-8pm an International Public Conference on “Arts in Public Spaces” will take place in the Pazari i Ri, Fruit & Veggie Market, Tirana.

The conference is open to the general public, accessible to all citizens, and includes coloring activities for adults & children. Speakers from Canada, Netherlands, Serbia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Albania will present various examples and initiatives to raise awareness, build dialogue, and encourage more community participation through arts in public spaces of Tirana. Artists presenting their works are Oda Haliti DJ, Ledia Kostandini with ZING CITY bringing together adults and kids for coloring activities, and Dritan Mardodaj presenting photographs and video. Speakers include Blerina Berberi, Albania (HARP project), Florent Mehmeti, Kosovo (HAPU, In Situ), Biljana Tanurovska, Macedonia (“Cultural spaces for active citizens”, Lokomotiva/ Kino Kultura), Theo Tegelaers, the Netherands (TAAK), Hristina Mikic, Serbia (Creative Economy Group) and Kevin Tummers, Canada “Public Arts Laureates”.

There will also be an open mic opportunity for anyone wishing to share their ideas. This activity is part of the larger project “Engaging Tirana’s Communities in Public Arts and Policies” from Ekphrasis Studio (NGO) which has received the first UNESCO International Fund for Cultural Diversity for the country, among 7 selected worldwide in 2017. Since March 2018, Ekphrasis Studio has created the first public arts map for Tirana, organized 6 workshops, conducted a chronological research about Tirana’s artistic expression in public spaces, and gathered responses from surveys, to be presented at the conference and will also be part of the recommendations for a Public Arts Policy and Action Plan for Tirana Municipality and Ministry of Culture.

The project continues in 2019 with Tirana’s community celebrations of artistic expressions in open public spaces. The conference is presented by Ekphrasis Studio in Albanian and English and is supported by UNESCO IFCD, Albanian Ministry of Culture, Tirana Municipality, The Embassy of the Netherlands in Albania, Ndërmarrja Dekorit – Bashkia Tiranë, Pazari i Ri, Credins Bank, Season Restaurant, Fibracolor and Maped.

Activities:
16:00- 17:15 Oda Haliti DJ
16:00- 20:00 Photo & Video presentation by Dritan Mardodaj/ Coloring activities for adults and kids with Zing City by Ledia Kostandini
17:15- 19:30/ 15 min presentations and 5 min questions
– Blerina Berberi (HARP/ Ekphrasis Studio)
– Florent Mehmeti (HAPU, In Situ)
– Biljana Tanurovska Kjulavkvoski (Lokomotiva/ Kino Kultura)
– Theo Tegelaers (TAAK)
– Hristina Mikic (Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship and Innovation)
– Kevin Tummers (Public Arts Laureates/ Ekphrasis Studio)
19:30- 20:30 Open Mic for everyone

Thank you to all supporters!
For more www.harp.al