The #Solidarity FemFest project brought together artists, media professionals, activists, and audiences from Albania and Kosovo to spotlight the role of women in arts and media, advocate for gender equality, and inspire change through creative expression. Spanning Tirana and Pristina, the project delivered a diverse programme of workshops, exhibitions, performances, and awareness campaigns aimed at increasing inclusion, visibility, and civic engagement in the cultural field.
The initiative opened with a widely shared video message featuring nine prominent public figures from the region, musicians, journalists, presenters, and activists, who offered reflections on social responsibility, gender, and community impact. Published during the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the video reached over 8,000 views, amplifying awareness and creating space for public reflection.
Throughout the project, multiple workshops focused on the intersections of gender, media, art, mental health, and leadership. From training on arts marketing to discussions on women's leadership in culture, these sessions attracted strong attendance, with around 30 participants in each. They offered new tools and inspiration for women to shape narratives, build their creative identities, and foster networks of support.
The 2025 edition of FemFest included a number of artistic events supported through this grant. A photography exhibition and panel discussion celebrated the contributions of Albanian ballerinas, while two powerful theatre productions, “Babai dhe Babai” and “5 Fytyrat e Heshtjes”, tackled themes of identity, gender, silence, and resilience, drawing praise for their emotional impact and social relevance. Another impactful event was the performance-installation “Kepuçet e Kuqe: The Invisible”, which used movement and spoken word to commemorate women lost to domestic violence and to raise awareness of ongoing struggles for safety and justice.
Altogether, Solidarity FemFest succeeded in reaching broad audiences, inspiring dialogue, and empowering participants through artistic and civic engagement.
Implementing partners: Bash-Art (Albania), Instituti Kosovar i Medias dhe Komunikimit – IKMK (Kosovo Institute for Media and Communication).
#Solidarity - FemFest 2025 project was supported by the British Council through the “Culture and Creativity for the Western Balkans” project, funded by the European Union. CC4WBs aims to foster dialogue in the Western Balkans by enhancing the cultural and creative sectors for increased socio-economic impact.