During the tourist season, the lack of a calendar of artistic activities in the city of Durrës creates difficulties in orienting tourists, while art is supported only by private initiatives.
Durrës beach is almost completely devoid of artistic activities organized by the municipality. Tourists who head to the city to attend shows or concerts often encounter difficulties, while discovering that, despite the lack of official programs, the area is not without artistic talent.
Bestar Vula, who came with his family from Lipjan, is happy to have had the opportunity to attend a concert by the famous soprano Inva Mula.
“I have been on vacation at the beach for 10 days and I accidentally found out about the performance that took place in the ancient amphitheater. It was a miracle, not only the artist, but also the children's choir from Pristina,” he told BIRN.
Vula adds that they had to walk back to the hotel, as urban buses do not operate after 10:00 p.m. According to him, there has been a lack of artistic activities on the beach for several years.
Arjan Plaku, the director of a dance ensemble, has signed agreements with two hotels.
“We give performances several times a week in the premises facing the sea and the interest of holidaymakers is great. The choreographies are prepared with folk dances of Central Albania,” he told BIRN.
In the coastal area up to Golem, there are also 4-5 private folk music ensembles operating, but none of them has received support from local institutions. “They all operate on the basis of agreements with hotels, which seek to entertain local and foreign tourists,” added Plaku.
The coastal promenade project, implemented two years ago, envisaged spaces for urban sculptures and a significant area at the “Apollonia” station for performances and concerts. But, according to resident Misto Leka, these spaces have never been used.
“I would gladly take my grandchildren to circus shows, puppet shows or other activities, but so far I haven't seen any of them,” he said.
The coastline of Durrës' traditional beach stretches for about 3.4 km, where dozens of hotels and hundreds of apartments welcome tourists from all over Europe. While the number of summer activities supported by the municipality is increasing in the city, the artistic life on the beach remains poor.
However, there is no shortage of artists. Along “Pavarësia” Boulevard, sculptor Idriz Balani, although over 70 years old, works every day in his studio and welcomes visitors to the exhibition with about 80 personal works.
“Along with the holidaymakers from Kosovo, many foreigners also come and discover the exhibition by chance,” Balani told BIRN. Also on display on the studio’s shelves are portraits of patriots and KLA fighters, some of which have been placed in the squares of Kosovo’s cities.
Painters Marjana Goxhabelliu and Laush Vathi also have studio-exhibitions on the same street. According to Balani, with a little attention from local institutions, these spaces could become attractive points, especially for foreign tourists interested in the art and history of Durrës.
Artists believe that the tourist season lasts no more than three months, while turning their studios into permanent galleries is unaffordable.
“Tourists should experience the pleasures that the host country offers, even when their stay is short, as is the case with the 13 cruise ships that have docked in the port of Durres since the beginning of 2024,” said Plaku.
He remembers that dancers dressed in traditional costumes were applauded by foreign tourists before they left on guided tours to other cities. “Unfortunately, this experience was cut short, as the hosts (local authorities) considered the Albanian folk that our boys and girls offered unnecessary,” Plaku concluded. /BIRN/
